Volume 122, Number 1 - January/February 2026
The Federal Issue
How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) could transform Texas health care
A Mixed Medicaid Bag (Pages 12-13): Federal changes may narrow certain Medicaid eligibility provisions, boost others
Immigrant Eligibility Provisions (Page 14): Federal officials approved these new immigrant eligibility provisions for Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act under OBBBA.
Disrupting the Marketplace (Pages 15-18): How the ACA expiring tax credits could impact health care costs
ACA in Texas (Page 17): What parts of the state do Texans carry ACA health plans?
Community Support (Pages 18-20): Texas aims to use federal funding to address rural health care challenges
One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes (Page 21): Key modifications introduced by the 2025 federal budget bill – known as OBBBA – that affect major health care programs.
Expanded Flexibility (Pages 22-24): Patients can now pay for direct primary care with health savings accounts – with caveats
Cap at Hand (Pages 25-26): Federal loan changes could exacerbate medical students’ financial challenges
How other federal budget items could affect Texas
Budget Crunch (Pages 30-34): Uncertainty besets Texas’ public health infrastructure as federal funding streams dry up
Concerns Remain (Pages 36-37): Medicare physician fee schedule retains payment increase and concerning cuts
Other News
Lasting Impact (Pages 4-7) : As two of TMA’s sections turn 50, those with leadership careers spurred by the groups look back
‘Caring for Myself and Medicine’ (Pages 42-44): Julia Choi, MD, attended TexMed 2025 with dual goals: to complete her third triathlon, and to defend the profession of medicine
Looking Back (Page 48): TMA’s Historical Archives
Deaths