Common Ground Spotlight

5 Healthcare Policies Texas Democrats and Republicans Agree On

By Alex Buscemi • September 9, 2025

Texas faces real healthcare strain—from hospital closures to families delaying care. Builders highlights five practical policies that Texans across party lines already support.

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Price transparency: up-front estimates for non-emergencies (HB 1314) so families can plan and compare.

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More mental-health access: allow licensed out-of-state counselors (incl. telehealth) to serve Texans.

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Cap out-of-pocket costs: limit what people pay for life-saving meds like insulin and inhalers.

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Pharmacist test & treat: enable pharmacies to handle common illnesses (strep, flu, UTI), especially for rural access.

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Medicaid expansion support: broad citizen backing—vital for keeping rural hospitals open.

This report quantifies the civic landscape across The Change Lab’s seven focus areas using IRS/NTEE–anchored directories (Cause IQ), labor statistics (BLS), and national volunteering data (AmeriCorps/Census). Within each focus area, we selected disjoint categories to minimize double counting. Cross‑domain overlap still exists; treat these figures as a conservative floor.

The Houston Food Bank invites neighbors to take simple steps that add up: learn the basics, speak up, and lend a hand. Below are quick, clear actions sorted by time. Pick one that fits your day and follow the button to their site.

Texas leaders approved steps that can reduce food insecurity and improve access to care. The state budget funds critical upgrades to the eligibility and enrollment system, HB 4226 makes it cheaper for food banks to operate trucks, and HB 26 authorizes “Food Is Medicine” supports—including a pilot for pregnant Texans. Together, these moves can help families get support faster and keep more healthy food moving to neighbors in need.

Why This Matters

Racism damages health, weakens civic trust, and fractures communities. The Center's facilitated dialogues build shared language and listening skills, helping people examine racial conditioning, heal harm, and take collaborative action across lines of difference.

Summary

During an era of exclusion and housing discrimination, a Black couple welcomed a Chinese immigrant family as renters. Eighty-five years later, that family has publicly honored the couple’s courage and kindness—an act of remembrance that highlights shared struggles and the power of cross-racial solidarity. The story underscores how everyday choices—like opening your door—can ripple across generations.

Summary

This Yale SPH Q&A explains how alcohol contributes to cancer risk and why U.S. leaders are exploring updated warning labels. Dr. Vasilis Vasiliou highlights mechanisms (e.g., acetaldehyde, oxidative stress), dose–response effects, and the way alcohol amplifies other carcinogens such as tobacco smoke. Guidance includes: don’t start drinking for health reasons; if you drink, keep it modest and consider personal/family risk factors.

Why This Matters

This deep dive into the food security crisis exposes racial and income inequality in our region. Communities of color and low-income households bear the greatest burden, and entire neighborhoods—like Greenspoint—are on the brink.

Without a shared story built on democratic ideals, public cohesion and collective action weaken. Amid rising polarization and authoritarian threats, a revitalized narrative rooted in civic values provides the social glue and moral framework to sustain democratic governance and shared purpose.

Lifelong learning and access to diverse educational experiences empower individuals to grow, adapt, and contribute to their communities. OpenRice breaks down silos, making high-quality learning opportunities available to all at Rice—promoting inclusion, intellectual curiosity, and a thriving academic environment.