According to a new scorecard from the Commonwealth Fund, Texas is the second worst state in the U.S. for women’s health, ranking behind only Mississippi. And a woman’s life expectancy is the lowest it’s been since 2006.
We can do better for Texas moms and women.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), like Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nurse-Midwives, are a critical part of the solution to improving access to women’s and maternal healthcare. But currently in Texas, outdated delegation laws are preventing them from practicing to the full extent of their training, education, and licensure.
TNP is a founding member and coordinator of the Texans for Healthcare Access Coalition, a group of over 40 Texas business, consumer, and policy organizations who have joined forces to remove barriers to APRNs and expand access for Texans.
This session, the Texans for Healthcare Access Coalition is launching our Waiting for Care Texas campaign, which will highlight the critical need for improved access to maternal and women’s healthcare throughout Texas.
Here are a few of the dire women’s health statistics driving our campaign:
• 46% of counties in the state are defined as maternity care deserts.
• Texas ranks 44th in the number of women’s health providers per patient (38.1 per 100,000 women 15+).
• Texas has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality, with 35 and 51 maternal deaths per 100,000 births between 2020 and 2022.
• Texas ranks 46th in access to prenatal care.
• Texas received a “D” report card from March of Dimes, ranking 40th in the country for the number of preterm births.
• Texas is in the bottom 10 states for preventive care for women, including breast and cervical cancer screening.
Texas women desperately need access to care, especially in our rural and underserved communities. There are tens of thousands of APRNs in Texas who are ready and willing to provide high-quality, affordable women’s healthcare close to home. It’s time to finally grant full practice authority to APRNs so they can help address Texas’ growing women’s health crisis and provide the care Texas women deserve and need.
Here’s how you can support our campaign:
1. Share your women’s health story about how an NP positively impacted a patient’s life via our patient story form or by emailing erin@texasnp.org. We will feature these stories on our website and social media throughout session.
2. Follow us on Facebook (@Texans for Healthcare Access), Instagram (@texans_for_healthcare_access), X (@Texans4HCAccess), or LinkedIn (@Texans for Healthcare Access), share our posts, and use the hashtags #WaitingforCareTx and #txlege.
3. Send TNP your photo, name, and where you’re from in Texas. And we’ll share your testimonial on our campaign website.
“My name is_____, from _____, Texas. I support removing barriers to APRNs and improving access to women’s healthcare. No more #WaitingforCareTx #txlege.
Stay tuned for more campaign updates throughout the legislative session!
