HEALTH EQUITY FIRST
Texas Hospital Districts
Most people think about hospitals in two categories, nonprofit or for-profit, but in Texas there’s a third category: countywide hospital districts are political subdivisions of the State, authorized by the Texas Legislature to “provide for the establishment of a hospital or hospital system to furnish medical aid and hospital care to indigent and needy persons residing in the district.” (Tex. Health & Safety Code § 281.002(a)). At the time of creation, these hospital districts can be granted taxing authority. The taxes may be used to pay: (1) the indebtedness issued or assumed by the district; and (2) the maintenance and operating expenses of the district.
List of Services
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Bexar County Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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Dallas County Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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Harris County Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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Travis County Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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Hospital District Locations and Uninsured Patient Population
The Quick Numbers
Hospital Districts & Indigent Care
100%
“Full responsibility for furnishing medical
and hospital care for indigent residing
in the district."
(Tex. Health & Safety Code § 281.002)
$3.76B
2021 property taxes collected by 154
Texas hospital districts
to fund medical and hospital care for indigent patients.
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Texas county hospital districts accounted for 78% of the total taxes levied to furnish medical aid and hospital care for indigent patients in 2021.
IT’S TIME FOR TEXAS PUBLIC HOSPITALS TO PUT HEALTH EQUITY FIRST.
Texas voters granted public hospital and hospital districts the authority to collect taxes and issue bonds for the health care needs of the poor. These institutions serve in Texas as the backbone of health care access for the poor in their counties: once established, they assume "full responsibility for furnishing medical and hospital care for indigent and needy persons residing in the district." (Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 281.046) An investigation into public hospitals across Texas reveals that many have fallen short on their responsibility to prioritize indigent care. Our county-based public healthcare systems were created to provide medical care to the poor, but a number of these tax-supported institutions are collecting more taxes while spending less and less on charity care.
HOW CAN TEXAS PUBLIC HOSPITALS PUT HEALTH EQUITY FIRST?
1 FOR 1 CARE SPENDING
100% of Tax dollars collected by public hospital and healthcare districts should be allocated to caring for people lacking basic resources in communities most in need without marking up the cost of care or diverting funds.
CHARITY CARE TRANSPARENCY
Taxpayers that are supporting public hospital and healthcare districts deserve to know the safety net healthcare needs of the community are being met.
CONSIDERATION OF NEED
As public hospitals are looking to invest to address the healthcare needs of the county, they must consider indicators of need and prioritize investments that would best serve communities where health disparities are prevalent.
