January 18, 2026
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
Texas hospitals incurred more than $1 billion in health care costs for patients not lawfully present in the United States during fiscal year 2025, according to new data [[link removed]] obtained from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
The figures were collected under an executive order [[link removed]] issued by Gov. Greg Abbott in August 2024, which requires hospitals to report the cost of inpatient and emergency care provided to individuals in the country illegally. Under Abbott’s order, hospitals are also required to inform patients that responses regarding immigration status will not affect their care, as required by federal law.
Statewide totals show 313,742 hospital visits from patients not legally present in the U.S., costing hospitals $1.05 billion during the reporting period. The largest share of the expense—more than $565 million—came from inpatient discharges for non-Medicaid and non-CHIP patients.
Emergency department visits accounted for roughly $230 million, while total inpatient care exceeded $820 million, underscoring that long-term hospitalizations, not emergency treatment alone, are driving much of the cost.
Although hospitals are required under federal law to deliver the care, unpaid medical costs are ultimately passed along to Texans. Taxpayers absorb the burden through higher insurance rates, public hospital funding, and state health programs.
Notably, the data does not reflect a full fiscal year of mandatory reporting. Hospitals were only required to begin submitting data in November 2024, leaving the first two months of fiscal year 2025—September and October—unreported.
HHSC has also noted that the figures remain subject to change as hospitals update their submissions.
Even with those limitations, the reported costs far exceed earlier estimates.
In 2021, Attorney General Ken Paxton estimated Texans were paying between $579 million and $717 million annually in uncompensated care for illegal aliens. The partial FY 2025 totals alone already surpass that range.
Featured Texas Files Direct Appeal to US Supreme Court in Redistricting Case [[link removed]]
By Travis Morgan
Texas has filed a direct appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in the federal redistricting case that attempted to undermine the state legislature’s newly-enacted congressional map that was passed as part of a partisan redistricting.
This comes after the Court already issued an emergency stay—pending appeal—that blocked the district court order that would have forced the state to revert to the 2021 congressional map. Thus, the 2026 midterm elections are proceeding under the new map that secured five new Republican-leaning seats.
Read More [[link removed]]
Real Texans Sheila Franklin [[link removed]]
In this edition of Real Texans, I visit with 2025 Conservative Leader Award recipient Sheila Franklin about the importance of persistence in impacting public policy.
New interviews with REAL TEXANS [[link removed]] every Sunday!
State Abbott’s $105 Million Campaign War Chest Towers Over 2026 Field [[link removed]]
No candidate has come close to matching the three-term governor’s fundraising totals. Texas Tech Chancellor Tells Gender Studies Enthusiasts To Look Elsewhere [[link removed]]
Creighton’s comment follows prohibition of “sex-based prejudice” at Texas Tech. Texans for Vaccine Choice Handed Legal Win Against Former Executive Director [[link removed]]
Jackie Schlegel is set to owe more than $767,000 in damages.
Read more in State news... [[link removed]]
Local Whitesboro Walks Back Claim AG’s Tax-Violation Notice Was Fake [[link removed]]
City Administrator Phil Harris now acknowledges that tax-rate notices emailed from Attorney General Ken Paxton were “authentic.” Another Admin Out Amid Celina ISD Sexual Misconduct Scandal [[link removed]]
The beleaguered North Texas school district was also hit with two more lawsuits this month, bringing the total to seven. Austin Police Department to Increase Cooperation With ICE [[link removed]]
The announcement brings the city into greater compliance with state law.
Read more in Local news... [[link removed]]
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