Strengthening Rural Healthcare

There are some things you should never have to think twice about.

When your child is sick, you should be able to find a doctor. When your mother or father needs treatment, you should not have to wonder how far you will have to drive to get it.

For too many rural Texans, access to quality healthcare has become a growing concern.

Texas has lost dozens of rural hospitals over the past two decades. Between 2010 and 2020 alone, 26 rural hospitals in 22 Texas communities closed their doors. 

When a rural hospital closes, the impact reaches far beyond the hospital itself. It means longer drives to emergency care, specialty treatment, or even routine medical services.

That is why making sure rural Texans have access to quality healthcare is so important to me.

One of my favorite parts of serving in the Texas House is getting out of the Capitol and seeing firsthand what is happening in our communities. Some of my favorite visits are to our local hospitals.

I enjoy sitting down with hospital administrators, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to hear what they are seeing, what is working, and where they need help. Every time I walk through one of our hospitals, I am reminded of how much talent, dedication, and innovation we have right here in rural Texas.

And I am especially proud to serve as Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for health and human services-related funding. The funding decisions made through this area touch roughly one-third of the entire state budget, and that responsibility is not one I take lightly.

This session, Texas made significant investments to strengthen healthcare across our state, including more than $125 million dedicated to rural healthcare. That funding is helping support rural healthcare programs and grants, including resources for new ambulances that can make an enormous difference when minutes matter.

We also recognized that healthcare is about more than treating a physical injury or illness. The legislature invested $340 million to expand mental health capacity with new beds, along with another $54 million for youth crisis outreach and counseling.

And we are looking at health from a broader perspective. The Make Texas Healthy Again agenda takes a more proactive approach by encouraging physical activity, better nutrition, and clearer food information.

These wins and more provide a strong foundation as we head into the 90th legislative session. And I am eager to do more!

That means finding ways to bring down the cost of healthcare and insurance, reducing waste and unnecessary bureaucracy, and making it easier for Texans to understand what their care will actually cost. It means encouraging more choices and competition while giving patients and families a stronger voice in their healthcare decisions.

For rural Texas, it also means continuing to strengthen our hospitals, support the healthcare workforce, and expand telehealth and other tools that can connect patients with specialists and providers they may not otherwise have nearby.

There is still work to do, but I am encouraged by what I see when I visit our communities.

I see nurses who go above and beyond for their patients. I see doctors who have chosen to build their careers in rural Texas. I see hospital administrators finding creative ways to provide better care with the resources they have. And I see healthcare professionals who understand that caring for their neighbors is about much more than a job.

To all of the healthcare professionals across House District 13, thank you.

As we look toward the future, my goal is simple: whether you live in a more populated area like Waco or in one of our smallest rural communities, your zip code should not determine the quality of healthcare available to you.

Texas is growing, and our healthcare system needs to grow stronger with it. I will continue working to make sure rural Texas has a seat at the table, that our healthcare professionals have the support they need, and that every Texan has access to the care they deserve.

— Your Conservative State Representative Angelia Orr