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Small Business Advocacy Group Congratulates Texas House for Passing Healthcare Legislation, Urges Lawmakers to Continue Forward

Statement by Small Business for America’s Future Co-Chair Dr. Erika Gonzalez in response to the Texas House of Representatives Unanimously Passing House Bill 711 which will help address rising health care costs.

Austin, TX, April 25, 2023—We are encouraged to see the Texas House of Representatives unanimously pass House Bill 711, which offers common sense solutions to address rising healthcare prices that burden our state, county, and local government employees, and their families. A recent national Small Business for America’s Future survey of 1,015 small business owners found that the majority believe hospital consolidations exacerbate high healthcare costs, a top concern of small business owners.

In the survey, 85% of Texas small business owners indicated that hospital consolidations have worsened the overall availability and quality of healthcare services in their communities, while 75% said the availability and cost of health insurance have been negatively impacted by hospital consolidation. Additionally, 82% stated that hospital consolidation leads to a lack of competition, making hospital services more expensive for employees and reducing their pay. 

House Bill 711 targets anticompetitive practices addressing key issues that contribute to skyrocketing healthcare costs. The implementation of this reform will be instrumental in restoring competitive market behaviors in the healthcare sector and providing relief to small businesses and Texans as a whole. As we continue to recover from the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is crucial that we work together to make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and transparent for everyone. 

The passing of House Bill 711 demonstrates a strong bipartisan commitment to achieving these goals, aligning with the sentiment of 86% of Texas small business owners who believe it's important for federal and state governments to intervene in the consolidation of health systems.

We urge lawmakers to keep pushing this legislation forward, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact this bill will have on small businesses, local communities, and the Texas economy as a whole.

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About Small Business for America’s Future
Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We’re committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize the nation’s 30 million small businesses to create an economy that works for them, their workers and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. #SmallBizAF.