Texas Health Institute

02/19/2026

"Texas is entering a period where traditional coverage metrics and lived access are beginning to diverge, where enrollment remains visible, yet the ability to use coverage is increasingly constrained. This shift matters not only for families and employers, but for how successfully new rural health investments translate into real-world impact."

In the latest Texas Health Lens, THI's executive director, Ankit Sanghavi, MPH, BDS, examines what these trends mean for access, affordability, and new rural health investments across the state.

💻 Read the full blog here: https://texashealthinstitute.org/texas-health-lens-underinsurance-and-affordability/

02/13/2026

Oral health is a key part of whole-child health, shaping how children eat, speak, learn, and thrive. Join Texas Oral Health Coalition, Inc on February 26 for Whole-Child Health Starts Here: The Power of Oral Health, a webinar exploring how oral health is an essential component of whole-child health.

💻 Register today: https://bit.ly/3YUvnzY

02/10/2026

Understanding the scope of unmet oral health needs is essential to advancing oral health for all Texans and informing policy, system, and community-driven solutions across the state. Findings from statewide and national survey data show that millions of Texas delay or forgo dental care, leading to $1 billion in state spending on oral health issues as well as an increase in emergency department use. Advancing Oral Health Equity in Texas: A Community-Driven Approach identifies cost, availability, accessibility, and system-level barriers as key factors influencing oral health care utilization.

Source: Texas Health Institute, Advancing Oral Health Equity in Texas: A Community-Driven Approach (2024)

02/06/2026

📢 Calling all oral health, primary care, public health, and community health professionals!

Texas Oral Health Coalition, Inc is bringing together a diverse cohort to strengthen communication and engagement skills in today’s complex information environment. This application-based series will feature interactive, peer-driven sessions where participants will share insights, explore strategies, and engage in discussions across public health, practice, systems, messaging, and policy.

Apply by 11:59 PM CT tomorrow: https://bit.ly/4sVY4uc

02/04/2026

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. At THI, we recognize that oral health is more than just teeth; it’s a key part of whole-child health, shaping how children eat, speak, learn, and thrive. THI works to strengthen the systems that support children’s oral health, because strong systems create healthier lives.

Learn more about the role of oral health in whole-child well-being the upcoming Texas Oral Health Coalition, Inc webinar, Whole-Child Health Starts Here: The Power of Oral Health, on February 26. Register today: https://bit.ly/3YUvnzY

02/03/2026

💻 Submit a proposal!

Centered on the theme of Reignite, Rebuild, Reimagine: Oral Health for All, the 2026 Texas Oral Health Coalition Summit will convene individuals committed to advancing oral health and improving the health of all Texans. Submit proposals for breakout sessions, facilitated roundtables, or posters by February 13.

Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/txohc26

02/02/2026

Strong systems create healthier lives. At THI, we advance health systems transformation to increase access to whole-person and community centered health care. Through this work, we help promote systems where everyone has the opportunities they need, free from barriers, to thrive.

01/30/2026

Meet Brianna Tofel, MPH, manager of research and evaluation at THI!

Tofel leads mixed-methods evaluations and data-to-action initiatives that strengthen public health infrastructure and capacity across Texas and nationally. Her work emphasizes collaborative evaluation design, participatory sensemaking, and approaches that translate data into real-world decision-making. She brings expertise in evaluation framework design, survey and qualitative tool development, data analysis, and translating findings for diverse audiences, from frontline practitioners to policymakers. She is passionate about evaluation practices that center relationships, trust, and shared meaning to move learning into action.

We are so grateful for you, Brianna! 🌟

01/29/2026

Texas continues to face some of the worst health outcomes in the nation, even as new investments are made in coverage and care delivery. Rising costs and persistent gaps in insurance mean that coverage does not always translate into access.

Texas Health Lens is a new series offering clear, evidence-informed insight into timely, complex health issues impacting Texas.

In our inaugural post, THI's executive director, Ankit Sanghavi, MPH, BDS, looks beyond open enrollment to examine how uninsurance and underinsurance are compounding challenges in Texas, and what they mean for rural health transformation and new investments in care delivery.

Read it now: https://texashealthinstitute.org/texas-health-lens-underinsurance-and-affordability/

01/23/2026

This Maternal Health Awareness Day, we recognize the importance of strong maternal health systems, especially in rural communities, where access to quality care can be limited. Supporting mothers and babies is essential for the health and strength of families and communities across Texas.

Recently, The Rural Texas Maternal Health Assembly convened to discuss priorities and strategies going into 2026, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen rural maternal care and ensure high-quality, accessible services for all families. You can read our findings from the 2025 Rural Texas Maternal Rescue Plan here: https://bit.ly/3M3I4pc

At THI, we know that together, we can build a healthier Texas—and advancing maternal health is a crucial part of that work.

01/22/2026

The THI team was honored to volunteer with Ronald McDonald House Central Texas in Austin last week. This opportunity allowed us to come together in support of families navigating some of their most challenging moments, helping keep them close to their children and connected to the care and resources they need. We are grateful to RMHC of Central Texas for welcoming us and for educating us about the impact they have on families across the region. Experiences like this remind us of the importance of giving back, and how together, we can build a healthier Texas.

01/21/2026

On February 11, Texas Primary Care Consortium will host the webinar, Coverage and Primary Care in 2026: Early Insights and Impacts, examining early coverage trends as open enrollment unfolds. The conversation will highlight how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and federal regulatory changes may affect coverage costs, plan offerings, and access across Texas—and what those shifts could mean for primary care access, affordability, and sustainability.

Don’t miss out on this important conversation, register today: https://bit.ly/49w17Sh

As open enrollment unfolds, early 2026 coverage trends are emerging. They offer the first real glimpse into how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and federal regulatory changes may affect what coverage costs, what plans offer, and access across Texas. These emerging patterns have meaningful imp...