Health Care Advocate: April 3, 2025

Table of Contents THA Opposes Hamstringing Hospitals’ Ability to Protect Reputation THA General Counsel Steve Wohleb testified today against Senate Bill 2043 by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), a broad anti-retaliation measure that would, in part, prohibit health care institutions from taking any adverse action against providers for speech that “is protected from government interference.” SB 2043 includes language about other…

THA staff with former Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt (second from left) at the THA-sponsored "Five Years After COVID-19" Texas Tribune event.

Health Care Advocate: March 27, 2025

Table of Contents Senate Passes THA-Supported Bill to Curb Insurer Misuse of AI Wednesday brought a major incremental victory in the battle to regulate insurers’ undue use of artificial intelligence (AI) when the full Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 815 by Sen. Charles Schwertner, MD (R-Georgetown) on a unanimous vote. SB 815 prohibits insurers from using an AI algorithm as…

THA Associate General Counsel Nicole Lusardi, J.D., testifies in support of House Bill 3163 at the House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence. (Photo Credit: Natalie Guillot)

Health Care Advocate: March 20, 2025

Table of Contents AHA Warns of Potential ISIS Terrorist Threat at Hospitals The American Hospital Association and the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Health-ISAC) are sharing an informational bulletin about the potential threat of a “multi-city terrorist attack” on U.S. hospitals “in the coming weeks” following a social media post that warned of active planning of such a threat.…

2025 THA Leadership Fellows take a tour of the Texas Capitol following a morning program at THA headquarters. (Photo Credit: Brian O'Neill)

Health Care Advocate: March 13, 2025

Table of Contents THA Asks for Fairness for Providers in Medicaid Fraud Bill “Waste, fraud and abuse” – the troika of current targets in government spending at both the state and federal levels – collectively generated more discussion on Tuesday at the Texas Capitol as the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services considered Senate Bill 1038 by Sen. Kevin…

Katherine Yoder, vice president of government relations at Parkland, discusses key issues alongside Micah Rodriguez (left) of Harris Health System, Jeff Hill (second from left) of UMC Health System and other hospital executives during a meeting of THA’s Hospital Advocacy Group.

Health Care Advocate: March 6, 2025

Table of Contents THA Hits D.C. Amid Talk of Possible Government Shutdown THA advocacy staff traveled to Washington, D.C., this week, meeting with the offices of members of the Texas congressional delegation – including 14 House members and both U.S. senators – to discuss pressing issues impacting hospitals. April 1 looms as a key date by which lawmakers must resolve…

Will Holleman (far right), THA vice president of advocacy and public policy, leads students from Trinity University's Masters of Health Care Administration program around the Texas Capitol last week, when the students visited THA for an up-close look at advocacy in action. (Photo Credit: Natalie Guillot)

Health Care Advocate: Feb. 27, 2024

Table of Contents New THA Federal White Paper Calls for Careful Budget Approach Ahead of the U.S. House of Representatives advancing a major budget proposal on Tuesday night that would include the potential for deep Medicaid cuts, THA released a new white paper that lays out hospital-relevant pieces of the current congressional budget talks, and urges a careful approach that…

John Hawkins, THA president/CEO, and Marie Alvarez, division president for Acadia Healthcare, following testimony at the Senate Committee on Finance at the Texas State Capitol. (Photo Credit: Natalie Guillot)

Health Care Advocate: Feb. 20, 2024

Table of Contents Capitol Roundup: THA Backs Bill to Curb Insurer AI Misuse Following last week’s announcement of committee assignments in the House of Representatives, activity in the Texas Legislature is expected to pick up steam as bills are referred to the newly formed committees. As that process begins, THA is working to help craft, champion and advance legislation that…

In preparation for a health care reporting assignment, journalism students from Abilene Christian University visit with THA leadership to gain insight into health care policy, current issues impacting hospitals and effective communication strategies. (Photo Credit: Natalie Guillot)

Health Care Advocate: Feb. 13, 2025

Table of Contents Budget Haggling in D.C. Includes Talk of Medicare, Medicaid Cuts This week in Washington, D.C., budget committees in both the U.S. House and Senate passed separate frameworks that set top-line numbers for a reconciliation package that would advance President Trump’s policy priorities, including trillions of dollars in tax cuts. Both plans issue directives to specific committees to…

Jim Kendrick, THA board chair and president/CEO of Community Hospital Corporation, leads the first THA Board of Trustees meeting of 2025 last Friday, Feb. 7. (Photo Credit: Natalie Guillot)

Health Care Advocate: Feb. 6, 2025

Table of Contents Measles Toll in Gaines County Rises to Six State health authorities this morning announced the emergence of new measles cases in Texas for the third straight week, and the second straight week for Gaines County. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) now says six cases have been found in Gaines, on top of two Harris…

Hospital communicators weigh in on industry issues and best practices during THA’s second annual Texas Hospital Communicators Summit in Austin. (Photo Credit: Natalie Guillot)

Health Care Advocate: Jan. 30, 2025

Table of Contents Analysis: Budget Starting Point Holds Serve on Health Care Dollars THA’s review of the respective state House and Senate budget proposals for 2026-27 showed lawmakers in the Texas Legislature are largely preparing to hold the line on health care spending – a relative relief for Texas hospitals if that approach holds in the final budget. The filed…