Title: Enhancing Texas’ Health Care Investments by Addressing Patients’ Non-Medical Needs
Source: Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
Authors: Elena M. Marks, Charles W. Mathias
Rising health care costs and worsening health outcomes are reducing the value of our health care investments. With nearly $50 billion spent annually on health care, Texas has a unique chance to improve its spending by investing more in non-medical services that most impact health. Recently, the Texas Legislature and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) have worked to integrate non-medical services into health care delivery. However, there are additional policy tools that the state can use to speed up this integration, and both the Legislature and HHSC should utilize them. This report examines Texas’ investments in non-medical services, offers policy options for further progress, and provides examples from other states. It concludes with recommendations for Texas to maximize the value of its health care spending.
