AUSTIN, Texas - New abortion measures are set to begin this fall in Texas. However, those opposed are expected to mount a legal challenge before they go into effect, saying they would place an undue burden on women seeking services. Part of the law requires an abortion provider to have admitting privileges at a local hospital. The vast majority of providers currently do not.

Amy Hagstrom Miller, president and CEO, Whole Woman's Health, warned that it will prove difficult for the providers to obtain privileges because, for one thing, some hospitals are owned by religious organizations.

"Secondarily," Miller said, "you've got the (state) restrictions around the women's health care Medicaid program that say if any physician has an 'affiliation with abortion,' they can't participate in the Medicaid program. So, hospitals are nervous about granting abortion providers privileges because they're worried that they won't be able to participate in the Medicaid program."

Whole Woman's Health operates five clinics in Texas and is the only provider within hundreds of miles for some women. The organization will remain open for now.

Another measure that could be challenged in court says abortions must be performed at ambulatory surgical centers. Janet Crepps, senior counsel, Center for Reproductive Rights, said that requirement would force a lot of clinics to close, causing more danger for women. She said that requirement is unneeded, since abortion is one of the safest medical procedures in the country.

"The Supreme Court has said that the state can further its interest in maternal health only if the requirements are necessary and don't place a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking abortions," Crepps said. "The ambulatory surgical center [requirement] fails on both counts."

The ambulatory surgical center requirement is set to take effect next year. The other measures are to begin this October - including a ban on abortion after 20 weeks, which Crepps said also violates a Supreme Court ruling that states cannot prevent women from getting abortions prior to viability. "And similar restrictions have been challenged in other states," she adds. "In two states, it has been held unconstitutional, and in another state, the court has issued a preliminary injunction saying that the law is likely unconstitutional."

Regardless of how the lawsuit plays out, Miller noted that clinics will continue to face attacks from those who want to see them shut down - attacks such as the mailings sent to her staff, offering them cash to turn whistle-blower.

"It is a very difficult environment to feel like you can provide care without getting worried," Miller said. "Some of our physicians are always worried that 'Is this patient a real patient? Is she a plant? Is she coming into the clinic with a camera? Is she recording what I say?' Because all of these things have been done by our opposition."

Instead of restricting access to abortion, Miller added, lawmakers should look at ways to reduce unplanned pregnancies.

Gov. Rick Perry said the new measures will give voice to the unborn and improve the quality of care women receive.

This story was produced with original reporting from Jordan Smith of "The Austin Chronicle." The complete article is available at www.austinchronicle.com.







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People who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, will be dropped from their CoveredCA health plans at the end of August.

The move comes after the Trump administration changed a Biden-era definition of "lawfully present" to revoke health care eligibility for thousands of immigrants.

Christine Smith, policy and legislative advocate for the nonprofit Health Access California, said people only have a few weeks to get medical appointments in before their coverage ends.

"If you're enrolled in Covered California and you're a DACA recipient, the Trump administration just ended your coverage," Smith emphasized. "People should use as much of your health care as you can before the August 31st deadline."

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services defended the move, saying it will save taxpayers money. CoveredCA estimated the change affects about 2,400 DACA recipients in the state who make too much to qualify for Medi-Cal and have jobs not providing health insurance. They can still buy private insurance but it is much more expensive. People who prepaid for their coverage can seek a refund.

Smith predicted it will be a blow not just to those who lose coverage but to the state's health care system as a whole.

"The lines in the ERs are going to be longer because people are not going to be able to get affordable preventive care," Smith projected. "They're just going to get sicker and then end up in the ERs. People will overall incur more medical debt. Hospitals will have more uncompensated care."

The change is nationwide. As of mid-July, about 538,000 people in the DACA program across the U.S. are ineligible to enroll in any state-based insurance marketplace and are unable to access premium subsidies or cost-sharing assistance.

Artificial intelligence is appearing more prominently in many aspects of life and research suggests older populations are curious, yet remain wary of using the technology in their everyday lives.

According to Stats Indiana, there are more than 1.5 million Hoosiers aged 65 and older, or 18% of the state's population. Experts said it is likely the demographic will use AI in some form in the next few years, either by choice or necessity.

Dr. Shaun Grannis, vice president of data and analytics for the Regenstrief Institute on Aging, said AI offers real benefits.

"It can reduce loneliness through conversation, provide reminders for medications and appointments," Grannis outlined. "It can support cognitive stimulation via games, storytelling, news updates."

The technology can also offer a low-pressure way to access information on public services, he added, which is valuable for those with mobility issues or those who feel intimidated by technology.

Grannis cautioned any tool which can be used for good can also lead to problems. He noted AI can create a false sense of companionship and mask social isolation. Overdependence is a legitimate concern, he argued, if the technology becomes a "crutch" for all forms of interaction.

"All cognitive activities or decision-making, it can actually lead to and create a negative feedback loop, lead to a decline in engagement and even basic self-management skills," Grannis explained. "This is risky."

Grannis believes one solution is designing AI systems to complement, not replace, human interaction. He stressed it can be done though building broader support ecosystems including family, friends, caregivers and community services. Grannis emphasized it would encourage real-world activity, prompting the user to go for a walk, call a grandchild or attend a local senior event.

If you have an extra five minutes, you can save a life because you can learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation at no cost from a new mobile, hands-only CPR kiosk.

The new kiosk is in the lobby of Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica. The machine's touch screen gives a brief overview of hands-only CPR and you can practice right there, on a mannequin.

Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, cardiologist at St. John's, said it is an easy way for people to get more comfortable giving chest compressions in an emergency.

"It's a lot like a video game but of course, a lot more important than a video game," Tadwalkar pointed out. "It gives real-time feedback about the depth and rate of compressions, proper hand placement, which are all factors that influence the effectiveness of CPR."

The American Heart Association operates the St. John's mobile kiosk and a stationary model at L-A-X with support from the hospital. Santiago Canyon College in Orange County also has a mobile hands-only C-P-R kiosk now through September, sponsored by Edwards Lifesciences.

Steven Munatones, an Orange County business owner, said he survived what's known as a "widowmaker" heart attack which led to cardiac arrest nine years ago, thanks to his 17-year-old son, who gave him immediate CPR with instructions from a 911 operator.

"You don't have to put your mouth to anybody's mouth," Munatones explained. "You just put your hand on their chest and pump. He saved me, and others can do the same, anywhere. So, it's absolutely a lifesaving, heroic act that anybody can do."

Statistics show 350,000 Americans suffer from cardiac arrest outside a hospital each year and about 90% die, in part because they do not receive CPR. About 70% of those cardiac arrests happen at home, so people often depend on family or friends to give CPR before an ambulance arrives.