Research

By utilizing the collective research strength of its 61 member institutions, the TMC Health Policy Institute serves as a leading national source of expertise on health policy matters facing both Texas and the nation as a whole. Please see our latest research below.

Despite uncertainty, more than 1 million Texans enroll in Affordable Care Act health insurance for 2019

More than 1 million Texans enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance for 2019 despite ongoing uncertainty, a federal court ruling invalidating the law, and massive funding cuts for navigators to help consumers sign up for a plan. The analysis found that more than 7 in 10 Texas enrollees in 2019 were returning consumers.

The Uninsured in Texas: Statewide and Local Area Views

Nationally, an estimated 11 percent of the nonelderly population (those below age 65) are uninsured in 2018. In comparison, an estimated 19 percent of the Texas nonelderly population, 4.7 million people, remain uninsured; this is the highest uninsurance rate of any state in the country.

One Year After the Storm: Texas Gulf Coast Residents’ Views and Experiences with Hurricane Harvey Recovery

Nearly a year after Hurricane Harvey swamped the Texas Gulf Coast, a growing share of affected residents say their lives are back on track, but three in 10 say their lives remain disrupted.

Social Determinants of Health: Screening in the Clinical Setting

With proper implementation, social determinants of health screening and the associated referral process have been demonstrated to increase detection and discussion of patients’ social needs and to increase families’ receipt of beneficial resources. Despite these benefits, no standardized procedure exists. This brief reviews many of the models which implement screening and the characteristics that individual care settings should consider when selecting a tool for their institution.