Texas Hospital Association

A bill's journey doesn't start with a vote – and most don't end with one.

Before a proposal reaches the House or Senate floor, it must survive committee hearings, stakeholder negotiations, public testimony, scheduling decisions and countless conversations behind the scenes. The best strategy for survival? Collaboration.

Take a look inside the Texas legislative process and the many people who shape it along the way, in the latest on The Scope: https://bit.ly/4g0nv9I

You may have seen what has been dubbed the “Chart of the Century,” but the viral graphic hardly holds weight against a simple pressure test. Let's take a closer look ⬇️

Medical inflation is high across the board, but patients don’t buy hospital care directly; they buy health insurance. And the government data the chart is based on doesn’t fully account for how much insurers retain from each premium dollar or how much is shifted to patients through deductibles and coinsurance, leading to higher out-of-pocket costs

🚨 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙩: Meanwhile, the seven largest health insurers have tripled their revenues over a decade. 🚨

Think you've seen the whole story on the “Chart of the Century”? Our latest Behind the Headlines takes a closer look. New issues are released every Monday at 11 a.m. CT.

Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/4tINtml

𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜: Future healthcare advocates gathered in Austin for a full day of learning, collaboration and hands-on experience at the Advocacy 101 Summit.

Attendees explored the legislative process, learned how to deliver impactful testimony, participated in a mock hearing and met with legislative offices to put their new skills into practice.

Thank you to our speakers, panelists and attendees for helping strengthen the voice of Texas hospitals and advocacy efforts that support patients and communities across the state.

On Wednesday, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing to examine the drivers of rising healthcare and insurance costs in Texas. The hearing was structured across five panels, covering how the current landscape took shape, opportunities to reduce healthcare and drug costs and monitoring of legislative implementation.

THA's President and CEO, John Hawkins, provided testimony before the committee, directly addressing and correcting falsehoods perpetuated by insurance companies and other healthcare industry representatives during previous hearings.

Hawkins emphasized the critical role hospitals play in their communities and their ongoing commitment to keeping care accessible for all Texans. He also underscored the necessity of facility fees, which fund staff, supplies, and the drugs and medications needed to treat patients – without them, hospitals would be forced to scale back outpatient services or close their doors entirely. Additionally, he addressed false narratives regarding hospital consolidation, providing lawmakers with accurate context around why consolidation occurs, and that it keeps care close to home when other alternatives aren’t viable.

THA remains dedicated to uplifting the vital work Texas hospitals are doing and working with legislators to address rising costs and identify solutions that strengthen access to care for all Texans.

Each month, THA’s Newsmakers highlights leaders from THA member hospitals and health systems making headlines in Texas healthcare. 👩‍⚕️👏

Please join us in congratulating our May Newsmakers: https://bit.ly/3M2sdHB

The challenges facing Texas hospitals aren’t slowing down. Neither are the leaders working to solve them.

Join hospital leaders from across the state at the 2026 THA Annual Conference in Fort Worth this September for timely conversations on health law, finance and IT – plus opportunities to connect, collaborate and share ideas shaping the future of Texas healthcare.

🗓️ Sept. 22-23, 2026
📍Omni Fort Worth
🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/4u6FC1f

Will we see you there?

Texas is in the midst of a mental health crisis. Data shows Texans experience mental health conditions at rates well above the national average, yet access to care falls far short of meeting that need. Expanding access to mental health care, including outpatient and step-down services, is critical for the continuum of care.

It is time to treat behavioral health with the same urgency and importance as physical health – and ensure coverage reflects that reality. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4dREcle

🗳️ Today is Primary Runoff Election Day in Texas!

Polls are open now and will close this evening - this is your final opportunity to help decide who will appear on the ballot in November’s general election.

In Texas, primary elections can have a significant impact on the future of public policy, especially healthcare.

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀.