Groups Respond to Legislature’s Failure to Deliver Health Coverage to 1.4 Million Texans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN — With today’s conclusion of the 87th Texas Legislative Session, state leaders have once again failed to deliver health coverage to more than 1 million Texans, despite the billions of dollars that are readily available for that purpose.

A wide range of groups today pointed to the growing chasm between leaders who refuse to expand coverage and increasing numbers of Texans who demand action.

“More and more Texans are disturbed by the failures of state leaders who made no effort to expand health coverage to 1.4 million uninsured Texans — many of them essential workers throughout the pandemic — who deliver our food, clean our offices, and care for our toddlers and grandparents,” said Anne Dunkelberg, Associate Director of Every Texan and Program Director for the think tank’s Health & Wellness Team, citing the Kaiser Family Foundation’s estimate of how many Texans would be covered by Medicaid expansion. “State leaders are clearly out of touch with Texans and the challenges we face.”

This session was notable for a wave of polling showing greater and greater support for health coverage expansion funded by federal Medicaid dollars. It also saw several diverse public appeals to legislators for increased coverage, as well as new budget data showing that Texas would actually save money by making health coverage available to more than 1 million additional Texans. And it saw Congress offer Texas billions more in COVID recovery funding to expand health coverage.

Yet this session ended with the same failure of leadership that previous sessions did.

“Texas has the worst uninsured rate in the nation, with serious consequences for our health, our workforce, and our rural hospitals, but state leaders continue to shoot down the best solution we have available,” said Dr. Laura Guerra-Cardus, Deputy Director of Children’s Defense Fund-Texas, citing U.S. Census Bureau data on the state’s uninsured rate. “Texans are getting increasingly frustrated with the lack of action on expanding health coverage options for Texans.“

Neither the Texas House nor the Texas Senate held hearings on legislation to accept federal Medicaid expansion funds, even though several legislators filed bills to implement a traditional Medicaid expansion that has been successful in dozens of other states. Rep. Julie Johnson and Sen. Nathan Johnson also authored legislation to pursue a federal waiver to implement the Live Well Texas health coverage program for Texas’ low-income population. But despite the bipartisan majority of House members that signed on to support Rep. Johnson’s bill, HB 3871, it also never even received a hearing.

Further, both the House and Senate voted down budget amendments — on nearly party-line votes — that would have directed state officials to seek a federal waiver to expand health coverage.

“It’s irresponsible — fiscally and morally — that the Legislature and Governor rejected billions in federal funding to expand health coverage,” said Aurora Harris, Young Invincibles’ Southern Region Director. "Young people have the highest uninsured rate of any age group in Texas, and failure to expand coverage will continue to adversely impact them, their health and well-being, and Texas’ future.”

“We’re still waiting for the Governor and the Legislature to explain how they could oppose more health coverage for uninsured low-wage workers,” said Alison Mohr Boleware, Government Relations Director with the National Association of Social Workers - Texas Chapter. “Every day, social workers see first-hand how a lack of health coverage negatively impacts our clients, their families, and Texas communities. Inaction on health coverage is having a measurably negative impact on Texans and Texas families.” 

The next opportunity for Texans to weigh in on increased health coverage will be in June, through the public comment period for the state’s application to extend federal hospital and clinic funding through what’s known as the 1115 Waiver. The state could save billions of tax dollars by providing coverage that allows people to get prescriptions, ongoing treatment for chronic illnesses, and preventive care from physicians before illnesses and injuries force them to go to the emergency room.

The open comment period over the state’s funding application ends June 28. Public hearings will take place on June 2, 10, and 15, and written comments are accepted through the June 28 deadline.

“We will continue to raise our voices and urge state leaders to provide health coverage — not just emergency care — that Texas families need and deserve,” said Sofia Sepulveda, Healthcare Justice Organizer at the Texas Organizing Project.

"If Texas continues to ignore its growing uninsured population, millions of Texas families will continue to miss out on the mental health care they need before a crisis hits,” said Meaghan Read, Director of Public Policy at Mental Health America of Greater Dallas. “This will have a direct impact on the increasing rates of suicidal thoughts and mental health crisis situations across the state." 

For more information, please contact:
Steve Scheibal, [email protected], 512-762-8808