Sen. Blanco refiles legislation aiming to support rural healthcare  

From the office of state Sen. César Blanco

Austin — This week, Texas state Sen. César Blanco, along with joint-authors Senate Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee Vice-Chair Charles Perry, Sen. Angela Paxton, Sen. Mayes Middleton, and Sen. Bob Hall, has pre-filed Senate Bill 9-1-1, — the Healthcare Expanded and Accessed Locally for Texans Act (HEAL Texans Act) — for the 89th Texas Legislature. 

According to the Rural Health Information Hub, 224 counties across Texas — 88% of the state — lack primary care providers. Over 6.1 million Texans live in designated health professional shortage areas.

The HEAL Texans Act will eliminate barriers to care, expand local options across the state, particularly in rural and underserved communities, and most importantly, put patients first. Nurse practitioners would continue practicing the same way they already do, just without the administrative and financial barriers that are hampering their ability to provide care to people where they need it the most. The HEAL Texans Act will give Texans access and options to the quality healthcare they deserve. 

In more than half the states in the United States, all branches of the U.S. military, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, APRNs practice without the burdensome delegation agreements required in Texas. Meanwhile, neighboring states like New Mexico and Arizona are actively recruiting Texas-trained APRNs by offering fewer regulatory barriers and lower costs, making it easier for them to serve patients. Under current barriers, Texas is the 7th-worst U.S. state for access to direct patient care with increasing wait times to medical appointments.   

The HEAL Texans Act offers a safe and affordable solution to retain Texas-trained APRNs, eliminate unnecessary and costly pay-to-play delegation agreements, and will ensure more Texans have access to the care they need. This legislation prioritizes patients, strengthens the healthcare workforce and moves Texas toward a more accessible and equitable healthcare system.   

“Texas needs an all-hands on deck approach to dealing with our current healthcare access and primary care workforce crisis – the HEAL Texas Act is the solution we need,” Blanco said. “But the HEAL Texans Act isn’t just policy; it’s about people’s lives. It’s about the young mother, scared and exhausted, who has to drive hours just to see a prenatal provider. It’s about the child with a high fever whose family waits weeks for an appointment. And it’s about the grandparents forced to leave the community they’ve called home for decades because they can’t find a doctor nearby.” 

 “The urgency of this legislation is reflected in its name. Like dialing 9-1-1 in a crisis, SB 9-1-1 represents an immediate call to action,” Blanco added. “Texans shouldn’t have to wait, travel, or pay more for the care they need. Healthcare delayed is often healthcare denied, and far too many Texans face that harsh reality. The HEAL Texas Act prioritizes access and affordability, ensuring families in Texas, no matter where they live, can get affordable, quality healthcare when and where they need it.” 

 “The HEAL Texans Act is a significant step in increasing access to healthcare in Texas,” said state Sen. Angela Paxton of McKinney. “By removing inefficient restrictions on APRNs while ensuring people are practicing within their training and experience, these healthcare professionals can deliver the timely care that Texans need.”