Many Texas organizations have gathered compelling research into the state of Texas healthcare. Here are some of them with links to their research materials.
Who is impacted by the coverage gap in states that have not adopted the Medicaid expansion? Read the Kaiser Family Foundation Coverage Gap Report.
In the last five years, 51 U.S. rural hospitals have closed, according to a survey by the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program. Ten of the hospitals closing their doors were in Texas — a loss of nearly 500 hospital beds in the state. Download the survey: Rural Hospital Closures
Incentive payments to encourage hospitals’ use of certified health electronic information gathering and storage has resulted in more hospitals electronically sending data to public health agencies, according to a survey by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Download the report here: Hospital Reporting
A North Texas Regional Extension Center report found that the five most populous Texas counties — Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, and Travis — have 57 percent of the state’s physicians, though only 44 percent of the population resides in these counties; 35 counties have no physician. Read the report here: Physician Workforce Survey
Healthcare insurance coverage has increased since the Affordable Care Act took effect, according to a RAND Corporation study with a total of 16.9 million people becoming newly enrolled through February 2015, . Read more here.
If the 21 states that have not expanded Medicaid were to do so, 4.3 million more people would have health coverage in 2016, concludes a Kaiser Family Foundation report, and many of the states that have decided against Medicaid expansion are those who would gain the most. Read more here: Medicaid Expansion Costs and Savings Update
A survey from Rice University’s Baker Institute and the Episcopal Health Foundation reports the number of adult Texans without health insurance fell to 16.9 percent in March 2015 from 24.6 percent in September 2013. This decrease in uninsured is almost entirely attributable to a rise in individually purchased health plans and, had Texas opted to expand Medicaid, gains in coverage would have been more substantial, according to the survey. Read the survey here: Texas Health Reform Survey
The Code Red Task Force on Access to Healthcare in Texas is a nonpartisan group, including large and small employers in Texas, healthcare providers, hospitals, medical schools, non-governmental organizations, insurers, health policy experts, as well as community and business leaders. Code Red has clear recommendations for healthcare in Texas. Read more here
The Episcopal Health Foundation was established in 2013 when St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System was transferred to Catholic Health Initiatives by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. The Foundation researches healthcare issues in its 57 county reach. Read more here
The Texas Medical Association is the nation’s largest and one of the oldest, speaking out for more than 48,000 physician and medical student members across the state in its commitment to improve the health of all Texans. The TMA advocates for healthcare. Read more here
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is dedicated to providing medical, dental and health-related human services to low-income families and the uninsured in South Texas. The organization researches and publishes on healthcare issues and polices. Read more here
The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute for Texas provides nonpartisan and objective policy research and development to improve mental health services in Texas. The institute has released its findings in the Texas Mental Health Survey. Read more here
One Voice Texas is a network of public, private, and non-profit organizations in the greater Houston area working together to ensure that the health and human services needs of all Texans are addressed through education, awareness, program development, advocacy, regulation, and funding. One Voice Texas offers research and policy paper on children and youth, mental health and healthcare. Read more here
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. The foundation’s recently completed national health survey focuses county-by-county rankings. Read more here