Rural Health

About 1,500 rural hospitals were eligible to convert to "Rural Emergency Hospitals" beginning in 2020. Researchers at UT Arlington want to take a closer look at the 40 hospitals that entered the program to understand whether it has improved access to care in rural communities.

After the 2023 state legislature passed a comprehensive law about instructional materials, the Texas Education Agency is working on a list of required literary works to teach in public schools. Texas Public Radio's Camille Phillips has more on the initial discussion. Researchers at UT Arlington are calling for further study into a federal program meant to improve access to health care for rural communities. KERA’s Abigail Ruhman reports on the rural emergency hospital program.

Texas' application for the Rural Health Transformation program requests $200 million every year of the five-year program. The state is proposing the "Rural Texas Strong" project, which includes a range of proposals to improve health care access and quality in rural areas — such as workforce development and utilizing AI.

The City of Lubbock implemented a crackdown on "nuisance" calls to the police department at the beginning of the month. The False Alarm Ordinance introduces a $50 permitting fee for Lubbock alarm owners. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is developing the state’s application for a federal rural health funding program. With more than half of rural hospitals in Texas at risk of shutting down, KERA’s Abigail Ruhman reports health leaders say the state should utilize potential new funding to prevent further closures.

As Texas develops its application for federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding, rural hospital leaders say stabilizing their facilities should be a top priority. "Without it, all the planning in the world will not matter because there will be no hospital left to transform," one said.

Governor Greg Abbott was joined by Lubbock's senator Charles Perry on Tuesday for the signing of two bills directed at helping rural healthcare systems. Our Brad Burt has more on the resources the bills provide for rural counties and hospitals. Meanwhile, the City of Lubbock is encouraging residents to apply for boards and committees. Our Sean Ryan reports on the open positions and how to apply. Click here for more information.

Texas health officials are asking for public input for the state's application for a new federal rural health program. People can submit their comments through Tuesday, Sept. 9.

House Bill 2038 makes it easier for foreign doctors to get licensed in Texas — but not all are allowed.

More than 3 million people call rural Texas home, and many lack access to a primary care doctor.

Local health officials are watching the sharp rise in measles cases among rural West Texas communities, with more cases expected to be confirmed over the next few weeks. Still, they are confident in overall protection from the virus after more than 50 years of immunizations.