Equity & Access · Texas behavioral health news
Growing Texas’ rural health care sector - Texas 2036
Mental Health Equity (Google News) · February 23, 2026
In plain language
Over four million people live in rural parts of Texas, where finding medical care is often difficult. Nearly one in three Texas counties does not have a hospital, forcing many families to travel over 75 miles for emergency or inpatient services. These areas also face serious shortages of mental health providers, pediatricians, and doctors for pregnancy care. While state officials are using grants and virtual care technology to bridge these gaps, rural residents still face higher rates of being uninsured and often wait longer to get the treatment they need.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- Nearly one-third of all Texas counties currently have no hospital at all.
- Rural Texans may have to travel more than 75 miles to reach the nearest emergency or intensive care facility.
- Almost half of Texas counties are considered maternity care deserts with no local pregnancy or delivery services.
- Most rural Texas counties are designated as shortage areas for primary care and mental health services.
- Rural areas in West Texas, the Panhandle, and the Rio Grande Valley have high percentages of uninsured residents.
- Texas is expanding telepsychiatry and virtual care to help reach patients in remote areas.
Growing Texas’ rural health care sector Texas 2036
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