Health Care Advocate: Jan. 15, 2026

Table of Contents Hawkins: Rural Health Funds Should be Flexible, Self-Sustaining THA President/CEO John Hawkins and other hospital leaders nationwide weighed in on the federal Rural Health Transformation Program in an article posted Monday by Becker’s Hospital Review. Texas received the largest share of funding for the first year of the new $50 billion, five-year program, receiving an award of…

Health Care Advocate: Jan. 8, 2026

Table of Contents Texas Gets Largest Cut of Rural Health Transformation Funds Texas is receiving more than $280 million – the most of any state – from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which is dividing $50 billion across all 50 states. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the overall funding awards to each state in a…

Health Care Advocate: Dec. 18, 2025

Table of Contents Four House Republicans Sign Petition to Force EPTC Vote The late push in Congress to renew the enhanced premium tax credits (EPTC) continued in fits and starts this week as lawmakers in both parties moved to force a vote on EPTCs, which have helped Texas and many other states significantly boost enrollment in the federal Health Insurance…

Health Care Advocate: Dec. 11, 2025

Table of Contents During D.C. Visit, THA Pushes for Premium Credit Extension With time dwindling fast for Congress to act on renewing the enhanced premium tax credits (EPTC) before they expire, members of THA’s advocacy team visited Washington, D.C., early this week to stress the importance of continuing the enhanced credits, which have helped triple Texas enrollment in the federal…

Health Care Advocate: Dec. 4, 2025

Table of Contents THA, TMA and Insurers Urge Renewal of Enhanced Tax Credits THA continues urging Congress to renew the enhanced premium tax credits (EPTC) for federal Marketplace health plans, and in a new joint op-ed today in the Austin American-Statesman, THA makes that case along with the Texas Medical Association and the Texas Association of Health Plans. Without action…

Health Care Advocate: Nov. 20, 2025

Table of Contents Cassidy Proposal Would Direct EPTCs to Health Savings Accounts The biggest loose end remaining from the government shutdown that ended last week – the fate of enhanced premium tax credits (EPTC) for the federal Health Insurance Marketplace – generated more debate this week as the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance examined “The Rising Cost of Health Care”…

Health Care Advocate: Nov. 13, 2025

Table of Contents Funding Deal Revives Hospital Programs For Now Congress reached a deal this week to reopen the federal government through Jan. 30, 2026 – which establishes that date as the key one for hospitals on a fresh short-term delay of Medicaid Disproportionate Share (DSH) cuts and new reauthorizations of several programs. Lawmakers’ continuing resolution (CR) ended the shutdown…

Health Care Advocate: Nov. 6, 2025

Table of Contents DSHS Alert: Pertussis Cases Up Fourfold Over 2024 The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued a health alert reporting a significant increase in pertussis, or whooping cough, cases in 2025. More than 3,500 cases have been reported through October – approximately four times the number reported during the same period last year. This marks the…

Health Care Advocate: Oct. 30, 2025

Table of Contents Shutdown Update: First Texas DSH Cuts Top $300 Million The impact of the current federal government shutdown officially reached Texas facilities in the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) program this week as they received their first advance DSH payment of fiscal year 2026. Accompanying the shutdown that began on Oct. 1 was the initial implementation of long-delayed…

Health Care Advocate: Oct. 23, 2025

Table of Contents AHA Provides Updates on H-1B Visas, Physician Employment Trends U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued updated guidance on Monday clarifying the new $100,000 H-1B visa fee announced last month. The fee applies only to recipients outside the U.S. without a valid H-1B visa and excludes recipients of previously issued visas and current visa holders, as well as…