A federal investigation found that Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital broke the law by failing to give a woman timely medical care for an emergency pregnancy condition.

Kyleigh Thurman filed a against the hospital in August after seeking care for an ectopic pregnancy 鈥� when a fertilized egg implants somewhere outside the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies cannot be brought to term and are life-threatening when not treated early.

Thurman and her lawyers at the Center for Reproductive Rights said Ascension Seton Williamson delayed care to end the nonviable pregnancy, risking Thurman's life and compromising her future fertility. They argued that the hospital violated the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which requires emergency rooms that receive Medicare funding to provide stabilizing treatment to patients experiencing medical emergencies.

鈥淲hat happened to Kyleigh Thurman shouldn鈥檛 have happened,鈥� said Molly Duane, a lawyer with the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement Wednesday.

According to Thurman鈥檚 complaint, she visited a Burnet emergency room in 2023 while experiencing cramping, dizziness and continuous bleeding. Tests performed at the ER showed that an ectopic pregnancy was likely. Her OBGYN advised the medication methotrexate to end the pregnancy, so Thurman drove to Ascension Seton Williamson, a larger facility that would stock the medication.

But although tests at the larger hospital also indicated a likely ectopic pregnancy, the hospital did not immediately provide methotrexate, according to Thurman鈥檚 complaint. Instead she was sent home with instructions to return in two days. Upon return, Thurman was only given the medication after her OBGYN intervened on her behalf.

The treatment did not come in time to prevent detrimental health effects. Thurman鈥檚 ectopic pregnancy ultimately ruptured, and doctors had to remove one of her fallopian tubes.

An investigation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services confirmed Thurman鈥檚 story. As first reported by CMS said in a report that Ascension Seton Williamson had violated EMTALA.

鈥淭he hospital's failure to provide an appropriate medical screening examination 鈥� placed the patient at risk for deterioration of her health and wellbeing,鈥� CMS said in its report, which was dated to January but only recently released to the public.

Representatives for the hospital said they could not speak to the specifics of Thurman's case.

"Ascension is committed to providing quality care to all who seek our services," a representative for Ascension Texas said in a statement.

It is legal under Texas鈥� near-total abortion ban for ectopic pregnancies to be terminated. But Thurman and her lawyers argued in their complaint that many medical facilities in Texas are hesitant when presented with cases like Thurman鈥檚 due to confusion around the state鈥檚 laws.

Despite the CMS decision affirming Thurman's complaint, her lawyers said they are concerned that a recent decision about EMTALA from the Trump administration could muddy the waters for others in her situation.

In 2022, the Biden administration released specifying that hospitals must provide an abortion if one is needed to treat a pregnant patient with an emergency condition. States including Texas challenged that guidance, saying it amounted to an illegal abortion mandate.

But although courts had not finally decided the issue, the Trump administration announced Tuesday that it would rescind the Biden-era guidance. CMS released a saying it would 鈥渨ork to rectify any perceived legal confusion and instability caused by the former administration鈥檚 actions.鈥�

鈥淐MS will continue to enforce EMTALA, which protects all individuals who present to a hospital emergency department seeking examination or treatment, including for identified emergency medical conditions that place the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy,鈥� the agency said.

Duane, with the Center for Reproductive Rights, said the decision by the Trump administration will sow confusion about the requirements for treating pregnant patients under EMTALA.

鈥淒octors are already struggling to figure out when they can treat their patients, and too many in Texas and every state where abortion is banned are being turned away from care,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he decision to rescind the guidance is not protecting anyone. But make no mistake, EMTALA is still law of the land and requires hospitals to provide their patients with emergency care 鈥� and that includes patients that need emergency abortions.鈥�

In Texas, the issue of when emergency abortion care is permitted has been a hotly discussed topic. This spring, the state legislature passed The Life of the Mother Act, a bill aimed at clarifying when doctors can offer the procedure; it is allowed only when a woman鈥檚 life or a 鈥渕ajor bodily function鈥� is at risk.

The bill is now at the governor鈥檚 desk.

CommUnityCare, a chain of clinics that serve low-income Austinites, has a new CEO after a monthslong leadership conflict with its public partner, Central Health.

With the hiring announcement, the two organizations signaled they had come to a common understanding of their complex working partnership, which some 134,000 patients in the Austin area rely on for affordable medical care.

Dr. Nicholas Yagoda served as CommUnityCare鈥檚 interim CEO for several months before accepting the permanent position at the unanimous recommendation of the CUC board of directors. He previously served as chief medical officer for the organization. He will also hold a position with Central Health as its first executive vice president of ambulatory services 鈥� a role intended to help with streamlining operations across Central Health鈥檚 various outpatient clinical offerings and partnerships.

鈥淢y dual role enforces collaboration, eliminates silos and helps us deliver seamless ambulatory care under a unified vision,鈥� Yagoda said.

CommUnityCare clinics work with AG真人百家乐 County鈥檚 public hospital district Central Health to receive "federally public health center" status. That translates to better Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates and better deals on prescription drugs, allowing CUC clinics to serve patients who struggle to pay for health care.

But the legal agreement between the two organizations is complicated. CommUnityCare was formed to take over operations of clinics that were once run by Austin and AG真人百家乐 County. Although it is an independent organization, CUC receives funding from Central Health, and Central Health鈥檚 human resources department serves both organizations.

They butted heads last fall when Dr. Pat Lee, the CEO of Central Health, fired Jaeson Fournier, the former CEO of CommUnityCare. The CommUnityCare board said this wasn鈥檛 allowed under the organizations鈥� legal cooperative agreement, that only the CUC board had the right to fire Fournier.

Leaders from the two organizations had public disagreements over how the organizations鈥� shared public health center model should operate. If the conflict had persisted, the organizations risked possibly falling out of compliance with the federal rules that govern public health centers.

On Friday, Yagoda and the chairs of both the Central Health and CUC boards emphasized that, after months of collaborative meetings to discuss their relationship, they were ready to move forward as partners with a shared mission of building a stronger health safety net for AG真人百家乐 County residents.

鈥淒r. Yagoda is exactly the leader we need at exactly the right moment,鈥� said Ann Kitchen, the chair of Central Health鈥檚 board of managers. 鈥淗is expertise, his vision and his collaborative approach make him uniquely positioned to drive this transformation forward.鈥�

Lee was not present for the announcement; Kitchen said he was out of town on business, but that he shared the Central Health board鈥檚 approval of Yagoda鈥檚 hiring.

Kitchen also said the Central Health board had 鈥渞e-affirmed鈥� the CommUnityCare board鈥檚 role as the body responsible for hiring and firing the CommUnityCare CEO.

鈥淲e have clear governance,鈥� Yagoda said Friday. 鈥淐ommUnityCare remains governed by an independent board. Central Health provides funding and systems stewardship. Together, we provide care. We've moved from conflict to collaboration. Past tensions have given way to honest dialogue.鈥�

Guy Swenson, the chair of CommUnityCare鈥檚 board, also spoke positively of the progress the two organizations had made.

鈥淥ut of this has come a very strong relationship between Ann and myself,鈥� Swenson said. 鈥淲e are working on creating a liaison team between the two boards, and looking at this as an opportunity to strengthen that relationship.鈥�

Against the backdrop of Yagoda鈥檚 promotion, litigation related to Fournier鈥檚 firing is still ongoing.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Yagoda's title at Central Health as executive director of ambulatory services. He is vice president of ambulatory services.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported six measles cases in Williamson County in a statewide report released Friday.

According to the report, the county鈥檚 cases are not thought to be connected to the measles outbreak in West Texas at this time.

The Williamson County and Cities Health District has confirmed two measles cases over the past two weeks. Deb Strahler, WCCHD's director of marketing, said Friday that the local public health department has not officially confirmed any additional cases.

"WCCHD is only reporting lab-confirmed positive measles cases at this time 鈥� which is still at two cases," Strahler said in an email. "Other cases may be reported as related or positive by DSHS using criteria other than a lab-confirmed test. WCCHD has no other information to share on the two positive lab-confirmed or any other measles cases at this time."

WCCHD went on to explain that DSHS includes cases that are considered "epidemiologically linked鈥� in its report. That's when someone begins showing symptoms after being around a person who tested positive for measles. For instance, if a child has measles, her parents might assume her brother has caught the disease without testing him if he breaks out in a similar rash.

Both cases confirmed by WCCHD were in Leander residents, one an adult and one a school-aged child. The child attends Liberty Hill ISD鈥檚 Bar W Elementary School and was contagious between May 15 and May 24, according to WCCHD.

Symptoms of the highly contagious illness include fever, cough, runny nose, white spots in the mouth, and a red rash on the skin. Local health authorities have urged people who suspect they may have measles to contact a doctor before heading to a health facility in person.

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A school-aged child from Leander has tested positive for measles, Williamson County's public health department has confirmed.

School officials confirmed the child attends Bar W Elementary School in Liberty Hill ISD.

The Williamson County and Cities Health District said this is the first reported case of measles in the county this year.

The child was contagious starting last Thursday, May 15, and may continue to be through Saturday, May 24. They are currently recovering in isolation at home. The agency said it's working with school officials and the Texas Department of State Health Services to notify people who might have been exposed.

The agency didn't share information about where the child recently traveled to or their vaccination status. The family decided not to give certain details to health officials, it said.

Health officials are urging people who may have been exposed to monitor for , which include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, white spots inside the mouth and a skin rash. If symptoms develop, reach out to a health care provider before entering a hospital so health care workers can take appropriate steps.

People who are pregnant, have an infant or are immunocompromised should consider asking their health care provider about preemptive treatment.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and can lead to serious complications, . The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine provides the best protection against the virus; the standard two doses people are recommended to receive in childhood are 97% effective at preventing infection, according to the government agency.

Hays County announced its first measles case of the year on Tuesday. AG真人百家乐 County has also seen two local measles cases 鈥� the first in February and the second in April.

This is a developing story.

The Texas House on Thursday passed a bill restricting local governments from using public funds to support women seeking abortions.

, sponsored by Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, specifies that taxpayer money may not be given to either abortion providers or 鈥渁n abortion assistance entity.鈥� It also bans public funds from being used to offer help with child care, travel, lodging or other types of 鈥渓ogistical support鈥� for abortion seekers.

Republican Rep. Candy Noble of Lucas said Thursday that the bill 鈥渃loses a perceived loophole鈥� to make the state鈥檚 legislative intent clear regarding taxpayer-funded travel to facilitate an abortion. SB 33 cleared its final hurdle in the House on a 87-58 vote Thursday.

Texas cities including Austin and have set aside money to support organizations or individuals seeking out-of-state abortion care. Both cities attracted lawsuits from Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has argued that the funds violate a clause in the Texas Constitution, as well as the state鈥檚 abortion bans.

鈥淚 will not stand by while rogue cities use tax dollars to circumvent state law and take the innocent lives of unborn children,鈥� Paxton wrote in a statement after he in April.

Under SB 33, the state鈥檚 attorney general and private citizens may bring a civil suit against cities that give financial assistance to abortion seekers.

Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, who helped lead the city's effort to fund travel assistance for out-of-state abortion care through the city鈥檚 Reproductive Logistical Fund, accused state leaders of choosing 鈥渃ontrol over care.鈥�

"SB 33 doesn鈥檛 protect anyone, it only serves to punish cities that dare to stand up for their people,鈥� Fuentes said in a Thursday statement to KUT News. 鈥淚t鈥檚 shameful, it鈥檚 wrong, and only deepens the reproductive health crisis Texans are already facing.鈥�

The bill was one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick鈥檚 priorities for the legislative session. After it passed the Senate in April, he said SB 33 would stop 鈥渞ogue, liberal cities鈥� from continuing to 鈥渟kirt state law.鈥�

鈥淭he Senate鈥檚 passage of SB 33 draws a line in the sand, prohibiting these cities from using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion-related travel to circumvent state law,鈥� he said.

SB 33 was tweaked by the House before its passage, so it鈥檒l now go back to the Senate for approval. If advanced by the Senate, it鈥檒l head to Gov. Greg Abbott鈥檚 desk to be signed into law.

KUT鈥檚 Luz Moreno-Lozano contributed additional reporting to this story.

A bill aimed at clarifying when doctors can perform emergency abortions received final approval from the Texas House on Thursday in a 134-4 vote. Senate Bill 31 now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott鈥檚 desk.

The bill, also known as the , was crafted with input from both physicians and anti-abortion groups 鈥� and sponsored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, the Mineola Republican who also authored the state鈥檚 2021 abortion ban.

鈥淓very pro-life law that Texas has passed has recognized that when the life of the mother is in danger that is an exception,鈥� said Hughes while introducing the bill earlier this session.

In Texas, abortions are illegal except when a medical emergency occurs that threatens a woman鈥檚 life or a 鈥渕ajor bodily function.鈥� But doctors have said the language of the exception isn鈥檛 clear enough, and leaves them unsure of what qualifies as an emergency and when they can legally act.

The bill鈥檚 introduction followed from that found confusion surrounding Texas鈥� abortion ban had resulted in the deaths of at least two women, as well as in people who experience miscarriages.

SB 31 makes language about exceptions consistent across Texas鈥� various overlapping abortion laws, clarifying that the risk of death or impairment does not have to be 鈥渋mminent鈥� for doctors to act. It says that discussions between doctors and their colleagues or patients while determining if abortion is the best treatment option is not considered to be 鈥渁iding and abetting鈥� an illegal abortion under the law.

The measure also places the burden of proof on the state if a doctor is accused of performing an illegal abortion. Additionally, it tasks the Texas Medical Board with providing a continuing education course about the law for physicians.

The bill does not add any new exceptions for rape, incest or lethal fetal anomalies, though a recent study from the University of Houston showed a majority of Texans would support such exemptions.

鈥淭his is not a choice bill,鈥� said Rep. Charlie Geren, the Fort Worth Republican who carried the bill in the chamber, on the House floor Wednesday. 鈥淭his bill addresses the life and health of the mother 鈥� period. That鈥檚 it.鈥�

SB 31 received bipartisan support this legislative session. However, some abortion rights advocates spoke out against an earlier version of the bill. Their concerns centered on Texas abortion statutes . Those statutes are technically still on the books, but courts are considering whether they are actually enforceable. By tweaking the language of those old statutes, advocates were concerned anti-abortion actors could argue the statutes were back in play 鈥� including a provision that anyone who 鈥渇urnishes the means鈥� for an abortion could be liable.

Before the bill received initial approval from Texas House members on Wednesday, some anti-abortion lawmakers said they worried the proposal would provide loopholes that would allow doctors to perform abortions.

Rep. David Lowe, a Republican from North Richland Hills, was one of six lawmakers who voted against it on second reading.

鈥淭his bill does not protect life, it weakens it,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his bill loosens restrictions on the killing of unborn children.鈥�

SB 31鈥檚 final, approved text includes amendments that say the bill is not taking a stance on the enforceability of the pre-Roe ban, quelling some of those earlier concerns.

But during Senate floor discussions in April, Hughes said he would not support a similar amendment for another abortion-related bill he sponsored 鈥� , which takes aim at interstate abortion pill distribution. That proposal is still awaiting a committee hearing in the Texas House.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Bryan Hughes as a representative instead of a senator.

An anti-abortion monument is one step closer to being installed at the state Capitol after the Texas House on Tuesday approved a resolution authorizing its construction.

The , authored by Republican Sen. Tan Parker of Flower Mound, would authorize the State Preservation Board to approve the installation of the "Texas Life Monument," an 8-foot statue depicting "a mother with an unborn child cradled in a world-shaped womb" just north of the Capitol. The measure passed the House on a vote of 98 to 44 after previously earlier this month.

The proposal now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for approval.

Republican Rep. Caroline Harris Davila of Round Rock said the statue would be fully funded by private donors, not taxpayer dollars 鈥� and funding has already been raised, according to Harris Davila.

"The monument would serve as a peaceful space for families to honor motherhood, the strength of women, and the hope and beauty of human life," Harris Davila said.

The monument would be a replica of the "National Life Monument," created by artist Timothy Schmalz. It would be added to the collection of monuments surrounding the Capitol, which commemorate a range of historical figures and events from Texas history.

The monument's passage comes as Texas maintains a on abortion, implemented after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. State law prohibits nearly all abortions, with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
Copyright 2025 KERA

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A Kyle resident tested positive for measles but is no longer infectious, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

"鈥奣o my recollection, we have never had a true case of measles," 鈥奍an Harris, epidemiologist with the Hays County Health Department, said at a press conference Tuesday. "Never had a confirmed positive to my knowledge."

Officials with the Hays County Health Department said the individual received care and is feeling better.

The Hays County Health Department said it is working on identifying and notifying people who may have been exposed to the infected person when they were contagious from May 11 to 19.

"鈥奣his individual was not capable of providing us valid proof that they were immunized, so right now we are considering them unvaccinated," said Matthew Gonzales, the director for the Hays County Health Department.

Gonzales said the person is an adult and was exposed to the virus through an extended family member who visited them. At this time, the department can't confirm if the family member had measles.

The county shared a list of dates and locations where the person may have exposed others to the virus:

• Kohls - Sephora, 20185 Marketplace Ave, Saturday, May 10, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• H-E-B Plus, 5401 Farm to Market 1626, Saturday, May 10, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• CommuniCare - Kyle Clinic, 2810 Dacy Lane, Tuesday, May 13, 11:47 a.m. - 2:23 p.m.
• Texas Department of Public Safety, 1400 N IH 35, Tuesday, May 13, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Ascension Seton Hays, 6001 Kyle Parkway, Friday, May 16, 12:50 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

The person wasn't considered infectious on May 10, but the county said it was listing those locations "out of an abundance of caution due to the small possibility of early transmission."

Local health officials are advising people who were at the above locations during those time frames to check their medical records to see if they are protected against measles. They should also monitor for symptoms, which include fever, rash, cough, runny nose and watery eyes. People who are pregnant, have an infant or are immunocompromised should contact their health care provider for next steps.

The decline of vaccination rates in West Texas have led to a measles outbreak, with cases popping up elsewhere in the state, including Central Texas.

, the Hays County Health Department was notified about a visitor from Gaines County who tested positive for measles and took a tour of Texas State University.

At this time, Hays County officials don't believe the current case of measles is connected to the outbreak in Gaines County.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that is especially dangerous for young children and people with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms usually begin and can first appear as flu-like symptoms. A measles rash appears three to five days after symptoms begin.

A Houston-area midwife accused of performing illegal abortions has laid out the case for her innocence for the first time, alleging in an appeal filed Monday that the Texas Attorney General鈥檚 Office was so desperate to prosecute an abortion case that it 鈥渃onducted a shoddy investigation and leapt to wild conclusions.鈥�

鈥淭he Attorney General boasts that he has caught a 鈥楬ouston-Area Abortionist鈥� and has shut down 鈥楥linics Providing Illegal Abortions,鈥欌�� the appeal begins. 鈥淏ut there鈥檚 a snag: it isn鈥檛 true.鈥�

Maria Rojas, a 48-year-old native of Peru who ran a string of health clinics for primarily low-income and Spanish-speaking clientele, is asking the First Court of Appeals to overturn a temporary injunction that prevents her from practicing medicine or operating her clinics.

Rojas was , first on charges of practicing medicine without a license and then on additional charges of performing an illegal abortion. She is the first person arrested under Texas鈥� near-total abortion ban, which comes with up to life in prison and $100,000 in fines.

She has not yet been formally indicted on these criminal charges. But in the meantime, the Office of the Attorney General brought a civil suit asking a judge to shut down her clinics and bar her from practicing. A Waller County judge .

鈥淭his is a critical win in our fight to uphold Texas law, protect the unborn, and protect all Texans from dangerous clinics practicing medicine without a license,鈥� Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement at the time. 鈥淩ojas and her network of illegal clinics operated with blatant disregard for the law, putting people鈥檚 lives at risk.鈥�

Her lawyers now argue the injunction was improper because it didn鈥檛 explain why it was necessary or what it prohibited, and it didn鈥檛 set a trial date. They assert that there is no evidence that Rojas practiced medicine without a license, as opposed to providing services consistent with a midwife, and question why the chief investigator was not present at the hearing to be questioned.

Rojas is represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights, a New York-based nonprofit law firm that has led high-profile lawsuits against state abortion bans, including in Texas.

In the appeal, Rojas鈥� attorneys raise questions about whether the woman investigators claim underwent an illegal abortion was actually treated for a miscarriage. The appeal asserts that Rojas told the woman her pregnancy would not be successful and gave her a low dose of misoprostol 鈥� a treatment regimen appropriate for managing a miscarriage, not inducing an abortion. The lawyers questioned why investigators didn鈥檛 fact-check this woman鈥檚 story with the data stored on the clinic鈥檚 ultrasound machine, which they seized as part of the investigation.

Rojas鈥� lawyers also questioned whether Paxton has the authority to seek a temporary injunction or bring a lawsuit on behalf of the state in an abortion-related case. Texas鈥� abortion ban has criminal and civil penalties, but does not explicitly allow the attorney general to pursue injunctive relief or file suit on behalf of the state, the appeal says.

The Office of the Attorney General did not respond to a request for comment. The state has filed a motion to transfer the appeal to Texas' 15th Court of Appeals, a new court specifically for lawsuits by or against the state. That motion is unopposed but still pending.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

As spring temperatures warm up and Austin welcomes some much-needed rain, Austin Public Health experts are cautioning that mosquito season is upon us.

Mosquitoes tend to thrive between May and November in Texas, and provide them with ideal breeding grounds. Those itchy mosquito bites also come with risk, as mosquitoes can carry viral diseases such as West Nile and Zika.

鈥淲e鈥檝e seen the weather changing over the years here in Austin, and as a result, we鈥檝e seen mosquito seasons running longer than before,鈥� Marcel Elizondo, Austin鈥檚 Environmental Health Services division chief, said in a statement.

data shows that Texas had more West Nile cases than any other state last year. Many people who contract the disease may be asymptomatic 鈥� but around 20% will develop symptoms including headaches, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea and rash. In some cases, the disease can affect the central nervous system and can even be fatal.

Preliminary APH data shows that AG真人百家乐 County had 33 West Nile cases in 2024, including two deaths from the disease. Those numbers are up , when APH reported one death and three probable West Nile cases.

APH conducts regular monitoring of mosquito pools to test for the virus. In 2024, West Nile was detected in 101 mosquito pools.

鈥淲e鈥檙e also continuing to see West Nile in the pool samples we test 鈥� it's crucial that we take this seriously and protect ourselves whenever we鈥檙e spending time outdoors,鈥� Elizondo said.

While outside in the coming months, APH recommends wearing light, loose-fitting clothing that covers arms and legs, especially between the hours of dusk and dawn, when West Nile-carrying mosquitoes are most active. Additionally, folks are advised to use a DEET insect repellant and drain standing water from places like bird baths and clogged rain gutters.

鈥淲hile everyone is excited to get back to their favorite spring and summer activities, let's make sure that we鈥檙e taking quick steps to protect ourselves and fully enjoy this time of year,鈥� said Austin-AG真人百家乐 County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes.