Medicine Meets Public Policy.

Affordable & Accessible Medications

Prescription medication costs, insurance coverage, emergency access, and availability of supplies can affect whether people obtain and consistently use needed treatments. This topic includes information about prescription costs, assistance programs, emergency access, diabetes prevention, early treatment, foot care, and follow-up.

Texas policy examples: HB 632 — Emergency Refills for Insulin and Related Supplies; SB 1677 — Diabetes-Related Amputation Study.

Overdose Prevention & Naloxone Access

Naloxone is a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. This topic explains overdose recognition, when and how naloxone can be used, where it may be obtained, and how Texas policies address opioid-antagonist access and distribution.

Texas policy examples: HB 4783 — Statewide Opioid Antagonist Distribution Reporting; SB 1986 — Opioid Warning Labels.

Mental Health & Access to Psychiatric Care

Access to mental and behavioral healthcare can be affected by availability, affordability, transportation, insurance coverage, provider shortages, stigma, and the availability of services in underserved communities.

Maternal & Postpartum Mental Health

Maternal and postpartum health policy can address screening, behavioral healthcare, follow-up care, insurance coverage, and access to services. Texas policy examples include HR 586, which recognized Maternal Mental Health Day in 2025, and HB 3917, which proposed coverage for up to four maternal depression screenings during a child’s first year of life.

Safer Roads & Injury Prevention

Preventable injuries are a public-health issue. Traffic crashes can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, fractures, disability, chronic pain, psychological trauma, and death. Texas transportation and public-safety policies address issues including driver education, speeding, impaired driving, work-zone safety, roadway design, and enforcement.

Texas policy example: SB 1366 — Driver Education & Work-Zone Safety.

Healthcare Access for Underserved Texans

Geography, income, insurance status, provider availability, and transportation can affect access to care. These factors can be especially relevant in rural communities and among uninsured or underinsured Texans.

Medical Debt Protection & Patient Financial Safeguards

Medical-debt policy can address billing transparency, opportunities to dispute bills, financial assistance, payment-plan information, collection practices, and consumer credit reporting. This topic explains relevant laws and proposals and their potential effects on patients and healthcare consumers.

Texas policy examples: SB 1784 proposed advance notice before certain healthcare debt collection activity; SB 1000 proposed changes relating to certain medically necessary debt and consumer credit reporting.