Dr. David L. Lakey, chief of infectious disease and medical director of the Center for Pulmonary and Infectious Disease Control at the University of Texas Health Center in Tyler, has been selected Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services effective Jan. 2. (See news release.)

Legislative Appropriations Request

The DSHS Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) for the biennium beginning September 1, 2007, is now available. Submission of the LAR is the first step in the budget process that the agency will go through during the legislative session starting in January 2007.

All files linked from this page are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you have special accessibility needs, comments, questions or would like to request a hard copy printout of this report, please .

Negotiated Rulemaking for Provider of Last Resort

DSHS will engage in negotiated rulemaking to develop an implementation plan for the provider of last resort provisions contained in House Bill 2292 (78th Legislature). This three-phase process will involve an implementation plan that will put into operation the provisions of the law and the requirements of the Governor's Executive Order RP 45.

Click here for more information

Newborn Screening Expansion

The Texas Department of State Health Services is now testing “heel stick” blood samples from newborns for 26 disorders, with a 27th to be added early next year. Previously, newborns were screened for seven conditions. House Bill 790, passed by the 79th Texas Legislature in 2005, mandated that DSHS screen for additional disorders recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics as funding allows.

News Release

Last Updated December 7, 2006