Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Texas rural healthcare stakeholders on August 28, 2025, to discuss ongoing efforts to improve healthcare in rural communities. The event included a roundtable discussion followed by a press conference.
The discussion focused on the Rural Healthcare Transformation Program and recent legislative actions aimed at enhancing health outcomes for Texans living in rural areas. Governor Abbott referenced the Make Texas Healthy Again package, which he signed into law the previous day, stating it aims to help Texans make better-informed health and nutrition decisions.
Governor Abbott said, “Our goal has to be to ensure that every corner of our state is going to be prepared to respond to the health care needs of their community. More than 190 counties are categorized as rural in this state, and they have more than 6 million Texans. We have an obligation to ensure that those communities are able to succeed. I want to thank Secretary Kennedy and President Trump for helping prioritize the rural regions of our state to ensure healthcare in rural regions improve.”
Secretary Kennedy added, “Governor Abbott, thank you for your dedication to rural health care providers in Texas. And thank you, President Trump, for your brilliant One Big Beautiful Bill and its Rural Health Transformation provision, which delivers $50 billion in rural health support across the United States. We will strengthen and expand rural health like never before. That is my promise to rural communities, my promise to Texas, and my promise to the American people.”
Participants at the event included leaders from hospitals, clinics, mental health organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies such as John Henderson (Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals), Lorenzo Serrano (Winkler County Hospital District), Ted Matthews (Anson General Hospital), Jennifer O’Riley (Texas Association of Rural Health Clinics), Mike Maples (Bluebonnet Trails Community Services), Wayne Young (Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities), Jana Eubank (Texas Association of Community Health Centers), Dr. Kia Parsi (Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute), Dr. Tedd Mitchell (Texas Tech University System), Cecile Young (Texas Health and Human Services), Trey Wood (Texas Health and Human Services), Dr. Jennifer Shuford (Texas Department of State Health Services), Stephanie Spear (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), Ken Callahan (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), Chris Jones (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) and Grant Thomas (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).
At the press conference following the roundtable, both officials highlighted new investments targeting behavioral telehealth services, artificial intelligence innovation in healthcare delivery, and improvements in rural laboratory infrastructure throughout Texas’ underserved regions over the next five years.
The recent legislative session produced measures addressing gaps in maternity services, childcare access, mental health resources, as well as expanding grant programs for rural hospitals.
Governor Abbott noted there is still work ahead: he stated his commitment “to fight for the health and safety of Texans for generations to come.”
Additional photos from the event will be made available when released.
