Texas Hospital Association

Healthcare Advocate: July 30, 2026

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Advocacy News 
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Abbott Announces $5.8M for Emergency & Trauma Care Workforce Training

Governor Greg Abbott announced 24 grants totaling more than $5.8 million to graduate medical and nursing schools across Texas to help train more doctors and nurses in emergency and trauma care. The funding, distributed through the Emergency and Trauma Care Education Partnership Program (ETEP) and administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, supports partnerships between hospitals and graduate medical education programs – building the pipeline of physicians, residents, fellows and nurses trained in high-need specialty areas like emergency medicine, pediatric emergency medicine and surgical critical care. Established by the Texas Legislature in 2011, ETEP continues to play a key role in strengthening the state’s emergency care workforce as demand for trauma services grows statewide. (Benjamin Williams/Laura Cornelson, MSN, RN/Matt Turner, Ph.D./Heather De La Garza-Barone, J.D)

Rural Texas Strong Grant Due Aug. 26

The Health and Human Services Commission has opened a grant for small-town healthcare providers through the Rural Texas Strong Program. The grant – Initiative 4, Round 2, known as “The Next Generation of Small Town Doctor and Team” – is open to providers in counties with populations of 68,750 or less, including rural hospitals, behavioral health clinics, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, pharmacies, EMS providers, independent primary care and specialty physicians, and allied health professionals. Applications are due Aug. 26 at 10:30 a.m. CT. (Anna Stelter/Sara González/Will Holleman)

Lt. Gov. Releases Additional Interim Charges for Senate

On Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released seven additional interim charges directing Senate committees to study key policy issues ahead of the 2027 legislative session. The new charges include preventing unfair online ticket sales practices, protecting children from inappropriate content in video games, improving family court procedures and managing the Pecos River Basin. Most notably, one charge examines religious liberty in Texas, with a specific emphasis on healthcare. It also includes public education on religious rights and oversight of Senate Bill 1049 (89R).

Healthcare remains a significant focus of the Senate’s interim work. Lawmakers have been directed earlier this year to examine rising health care and insurance costs, the societal impacts of THC, mental health, the exploitation of surrogacy and implementation of several bills passed during the 89th Legislative Session. (Carrie Kroll/Sara González/Benjamin Williams/Will Holleman/Anna Stelter/Matt Turner, Ph.D./Erika Ramirez-Wright)

DSHS Alert: Montgomery County Measles Outbreak

DSHS has issued a health alert after four measles cases were confirmed last week in unvaccinated members of the same family in Montgomery County, following exposure to a traveler infected out of state. Because measles is highly contagious, additional cases among unvaccinated individuals in the area are possible.

DSHS is urging health care professionals and the public to stay alert to signs and symptoms and ensure they’re protected. The MMR vaccine remains the most effective prevention, offering more than 97% protection after two doses, and is available through the Texas Vaccines for Children program for those who qualify. Pharmacists can administer it without a prescription to anyone 14 and older, and with a prescription for children 13 and under.

Symptoms appear 7–21 days after exposure, typically starting with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the face down the body. Patients are contagious from about four days before the rash appears through four days after – and should stay home during that window.

Anyone who thinks they’ve been exposed should call their provider before visiting in person, so testing can be arranged without exposing others. Seek emergency care for difficulty breathing, severe dehydration, confusion or decreased alertness; in young children, watch for bluish skin around the mouth, crying without tears or unusually low energy. (Erika Ramirez-Wright/Will Holleman/Nicole Lusardi, J.D.)

Texas Hospital Secures Victory Over CMS on Uncompensated Care Pool Days

For the second time, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Pittman has restored hospitals’ ability to count Medicaid 1115 waiver uncompensated care pool (UC) days in the Medicaid fraction of their Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) calculation. In his ruling issued Monday in Covenant Medical Center v. Kennedy, Judge Pittman vacated a federal regulation previously issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that prevented hospitals from counting such days. As THA emphasized to CMS repeatedly in multiple rounds of rulemaking in 2023 and 2024, this flawed regulation unfairly penalized hospitals in Texas and other states that didn’t expand Medicaid by lowering potential Medicare DSH payments and jeopardizing eligibility for the 340B drug program. This is the second substantially similar ruling Judge Pittman has issued in favor of Texas hospitals who have sued the federal government on this question. In December 2025, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Judge Pittman’s ruling in favor of Texas hospitals in a related case, Baylor All Saints v. Becerra, remanding the case back to district court on jurisdictional grounds without ruling on the merits. CMS now must determine whether it will appeal the ruling to the Fifth Circuit. (Anna Stelter/Heather De La Garza-Barone, J.D./Steve Wohleb, J.D.)

2027 AHA Quest for Quality Prize Applications Open

The application period for the 2027 AHA Quest for Quality Prize is open June 16 – Aug. 18. The award honors hospitals and health systems for leadership and innovation in strengthening quality and advancing the health of individuals and communities – including exceptional, patient- and family-centered care, community partnerships, and innovative care models.

Winners will be recognized at the 2027 AHA Leadership Summit, July 18–20, in San Diego. Applications are due Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. ET. (Laura Cornelson, MSN, RN)

TMHP IAMOnline Transition: New Resources Available

TMHP’s phased transition to IAMOnline the new single sign-on entry point for TMHP applications – is underway, effective since June 12. Here are a few resources to share with your teams as the rollout continues:

Providers running into issues can reach the TMHP EDI Help Desk at 888-863-3638. (Anna Stelter/Sara González/Erika Ramirez-Wright)

2027 Leadership Fellows Program Applications Due by Aug. 7

The Texas Hospital Association Leadership Fellows Program provides healthcare leaders with in-depth knowledge of the legislative and regulatory process, introduces key policy issues and connects them with policy shapers in Texas. At the conclusion of the program, the cohort will have the necessary tools to be effective healthcare advocates at the community, state and federal levels.

The program consists of four modules throughout the course of the year and begins this November. The application deadline for the Class of 2027 is 5 p.m. CT on Aug. 7. (Lindsay Thompson/Alex Price)

Registration Open for THA’s 2026 Conference in September

Registration is open for THA’s 2026 Annual Conference. From Sept. 22-23 at the Omni in Fort Worth, THA’s largest event of the year is set to provide Texas hospital leaders with the latest legislative and regulatory updates impacting healthcare in our state.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from experts on the most pressing issues in healthcare, gain legislative insights, access key leadership development opportunities and network with their peers from hospitals and health systems across Texas. Registration and more information are available on the conference webpage. (Lindsay Thompson/Alex Price)

This Week on The Scope

Focused on THA member hospitals/health systems and the issues they face, The Scope is the No. 1 source for news, information and thought leadership related to Texas hospitals and priority issues impacting healthcare. Featured this week:

More content is available on The Scope. (Julia Mann)

Texas Register Highlights

The Health and Human Services Commission, on behalf of the Department of State Health Services, proposed amendments to 25 TAC, Chapter 13, concerning Health Planning and Resource Development, §13.11, concerning Purpose and Scope; §13.13, concerning Definitions; §13.18, concerning Noncompliance with Reporting Requirements; §13.19, concerning Confidential Data; §13.51, concerning Purpose and Score; and §13.85, concerning Award Criteria and Selection for Funding. The proposed amendments will implement House Bill 3801 (89R), which repealed Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 104 and abolished the Statewide Health Coordinating Council and the nursing advisory committee of the council effective Sept. 1, 2025. The proposed amendments remove references to those topics from 25 TAC Chapter 13. Comments on the proposed amendments must be submitted no later than Aug. 24. (July 24)

The Health and Human Services Commission, on behalf of the Department of State Health Services, proposed amendments to 25 TAC §571.1, concerning General Provisions and §571.2, concerning State Health Plan and Plan Implementation. The proposed amendments will implement House Bill 3801 (89R), which repealed Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 104 and abolished the Statewide Health Coordinating Council effective Sept. 1, 2025. The proposed amendments remove unnecessary rules from 25 TAC Part 6, State Health Coordinating Council, consisting of Chapter 571, Subchapter A, §571.1 and §571.2. Comments on the proposed amendments must be submitted no later than Aug. 24. (July 24)

The Health and Human Services Commission proposed an amendment to 26 TAC §509.45, concerning Medical Staff. The proposed amendment will allow a freestanding emergency medical care facility to give medical staff privileges to physicians who are currently board certified in emergency medicine from the American Board of Emergency Medicine or the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine with the required experience and without requiring current certification in advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, and advanced trauma life support. Comments on the proposed amendment must be submitted no later than Aug. 24. (July 24)

The Texas Board of Nursing adopted amendments to 22 TAC §§216.1, 216.5, 216.7, 216.8, 216.9, and 216.11, without changes to the proposed text published in the March 20 issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 1789). The rule will not be republished. The Board adopted the amendments to implement the requirements of Senate Bill 912, which added Texas Occupations Code §§112.101-112.106, which required the creation of a continuing education tracking system to verify that licensees have complied with continuing competency requirements prior to renewal of license. The amendments to 22 TAC Chapter 216, relating to Continuing Competency, implement SB 912 by creating and integrating a continuing education tracking system for verifying licensee compliance. The amendments become effective on Sept. 1. (July 24)

The Health and Human Services Commission proposed a new 26 TAC §505.27, concerning Mobile Stroke Units. The proposed new section is necessary to comply with House Bill 4743 (89R) which amended the Texas Health and Safety Code §241.023 to allow a general or special hospital license to include a mobile stroke unit (MSU). The proposed rule establishes requirements for MSUs to exist as part of a licensed hospital and specifies which existing licensing rules do not apply to MSUs. The proposed rule also improves consistency between hospital licensing rules and THSC §241.023. Comments on the proposed new section must be submitted no later than Aug. 24. (July 24) (Michael Sipes)

Federal Register Highlights

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule that would revise standards for determining whether a hold harmless arrangement exists for a health care-related tax. The proposed rule will implement a provision in the Working Families Tax Cut (WFTC) legislation. The WFTC established new indirect hold harmless thresholds for health care-related taxes. The current threshold for a state’s collection of tax revenues is held to six percent of net patient revenue attributable to the assessed permissible class of health care items of services. Effective Oct. 1, the WFTC legislation generally sets the threshold equal to the applicable percent of net patient revenue attributable to taxes imposed as of July 4, 2025. Effective Oct. 1, 2027, the WFTC legislation will also require a phase down of the hold harmless threshold in expansion states. The proposed rule will also sunset a prong of the indirect hold harmless determination, which will ensure the thresholds determined as of July 4, 2025, serve as the maximum permissible level. Finally, the proposed rule would add a new permissible class to enhance CMS oversight of health care-related services. Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted no later than Sept. 1. (July 23)

The Employee Benefits Security Administration proposed a rule to create a new, additional safe harbor for group health plan administrators to use electronic media (email or web portal) to furnish documents and information to participants and beneficiaries of plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The proposed rule will allow certain plan administrators to provide participants and beneficiaries with a notice that certain disclosures will be available electronically on a website. Individuals may opt out of receiving electronic notices and disclosures. Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted no later than Sept. 21. (July 23)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced an opportunity for public comment on their intention to collect information from the public concerning the revision of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and the revision of the Beneficiary and Family Centered Data Collection. Comments on the collection of information must be submitted no later than Aug. 24. (July 24)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced their decision to approve the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s renewal application for Medicare Advantage “deeming authority” of Health Maintenance Organizations and Preferred Provider Organizations for a term of 6 years, beginning May 18, 2026, through May 18, 2032. (July 27)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a meeting of the Pediatric Advisory Committee (PAC), to be held on Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT. The main function of the PAC is to provide advice and recommendations to the FDA on pediatric regulatory issues. (July 28) (Michael Sipes)

The Health Care Advocate is a publication of the Texas Hospital Association, 1108 Lavaca, Austin Tx 78701. Telephone 512/465-1570 for information. For additional information regarding specific articles, please contact the THA staff member(s) listed at the bottom of each full article. According to Texas Government Code 305.027, this material may be considered “legislative advertising.” Authorization for its publication is made by Carrie Kroll, Texas Hospital Association, 1108 Lavaca, Suite 700, Austin, Texas 78701-2180.