Kaiser Media Fellowships 2011 Texas Site Visits

The Kaiser Media Fellows — journalists with a strong focus on health policy and state health reform — were invited to participate in a week-long program focused on health care and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Texas. Based in Austin and Dallas, the site visits offered journalists the opportunity to meet with a variety of experts and stakeholders. Journalists met with state health officials, health policy analysts, academics, community clinic staff members and legislative staff. The program focused on a range of issues including the demographics in Texas and their implication for health care, Medicaid in Texas and the 1115 Waiver, and access to health care and the performance of health care safety net systems in Texas.

2011 Texas Site Visits Agenda

The Foundation has a fact sheet from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured that compares and contrasts key provisions of the California and Texas Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waivers, while two other fact sheets summarize the health care landscape in Texas and California, including data on demographics, population health, the uninsured and the state Medicaid program. Also available are several existing resources on the two states and Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waivers, including an issue brief that provides a focused overview of California’s waiver and another paper that examines key questions about Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waivers more generally.

2011 Kaiser Media Fellowships Texas Site Visit Participants

Kate Nocera, Politico

“Rick Perry’s Texas gets plenty of money from the feds.” Politico, November 25, 2011.

Sarah Kliff, Washington Post

“In Texas, a surprising Perry plan for Medicaid reform.” Washington Post, November 19, 2011.
“Texas Consumer Health Assistance Program to close after losing federal funding.” Washington Post, January 1, 2012.
“The cost of shopping for health insurance.” Washington Post, January 8, 2012.

Becca Aaronson, The Texas Tribune

BJ Austin, KERA Public Radio, Dallas

Jonathan Cohn, The New Republic

“Romney, Texas, and the ‘War on Women,'” The New Republic, March 14, 2012.

Carrie Feibel, KUHF Public Radio, Houston

“Texas Insurers Could Send Out $160 Million In Rebates Next Year — Maybe,” KUHF, December 22, 2011.
“Hospitals Will Have to Adapt to Texas Medicaid Shake-Up,” KUHF, December 13, 2011.
“A Texas-Sized Medicaid Deal,” KFF Health News/KUHF/NPR, December 15, 2011.
“Hospital District Bursting at the Seams,” KUHF, December 8, 2011.
“Houston Poaches Cancer Scientists From Boston,” KUHF/KFF Health News, December 5, 2011.
“MD Anderson Creates New Institute, Hires 55 Scientists,” KUHF, November 28, 2011.
“Hospitals Must Adapt to Texas Medicaid Shake-up,” Texas Public Radio, December 14, 2011.
“Texas Asks Feds To Delay Health Insurance Rebate Plan,” NPR “Shots” Blog, January 10, 2012.