Health Care Advocate: May 14, 2026

Table of Contents Don’t Miss the Medicaid Revalidation Deadline The Texas Health and Human Services Commission requires all Medicaid providers to regularly revalidate their enrollment to continue serving patients and receiving payment. If you’re due for revalidation, it’s critical to complete the process in the Provider Enrollment and Management System (PEMS) on time. Why it Matters: Most providers are required…

Health Care Advocate: May 7, 2026

Table of Contents White House Reverses H-1B Visa Freeze for Physicians As of last week, physicians working in the United States are no longer subject to the processing hold from the White House’s January travel ban policy, which froze H-1B visa extensions, work permits and green cards for citizens of 39 countries. There were no formal announcements about the update…

What the Hearing Got Wrong About Hospital Finances

Austin, Texas (May 7, 2026) – Last week, the Texas House Health Care Affordability Select Committee held its first interim hearing to examine rising healthcare costs, with much of the discussion focused on hospitals’ role in driving this growth. In this hearing, invited testimony included national think tanks, researchers, and nonprofit organizations. These out-of-state witnesses relied on national cost tools…

Health Care Advocate: April 30, 2026

Table of Contents Ways and Means Scrutinizes Hospital Costs Talks around the cost of health care intensified this week, beginning with the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Tuesday. The hearing brought in four health system CEOs — including THA members HCA Healthcare and CommonSpirit Health — to address rising hospital spending and the overall cost of care.…

The Truth Behind Growing Hospital Costs

Austin, Texas (April 27, 2026) – THA has launched an information alert series on hospitals and health care costs to help policymakers and the public combat misinformation, better understand the health care system and accurately learn what’s harming affordability. THA’s first alert addressed misconceptions about the drivers of healthcare cost growth. This edition further explores the facts and truth behind…

Health Care Advocate: April 23, 2026

Table of Contents Cost of Care Remains Front and Center Next week, the conversation around the cost of health care continues at both the state and federal levels. On Tuesday at 9 a.m. CT, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee will bring hospital executives representing HCA Healthcare, New York-Presbyterian, CommonSpirit and ECU Health to the table to continue conversations…

The Misconceptions Behind the Rising Cost of Health Care

Austin, Texas (April 21, 2026) – A recent TAHP newsletter circulating the Capitol blames hospital pricing as the primary reason insurers are raising their premiums. For example, the newsletter attributes 80% of the gap between what the U.S. spends on health care compared with other wealthy countries to hospital prices alone. However, the newsletter failed to cite the full context…

Health Care Advocate: April 16, 2026

Table of Contents IPPS Proposed Rule to Increase Hospital Payments Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a proposed rule to increase Medicare inpatient prospective payment system rates by a net 2.4% in fiscal year (FY) 2027 for hospitals that are meaningful users of electronic health records and submit quality measure data. Overall, the proposed rule would…

Health Care Advocate: April 9, 2026

Table of Contents Senate HHS Examines Fraud and Abuse On Wednesday, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing examining fraud and abuse in social services programs across the state. When discussing health programs, several invited experts testified that Texas is one of the strongest states in preventing fraud, waste and abuse. While fraud allegations in Minnesota and…

Health Care Advocate: April 2, 2026

Table of Contents Senate Releases Second Round of Interim Charges On Friday, the Senate released a second batch of interim charges shortly after announcing Interim Committee assignments and following the House’s release of its interim charges and Health Care Affordability Select Committee. Similar to the House, health care and insurance costs were a focal point of interim priorities. Additionally, legislators…