Houston-Area Counties Lead Texas in Health Care Spending

News Summary

Recent reports reveal that Montgomery and Galveston counties in the Houston area rank high in Texas for per-capita health care spending. With Montgomery County spending over $9,000 per person, and Galveston County also contributing significantly to health care costs, this emphasizes the focus on quality medical services. The report outlines trends in health spending across Texas, highlighting the gaps in access to primary care and the reliance on public health programs amid rising costs.

Houston-Area Counties Make Their Mark in Health Care Spending

It’s no secret that health care costs can get pretty steep, but a recent report has put a spotlight on just how much folks in the Houston area are shelling out on health care. Several counties, including Montgomery and Galveston, have made their way up the charts, ranking among the highest in Texas for per-capita health care spending in 2019.

Montgomery County Takes the Silver

First up, let’s talk about Montgomery County. With per-capita health care spending soaring to an astounding $9,094.88, it comes in as the second-highest in Texas. That’s a hefty amount, but what does that really mean for residents? Well, Montgomery County has also shown a keen focus on providing quality medical services. In fact, when it comes to ambulatory and emergency department care, this county has the highest spending in Texas! Talk about being prepared for a rainy day.

Galveston County Shines With Its Own Stats

Next on our list is Galveston County, which didn’t do too shabby itself with per-capita spending of $8,299.73 in health care. Among all counties in the Houston metro area, Galveston stands tall by spending the most on managing Type 2 diabetes, hitting an average of $570.03 per person. This suggests a significant community effort in keeping health issues at bay, particularly for those struggling with chronic conditions.

Collin County Leads the Pack

While Montgomery and Galveston are making waves in health care spending, Collin County, located near Dallas-Fort Worth, takes the crown with the highest per-capita spending in the Lone Star State, coming in at $9,264.68. Now that’s something to boast about!

Health Care Spending Trends in Texas

The report that spurred these findings analyzed over 40 billion insurance claims alongside nearly 1 billion facility records covering the decade from 2010 to 2019. The snapshot includes a wide range of payment methods—Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and out-of-pocket costs. However, it’s somewhat surprising that no Texas counties made it into the top 10 nationwide for per-capita health care spending.

Medicaid Picks Up the Pace

Looking at Medicaid spending specifically, Galveston County ranked highest in the Houston area with a per-capita expenditure of $7,798.28 for the program. Meanwhile, Harris County came in eighth overall in Texas with $7,878.98. This signals a growing reliance on public health programs, especially considering Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured individuals in the U.S. at 18.8%, with Harris County steeper at 22.2%.

What’s Driving the Costs?

One interesting point that this report unearthed is that the top areas of health spending in Texas don’t quite match up with the leading causes of death. For instance, individuals spent a whopping $10 billion on Type 2 diabetes, while the primary cause of death was attributed to ischemic heart disease. That’s a big gap that likely raises eyebrows.

A Growing Need for Better Access

The study has also pinpointed significant gaps when it comes to access to primary care across different geographic areas. As we know, having health care coverage does not guarantee that individuals will get sufficient treatment or consistent check-ups. There’s a clear need to address these disparities—not just for individuals but for the overall health of communities across Texas.

As Montgomery, Galveston, and Harris counties continue to push forward in health care spending, it’ll be interesting to see how local governments and health services respond to the growing needs of their residents. After all, it’s about time we put our health first!

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• 13WMAZ: Houston Healthcare Losses
• Community Impact: HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest
• Houston Chronicle: Hospital Facility Fees
• MSN: Community Response to Houston Healthcare
• Community Impact: HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball New COO