Texas Lawmakers Urged to Address Public Health Priorities in 2025 Legislative Session

As the Texas legislative session approaches, health advocates are urging lawmakers to focus on public health improvements, particularly by addressing factors beyond traditional medical care. The Episcopal Health Foundation, a Texas-based nonprofit organization, is calling for lawmakers to emphasize social determinants of health—such as economic status, health behaviors, and access to safe neighborhoods for physical activity—that significantly influence a person’s overall well-being. These nonmedical factors are critical in ensuring the health of communities across the state, particularly for marginalized groups, as healthcare alone accounts for only 20% of an individual’s overall health.

Key Areas of Concern

Ann Barnes, President and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation, has outlined several key areas where legislative action could make a significant impact on improving public health outcomes. These include maternal health, food security, and diabetes prevention, all of which disproportionately affect low-income populations and communities of color. According to Barnes, addressing these disparities through targeted legislation is crucial for improving health equity in Texas.

• Maternal Health: Ensuring better health outcomes for mothers during and after pregnancy remains a priority. Maternal health disparities, particularly among communities of color, have been a longstanding issue. By supporting legislation that improves access to maternal healthcare services, Texas can work to reduce preventable maternal and infant deaths.
• Food Security: Hunger and malnutrition continue to be pressing issues in many parts of Texas. Ensuring that Texans have access to nutritious food is not only vital for physical health but also for reducing the prevalence of chronic conditions such as obesity and heart disease. Addressing food deserts, where communities lack access to affordable, healthy food options, is one way that legislation could help improve food security.
• Diabetes Prevention: Implementing preventive measures to reduce the prevalence of diabetes is another area of concern. Texas is facing a diabetes crisis, with almost half of its adult population living in households affected by diabetes or prediabetes. The increasing prevalence of the disease places a heavy economic burden on the state’s healthcare system, particularly on the Medicaid program.

Barnes emphasizes that legislation aimed at addressing these issues should prioritize the most vulnerable Texans—those from low-income communities and communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by poor health outcomes. By focusing on prevention and support for these populations, lawmakers can help create a healthier Texas for all.

Progress from Previous Legislative Sessions

In the last legislative session, Texas lawmakers took steps to address some of these health disparities by passing bills that allowed for Medicaid screenings to identify nonmedical factors affecting health. These screenings provide a more holistic view of patients’ overall health, allowing healthcare providers to address issues such as housing insecurity, food shortages, and access to clean water.

Another important measure passed in the previous session was the expansion of doula services, enabling doulas to serve as case managers for pregnant individuals. Doulas offer emotional and physical support to pregnant people before, during, and after childbirth, and their involvement has been shown to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. By expanding access to doula services, the state aims to improve maternal health, particularly among historically underserved populations.

Barnes remains optimistic about the implementation of these policies, believing they will provide comprehensive support to Texans in need. However, she also stresses the importance of continued legislative action to build on this progress and address other critical health issues.

Diabetes: A Growing Concern in Texas

The issue of diabetes is becoming increasingly urgent in Texas. According to a recent survey conducted by the Episcopal Health Foundation, nearly half of Texas adults live in households where someone has been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes. This statistic underscores the widespread nature of the disease and the importance of implementing preventive measures.

Barnes notes that the economic burden of diabetes on the state is immense. Between $6 billion and $8 billion is spent annually on diabetes treatment through the Medicaid program, with diabetes accounting for nearly 25% of all Medicaid expenditures for adults in Texas. These costs are expected to rise unless action is taken to reduce the prevalence of diabetes through prevention programs and improved access to healthcare.

The Medicaid program, which provides healthcare coverage to low-income individuals, is one of the main ways Texas can address diabetes and its associated costs. Expanding access to preventive services, such as diabetes screenings and education programs, can help Texans manage their condition and prevent costly complications.

The Role of Environmental Factors in Public Health

One of the key messages Barnes is pushing is that improving public health requires addressing the broader environmental factors that contribute to health outcomes. Healthcare services alone are not enough to ensure the well-being of individuals and communities. In fact, healthcare accounts for only about 20% of a person’s overall health, with the remaining 80% influenced by factors such as access to safe housing, clean air, education, and opportunities for physical activity.

Barnes highlights the importance of policies that address these social determinants of health. For example, ensuring that neighborhoods are safe for exercise and that parks are accessible can promote physical activity and reduce the risk of obesity and chronic conditions. Similarly, ensuring access to clean air and safe housing can reduce the prevalence of respiratory illnesses and other health problems.

By addressing these environmental factors, Texas lawmakers can help create healthier communities and reduce the burden on the state’s healthcare system. Policies that promote healthy behaviors and environments are key to preventing chronic diseases and improving overall public health.

Looking Ahead: The Path to a Healthier Texas

As the Texas legislative session begins, the Episcopal Health Foundation and other health advocates are calling on lawmakers to prioritize public health in their policymaking. By focusing on maternal health, food security, and diabetes prevention, as well as addressing the broader environmental factors that influence health, Texas has the opportunity to make significant strides towards improving the health of its residents.

Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, one that includes not only expanding access to healthcare services but also implementing policies that promote health equity and address the social determinants of health. Barnes and other advocates believe that by working together, Texas lawmakers can create a healthier, more equitable future for all Texans.

The Episcopal Health Foundation will continue to work closely with lawmakers to ensure that public health remains a top priority in the legislative session. By pushing for policies that target the most vulnerable populations and address the root causes of poor health, the foundation hopes to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities across the state.

Texas is at a critical juncture in its public health journey, and the actions taken during this legislative session could have a lasting impact on the well-being of its residents.

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