Becca Aaronson
develops news applications and works on special investigative projects for The Texas Tribune. As a native of Austin with a bachelor’s degree in cultural theory from Scripps College in Claremont, Calif., Becca joined the Tribune in 2010 with a passion for building a new media model that promotes civic engagement. She was promoted in 2012 to cover health care for the Tribune, during which time she was nationally recognized for her coverage of women’s health and abortion politics. A founding member of the Tribune’s news apps team, Becca left the health care beat in 2014 to work on news apps full-time.
Recent Contributions
Enlarge
photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman / Jessica Schaefers
In a new report, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission recommends that the state’s health and human services system undergo a massive overhaul. Here are five takeaways from the report.
Full Story
After a ruling by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, there will be just eight abortion clinics authorized to perform the procedure in Texas. Here's an interactive map that shows where the clinics used to be — and where they are now.
Full Story
Enlarge
photo by: Stephen Spillman / Cooper Neill
Take a look back at the highlights from the last three decades of Texas gubernatorial debates.
Full Story
Texas counties, cities and school districts have more than $100 billion in debt that's backed by a pledge of local property taxes. Use our Local Debt Explorer to find out how much tax-supported debt is held in your community.
Full Story
Enlarge
photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman / Bob Daemmrich
Rick Perry, facing charges related to his threat to veto funding for the state's public integrity unit, has assembled his legal defense dream team. Here's a look at the strengths of both his attorneys and the prosecutor investigating him.
Full Story
Enlarge
photo illustration by: Peter Skadberg / Todd Wiseman
Texas is “ultimately responsible” for millions of misspent Medicaid dollars, according to a new federal audit, because a state agency failed to properly oversee the contractor.
Full Story
Our new Hospitals Explorer helps you learn more about the quality of care available at 377 Texas hospitals that reported Medicare data. See how hospitals in your area compare with one another and with state and national standards.
Full Story
Enlarge
photo illustration by: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Todd Wiseman
The candidates for Texas governor have been raising millions for their campaigns since last summer. The Tribune identified their top donors, famous givers and other noteworthy contributions.
Full Story
Top-of-the-ticket candidates have taken different political paths over the years, as their fundraising balances demonstrate.
Full Story
Check out The Politics of Prevention, our yearlong series investigating the impact of state policies on Texas women's access to public health programs. Find the rest of our women's health coverage here.
Full Story
Lawmakers are looking for ways to consolidate Texas' various women's health programs in an effort to improve access to family planning, cancer screenings and dozens of other services for the state’s poorest women.
Full Story
Enlarge
photo by: Todd Wiseman / Callie Richmond
UPDATED: Two Texas abortion doctors who filed a lawsuit against a Dallas hospital after losing their admitting privileges have settled their case with the hospital, which will reinstate their privileges.
Full Story
Dr. Behzad Nazari at his remaining dental clinic in Houston on Friday, April 25, 2014. Nazari sold two of three Antoine Dental clinics after the state began withholding Medicaid payments while they investigated the clinics for fraud.
Health officials canceled a multi-million-dollar contract with Xerox, and the state sued the contractor on Friday amid allegations it erroneously doled out hundreds of millions of dollars for medically unnecessary Medicaid claims.
Full Story
Dr. Behzad Nazari at his remaining dental clinic in Houston on Friday, April 25, 2014. Nazari sold two of three Antoine Dental clinics after the state began withholding Medicaid payments while they investigated the clinics for fraud.
While health officials have repeatedly raised concerns with a state contractor for its role in opening the door to a massive Medicaid fraud scheme, they have not severed its multiyear contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Full Story
Dr. Behzad Nazari at his remaining dental clinic in Houston Friday, April 25, 2014. Nazari operated 3 clinics in Houston with 15 licensed dentists. After the state alleged he had committed Medicaid fraud and began withholding payments, he sold two clinics. He has challenged the state's payment hold in court.
While dental providers accused of overbilling Texas' Medicaid program by hundreds of millions of dollars remain in legal limbo, the contractor that approved the procedures is still being paid more than $100 million annually by the state.
Full Story