May 9, 2023 

Texas State Senate 

1100 Congress Avenue 

Austin, TX. 78701 

Dear Members of Texas State Senate, 

We, the undersigned employers, are writing in support of House Bill 711, which has garnered bipartisan support as commonsense solutions to address rising healthcare prices by passing the the House of Representatives unanimously on April 25th, 2023, with a vote of 146-0. As healthcare prices skyrocket with limited to no transparency, we the undersigned are looking for swift passage of HB 711 to create solutions that provide better quality and lower cost healthcare for our state, county, and local government employees, and families. 

Overwhelming increases in healthcare costs have created hardships for all Texas citizens, including small business owners, who consistently cite the cost of healthcare among their top concerns. The impact of high prices on Main Street businesses is significant. Our surveys show that small business owners raise the prices of their goods or services to offset healthcare costs, and that significant numbers have delayed growth opportunities or held off on hiring new employees. Rising prices also create pressure on state and local governmental entities, wage growth, and family quality of life. While we have made great strides as it relates to price transparency, there is still much work to be done to restore competitive market behaviors to the healthcare space. 

As we have experienced firsthand, concentrated market power has led to the inclusion of anticompetitive language in contracts between hospitals and the health plans that arbitrarily drive up prices and provide no additional benefit to the purchaser. This is especially challenging for the small business community, which lacks the negotiating power of larger corporations. H.B. 711 seeks to prohibit egregious practices such as gag, anti-tiering, anti-steering, and most favored nations clauses. These types of contracting practices do nothing to ensure access or quality, they only drive-up costs and profits. 

We support this legislation because it will help provide an even playing field for healthcare consumers and small businesses, and remove predatory practices from inflating prices for all Texans and encourage the Senate to swiftly take action to pass this legislation. 

Sincerely, 

Texas Small Business Owners from the Small Business for America's Future Network

Muneer Baig, SYSUSA Inc., Murphy, TX 

Rebecca Boenigk, Neutral Posture, Inc., Bryan, TX 

Tess Cahigas, Seniors 2000, San Antonio, TX 

Chris Cann, Icann Mobile Electronics, Dallas, TX 

Debora Chaparro, Dig One Services, LLC, Austin, TX 

Elsie Christian, Massage ReNew, Dallas, TX 

Elizabeth Frisch, Thrival Company, Austin, TX 

Mary Giles, Action Precision Transmission LLC, Fort Worth, TX 

Dr. Erika Gonzalez, South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals (STAAMP) and STAAMP Clinical Research, San Antonio, TX 

John Gostomski, Tandoor Studios, Dallas, TX 

Debbie Hollis, Nonprofit Consultant, Waskom, TX 

Janice Jucker, Three Brothers Bakery, Houston, TX 

Mary Ann Kellam, Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Irving, TX 

John Lee, SBDC - Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 

Larissa Martinez, Hotbox by Larissa's Designs & Graphics, Texas City, TX Stephanie Martinez, El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, El Paso, TX Fernando Muniz, Cool Joe Cuts, El Paso, TX 

Adam Orman, L’Oca d’Oro, Austin, TX 

Kirit Patel, Swamini LLC, Cotulla, TX 

Ariana Santeliz, Santeliz Painting LLC, San Antonio, TX 

Minh Smith , Pinnacle Power & Gas, LLC. , Argyle, TX 

Cindy Son, Rubio & Son, Houston, TX 

Dr. Dana D. Wells, DW&A, Inc., Houston, TX 

Tom Zahorsky, Safe Hospital Services, Spring, TX