Across El Paso and West Texas, we know how to take care of ourselves and one another. Our communities are resilient, resourceful, and deeply connected. We show up for our neighbors, stretch every dollar, and make do when resources are scarce.
But when it comes to healthcare, factors like distance, cost, and availability too often stand between families and the care they need. What should be manageable challenges become serious threats to health, stability, and peace of mind.
For too many Texans, accessing care isn’t simple. It means driving hours to see a doctor, waiting weeks for an appointment, or putting off care altogether because it’s too expensive or too far away. Seniors ration medication. Parents scramble to meet insurance deadlines just days after welcoming a new baby. Rural families face emergencies without life-saving tools close by.
These are everyday realities for families across our region. That’s why improving access to affordable, local healthcare has been one of my top priorities in the Texas Senate.
One of the most common, and heartbreaking, stories I hear is about families forced to make the impossible choice between filling a prescription and paying for groceries or rent. No one should have to skip life-saving medication because it’s out of reach. That’s why I filed Senate Bills 1098 and 2857.
Right now, many Texans walk into a pharmacy, trust that their insurance co-pay reflects the best price, and walk out overpaying. SB 1098 puts patients first by requiring pharmacists to inform customers of the lowest available price for their prescription, empowering families to make the most affordable choice at the counter.
Prescription drug costs are also squeezing employers and public entities, driving up costs for everyone. SB 2857 would have tackled this problem by creating a statewide prescription drug purchasing pool. By allowing public schools, cities, counties, private employers, and insurers to band together and negotiate as one, Texas can use its collective bargaining power to lower prices for patients across the state.
But affordability alone isn’t enough if care simply isn’t within reach.
Texas is facing a primary care crisis, especially in rural and underserved areas. Nearly 90% of Texas counties lack enough primary care providers, and millions of Texans live in federally designated health professional shortage areas. In parts of West Texas, seeing a doctor can require taking a full day off work and driving hours each way. In the richest country in the world, that should not be the status quo.
That’s why I championed the HEAL Texans Act (SB 9-1-1). This bill removes unnecessary barriers that prevent nurse practitioners from practicing at full capacity, keeps Texas-trained healthcare professionals from leaving the state, and expands access to care in the communities that need it most. Nurse practitioners are already providing high-quality care across Texas. This bill simply removes outdated red tape so they can continue serving patients where doctors are scarce. Healthcare delayed is often healthcare denied, and too many Texans know that all too well.
The same is true for telemedicine, which has become a lifeline for many West Texans, particularly those in small towns and rural communities. Yet outdated insurance rules have limited its reach, denying coverage simply because a patient or provider is temporarily outside state lines. I sponsored and helped pass House Bill 1052 to ensure telehealth visits with Texas-licensed providers are covered, even if the patient or provider is briefly out of state. Care should meet patients where they are, not force them to chase it.
I’ve also worked to make our healthcare system more responsive during life’s most important moments. When a new baby arrives, parents are exhausted, overwhelmed, and adjusting to a new reality. They shouldn’t also be racing against the insurance deadline. That’s why I authored and passed SB 896, extending the enrollment window for newborns in employer health plans from 31 days to 60 days, helping families avoid dangerous gaps in coverage during a child’s earliest days.
Emergencies don’t wait, either. Severe allergic reactions can happen in seconds, and access to epinephrine can mean the difference between life and death. I was proud to sponsor and help pass HB 163, expanding access to epinephrine auto-injectors in schools, restaurants, and other public spaces so help is available when and where it’s needed most.
Healthcare isn’t a luxury. It’s foundational. It determines whether people can work, raise healthy families, and stay rooted in the communities they love. Where you live should never determine whether you can afford your medicine, get timely care, or feel safe in an emergency.
I’ll continue fighting to remove barriers and expand access so every Texan, no matter their ZIP code, can get the care they need, when and where they need it. Because in El Paso and West Texas, we look out for each other. Our healthcare system should be built to do the same.