Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Texas rural healthcare stakeholders to discuss ongoing efforts and new initiatives aimed at improving healthcare in rural areas of the state. The meeting, followed by a press conference, focused on the Rural Healthcare Transformation Program and recent legislative actions designed to enhance health outcomes for Texans living in rural communities.
During the roundtable, Governor Abbott highlighted the Make Texas Healthy Again package, which he signed into law the previous day. This legislation is intended to help Texans make better-informed decisions about their health and nutrition. He also acknowledged collaboration with the Trump Administration and Secretary Kennedy as key to advancing these efforts.
Stakeholders at the event emphasized continued investment in both mental and physical healthcare across Texas. They recognized progress made during the 89th legislative session, including measures that address gaps in maternity services, childcare, mental health services, and expanded grant programs for rural hospitals. Governor Abbott stated there is still more work ahead: “Our goal has to be to ensure that every corner of our state is going to be prepared to respond to the health care needs of their community,” said Governor Abbott. “More than 190 counties are categorized as rural in this state, and they have more than 6 million Texans. We have an obligation to ensure that those communities are able to succeed. I want to thank Secretary Kennedy and President Trump for helping prioritize the rural regions of our state to ensure healthcare in rural regions improve.”
Secretary Kennedy praised local leadership and federal support: “Governor Abbott, thank you for your dedication to rural health care providers in Texas,” said Secretary Kennedy. “And thank you, President Trump, for your brilliant One Big Beautiful Bill and its Rural Health Transformation provision, which delivers $50 billion in rural health support across the United States. We will strengthen and expand rural health like never before. That is my promise to rural communities, my promise to Texas, and my promise to the American people.”
At the press conference following the roundtable, both officials discussed recent investments at state and federal levels totaling $300 million from Texas funds as well as $100 million per year over five years from federal sources for behavioral telehealth programs, artificial intelligence innovation in medicine, and upgrades for rural health laboratories.
Attendees included leaders from hospital systems, community clinics, mental health organizations, academic institutions such as Texas Tech University System and Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute; as well as senior officials from both state agencies like Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) [https://www.hhs.texas.gov/]—which manages many public assistance programs—and federal departments involved with Medicaid/CHIP policy development.
