State Advocacy

512/465-1000
info@tha.org

The Texas Hospital Association’s advocacy on behalf of Texas hospitals and patients is year-round. Through the legislative session and beyond, THA works with lawmakers, regulatory agencies and key stakeholders on issues that help hospitals provide the highest quality care. Texas hospitals can use the resources on this page to stay up-to-date on the policy and and funding issues affecting your patients and community as well as the entire Texas hospital industry.

Contacts:

John Hawkins, senior vice president of government relations, 512/465-1505
Jennifer Banda, J.D., vice president of advocacy, public policy & political strategy, 512/465-1046
Carrie Kroll, vice president of advocacy, quality & public health, 512/465-1043
Sara Gonzalez, vice president of advocacy & public policy, 512/465-1596

Texas Hospitals’ Policy Priorities

From increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates to reducing the number of uninsured Texans, Texas hospitals have a number of core policy priorities for 2021.

Download the whitepaper

Advocacy in Action

Expressing support or opposition for legislation is a key component of THA’s advocacy. Watch THA’s testimony to get the topline messages on the issues impacting Texas hospitals.

Watch the testimony

Key Legislation

THA tracks 1,000+ bills for impact on Texas hospitals. Among the many bills THA seeks to improve or eliminate are those that it seeks to pass. Read THA’s whitepapers on key legislation and get the status of those bills.

Learn more

2022-2023 State Budget Priorities

Maintaining hospital rates, pursuing a federal "IMD Exclusion" waiver for Medicaid clients' access to inpatient psychiatric care and new funding to protect the health care safety net are among Texas hospitals' top priorities for the 2022-2023 state budget.

Download the whitepaper Download the letter to conferees

Get the News

Read THA's weekly Health Care Advocate and turn on push notifications for THA’s Advocacy App to stay up-to-date on all the latest legislative, regulatory and policy news impacting Texas hospitals. Not receiving the weekly newsletter? Contact Aisha Ainsworth.

Stay Engaged

Follow THA on social media to hear the latest news on Texas hospitals' work and quality initiatives.

Follow on Twitter Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram

2021 Key Legislation

Of the 1,000 bills THA is tracking this session, several are key priorities for Texas hospitals. Read the whitepapers THA uses to advocate for this legislation and see the bill tracker for the latest movement on a bill. Bills in the tracker are listed in order of the latest action taken by the 87th Texas Legislature. Click on a bill to see where it's at in the legislative process.

Strengthen Dialysis Access in Emergencies (4/5/21)
Hospital Investigation Transparency (3/22/21)
Prudent Layperson Emergency Department Standard (3/18/21)
Court Costs for Mental Health Hearings (3/16/21)
Applications for Orders of Protective Custody (3/16/21)
Eliminate White Bagging (3/11/21)
Health Insurance Network Integrity (3/10/21)
IMD Exclusion Waiver (2/24/21)
Texas Hospitals’ 2021 State Policy Priorities (1/5/21)

2020 Interim Work

From studying selected topics to preparing for the next biennial budget, the interim is an important planning period for state lawmakers and regulatory bodies. And THA stays connected and engages them each step of the way, including:

Suggesting certain “interim charges” or topics for lawmakers study prior to the 2021 legislative session.
Recommending health care funding items for the state health agency to prioritize in its request for the 2021-2022 state budget.
Urging protection of critical hospital payments amid a call to cut state agency spending by 5% for 2020-2021.
Responding to interim charges related to surprise billing, health care coverage options, health care costs, hospital financing, vaccines, behavioral health capacity, controlled substances/telemedicine as well as prior authorizations and utilization review.

Read the full list interim charges for the Texas House and Texas Senate.

Past Legislative Sessions

Review highlights of recent state legislative sessions and the then-new laws that affect Texas hospitals.

Learn more here

HOSPAC

HOSPAC, THA's political action committee, works hand-in-hand with its member hospitals to build vital relationships with lawmakers.

Learn more here

Host a Legislative Visit

Use this toolkit with tips and talking points for hosting a successful legislative visit at your hospital.

State Advocacy

Contacts:

Texas Hospitals’ Policy Priorities

Advocacy in Action

Key Legislation

2022-2023 State Budget Priorities

Get the News

Stay Engaged

2020 Interim Work

Key Lawmakers

Gov. Greg Abbott (R)

Speaker of the House Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont)

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R)

Rep. Greg Bonnen (R-Friendswood)

Chair, House Committee on Appropriations

Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound)

Chair, Senate Committee on Finance

Rep. Stephanie Klick (R-Fort Worth)

Chair, House Committee on Public Health

Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham)

Chair, Senate Committee on Health and Human Services

Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock)

Chair, House Committee on Calendars

Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills)

Chair, Senate Business & Commerce Committee

Rep. James Frank (R-Wichita Falls)

Chair, House Committee on Human Services

Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)

Chair, Senate Committee on Local Government

Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston)

Chair, House Committee on County Affairs

Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola)

Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs

Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress)

Chair, House Committee on Insurance

Rep. Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas)

Chair, House Committee on Ways and Means

Speaker of the House Dade Phelan
(R-Beaumont)

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
(R)

Rep. Greg Bonnen
(R-Friendswood)

Sen. Jane Nelson
(R-Flower Mound)

Rep. Stephanie Klick
(R-Fort Worth)

Sen. Lois Kolkhorst
(R-Brenham)

Rep. Dustin Burrows
(R-Lubbock)

Sen. Kelly Hancock
(R-North Richland Hills)

Rep. James Frank
(R-Wichita Falls)

Sen. Paul Bettencourt
(R-Houston)

Rep. Garnet Coleman
(D-Houston)

Sen. Bryan Hughes
(R-Mineola)

Rep. Tom Oliverson
(R-Cypress)

Rep. Morgan Meyer
(R-Dallas)