Compared to other prosperous democracies, the US is not doing so well in the area of public health. We can’t afford care; we can’t afford medicine. And Texas is not doing well compared to other states. Texas has the 6th highest ranked economy, but ranks 31st in public health (USNews.com, others similar). Texas hurts its greatest asset, its people, by not doing better.
The Texas Democrats show concern and promote policies to improve Texan health care, as shown in the 2024 party platform. Their platform promotes healthcare focused on preventive care and a public health policy rooted in science. Official Texas should not intrude on doctor-patient relationship. Texas should instead focus on ending disparities for marginalized and underserved communities, and address critical issues including maternal mortality, mental health and substance abuse, and rural hospital closures. The platform calls for increasing funding for medical research and for expanding Medicaid. Dems call to protect Medicare benefits and make prescription drugs affordable for all.
The Texas GOP plans for public health in Texas seem to rest on two main features. The first is “healthcare independence”. Based on the Texas myth, I guess, the population in Texas can go it alone—without federal input. An objective assessment of how that has worked will show it hasn’t and probably can’t work well for the average Texan. And parts of the “healthcare independence” framework are not positive plans for future improvement, but things like advocating a statewide “no” to mask mandates and vaccination pushes. Also, the Republican plan is to move away from medicaid.
The second big feature in the Texas Republican plan is a dependence on “healthcare savings accounts”. Dependingon your employer, you may be familiar with how this would work, or wouldn’t. Basically, if you are young, healthy, and have a good job with an employer willing to put good money into your account, this may work out for now. For many workers doing basic jobs in our county though, this may be a pie in the sky. For the republican plan to help with typical health issues, there are requirements many workers won’t be able to reach.
In other ways, while the Texas Democratic platform lists prescriptions to improve healthcare across the state, the Texas Republicans list proscriptions: what will not be allowed.
- David Brock, Erath County Resident