With each passing year, access to affordable health care is a barrier to more and more Texas families and a greater strain on employers’ budgets. The Texas Legislature is taking steps to address this through innovative, bipartisan action to foster competition, create more transparency and encourage a healthy market for health care.
House Bill 711, by state Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, and co-authored by state Reps. Sam Harless, R-Spring, Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, and James Talarico, D-Round Rock, passed the Texas House last week on a 146-0 vote.
It seeks to address a leading cause of higher prices — an unhealthy market consisting of high market concentrations and business practices that limit choices and innovation.