Texas Health & Human Services Commission

Texas is trying to do a better job of including young children with disabilities in preschools and childcare centers alongside their peers.

The order came as part of a federal lawsuit over long wait times for Texas detainees who need their mental competency restored in a state hospital before trial.

The two Texas residents monitored for hantavirus have been cleared by Texas Department of State Health Services.

Texans with disabilities can wait almost two decades for certain Medicaid programs. During a House Human Services Committee public hearing Tuesday, advocates and some state lawmakers said they worry what long wait times mean for the nearly 200,000 Texans on "interest lists" for services.

Hemp businesses also want to block a new rule that raises licensing fees by thousands of dollars.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office said has launched investigations into "dozens" of Medicaid providers for alleged fraud — based on data released by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. In a statement released Tuesday, Paxton's office did not specify which providers, or how many, would be investigated.

A proposed rule would allow some children to qualify for the Medically Dependent Children Program — a Medicaid program that offers home- and community-based services to children with complex medical needs — without needing a nursing facility stay. But, advocates said the language is too "narrow" and could hinder providers.

An investigation ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott found that less than half a percent of federal money spent on child care scholarships in Texas was considered “improper.”

The Texas Legislature at least partially implemented less than a third of recommendations from the state's 2024 Children's Behavioral Health Strategic Plan, according to a recent report. Many of the recommendations focus on increasing access to services that keep children in their homes or communities instead of institutional settings.

Texas proposed increases to Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain ambulance services. During a public rate hearing, providers said the higher rates could help maintain access to critical services, especially in rural areas.