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HB 138

Relating to the establishment of the Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program; authorizing a fee.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Jeff Barry and 12 co-sponsors

Texas establishes a Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program to evaluate health legislation's effects on coverage, costs, and outcomes, with authority to charge fees for program funding.

Effective immediately
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Bill Summary · HB 138

Legislative bill overview

HB 138 establishes the Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program in Texas, which appears designed to systematically evaluate the health, financial, and coverage implications of legislative health-related proposals. The bill authorizes the program to collect fees, likely from entities subject to analysis or to fund program operations.

Why is this important

Health policy analysis at the state level can significantly influence which health programs get implemented, expanded, or reformed. By institutionalizing rigorous impact assessments, Texas aims to make health legislation decisions more evidence-based rather than purely political, potentially affecting millions of residents' healthcare access and costs.

Potential points of contention

  • Fee structure and burden: The authorization to charge fees raises questions about who pays, how much, and whether this creates barriers to certain stakeholders seeking analysis or disproportionately affects smaller healthcare providers
  • Analytical independence: Without clear safeguards, the program's findings could be influenced by political priorities rather than objective analysis, affecting the credibility of cost and coverage assessments
  • Implementation scope: The bill's vague language leaves uncertainty about which health proposals trigger mandatory analysis and whether the program has sufficient resources to analyze major legislation promptly

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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