Last week, TXEAHC Executive Director Chris Skisak joined Texas Representative James Frank, the Cicero Institute’s Nick James, and DFWBGH Executive Director Marianne Fazen for a timely discussion about what the Texas Legislature has accomplished on health care policy, legislative priorities for the 2027 session, and opportunities for employers to rein in out-of-control expenses.
January Webinar: Unlocking Medical Claims Data
Beginning in January, we’ll be walking through The Employer Health Care Data Field Guide with author Chris Deacon.
Join us for the first session, Unlocking Medical Claims Data, where you’ll learn:
What data fields matter most in medical claims (billed, allowed, paid, provider ID, place of service, etc.)
Where hidden revenue streams and contract pitfalls show up
How to use the data for benchmarking, procurement, and accountability
Headline News
Study finds employer health insurance costs have tripled relative to employee pay since 1999
Between 1999 and 2024, workers’ contributions to family health insurance premiums increased by 308%, while total premiums rose 342%. Over the same period, workers’ wages increased by only 119%, and overall inflation grew by 64%. A major factor driving this increase is the steady rise in hospital prices, according to the study.
From Complexity to Clarity: A Path to Value in Employer Health Plans
The path forward isn’t about finding the perfect solution overnight; it’s about employers taking deliberate steps to demand transparency, realign incentives, and make change manageable for their workforce. Those who do will turn health benefits from a cost center into a measurable investment in their people and business.
$27,000 a Year for Health Insurance. How Can We Afford That?
Decades’ worth of research shows that, even though employers pay most of workers’ premiums, those costs are passed on to workers in the form of lower wages and fewer jobs. That’s why the rise in health spending above the rate of inflation over the past decade has depressed wages by nearly 10%.
Publishing Medicare Prices Can Help Lower Employer Expenses
One of the fastest, most straightforward steps Washington can take to lower them meaningfully is publishing the Medicare rates it pays for patient care. This information can empower employer health plans to negotiate better prices with providers and enable patients to avoid overcharges.