Recap of Interim Hearings — Why They Matter to Hospitals: Texas lawmakers have conducted interim hearings to prepare for the 2027 legislative session, with healthcare emerging as a key priority. While the hearings have covered a broad range of topics — including Medicaid oversight, healthcare affordability, insurance, rural healthcare, telehealth, and workforce challenges — a recurring theme has been identifying the drivers of rising healthcare costs. Unfortunately for hospitals, this effort has been impacted by special interest groups who are casting blame at hospitals rather than trying to collaborate on true healthcare affordability.
- Medicaid and Human Services Oversight (April 8): Led by Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), the Senate Health and Human Services Committee examined fraud, waste, and abuse prevention in Texas health and human services programs. Discussions centered on Medicaid program integrity, including provider enrollment, billing oversight, auditing, and enforcement.
- Risk to hospitals: Increased oversight could result in additional compliance requirements, enhanced auditing, and stricter enforcement for participating providers.
- Healthcare Affordability (April 30–May 1): The House Select Committee on Health Care Affordability, chaired by Representative James Frank (R-Wichita Falls), reviewed healthcare cost drivers, administrative burdens, insurance market incentives, provider consolidation, and consumer price transparency.
- Risk to hospitals: Hospitals may face renewed scrutiny around pricing practices, consolidation, and transparency, potentially leading to proposals that increase reporting requirements or limit reimbursement mechanisms.
- Rising Healthcare and Insurance Costs (May 27): The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services continued its examination of rising healthcare costs, with testimony on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), hospital and physician facility fees, and consumer coverage options.
- Risk to hospitals: Facility fees and other hospital payment policies remain under legislative scrutiny and could become targets for reforms aimed at lowering healthcare costs.
- House Insurance (June 4): The House Committee on Insurance, chaired by Representative Jay Dean (R-Longview), discussed federal health policy changes, benefit design, and network adequacy.
- Risk to hospitals: Changes to insurance markets or benefit structures could affect reimbursement, contracting, and patient access to hospital services.
- House Public Health (June 4): The House Committee on Public Health, chaired by Representative Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston), examined telehealth, workforce shortages, and rural healthcare funding.
- Opportunity and risk: While these discussions could support investments in workforce development and rural care, they may also result in new expectations for hospitals related to access, staffing, and service delivery.
Texas Runoff Election Update: Texas held its primary runoff election on May 26. Approximately 1.9 million voters participated in the May primary runoff election, a significant decrease from the 4.5 million Texans who voted in the March primary election, but a new record for any runoff election in state history. Republicans accounted for about 1.4 million of those votes; Democrats, roughly 550,000.
Key Results:
- U.S. Senate: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) defeated incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-San Antonio), 63.8% to 36.2%, and carried every county except Travis and Kenedy. Paxton will now face Democratic nominee, State Representative James Talarico (D-Austin) in the November general election.
- Attorney General: State Senator Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) defeated U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-Austin) for the Republican nomination with 55.2% of the vote. State Senator Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas) defeated former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski (D-Galveston) for the Democratic nomination. Middleton and Johnson will face off in the November general election.
- Railroad Commissioner: Bo French (R-Fort Worth) defeated incumbent Jim Wright (R-Orange Grove) to become the Republican nominee for Railroad Commissioner. Wright is the third statewide incumbent to lose in a primary this year after Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller (R-Stephenville) and Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) both lost in the March primary election.
- Lieutenant Governor: State Representative Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) won the Democratic runoff and will face incumbent Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R-Houston) in the November general election.
- Congressional Races: Runoffs took place in several key congressional races across Texas.
- TX-18 (Harris Co.): Christian Menefee (D) defeated longtime Houston U.S. Representative Al Green (D).
- TX-33 (Dallas Co.): Colin Allred (D) defeated U.S. Representative Julie Johnson (D).
- TX-9 (Harris Co.): Alex Mealer (R, Trump-endorsed) defeated State Representative Briscoe Cain (R, Abbott-endorsed).
- TX-35 (Bexar Co.): Carlos De La Cruz (R, Trump-endorsed) defeated State Representative John Lujan (R, Abbott-endorsed).
- Texas Legislature: Texas will have at least 25 new House members and 5 new Senators next year. Of the 21 open House seats, 14 are currently held by Republicans and 7 are currently held by Democrats.
- State Representative Venton Jones (D-Dallas) won his primary runoff.
- State Representative Hubert Vo (D-Houston) lost his primary runoff.
Voter Registration Information for the General Election: The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3. Now is the time to verify you are registered to vote and your registration information is updated. For more information, review the Guide to Voting in Texas.
- Last day to register is Monday, October 5: Register to vote or update your registration to be eligible to vote in the general election.
- Early voting window: Early voting opens Monday, October 19, and closes Friday, October 30.
- Vote by mail deadline: Applications must be received by October 23, not just postmarked.
- What’s on my ballot? Ballot content varies by precinct. Visit your county’s election website to find yours.
- Take Action: Check your voter registration now and make any needed updates before the Monday, October 5 deadline.
