Legislative UpdatesState Hospital Redesign & Inpatient Capacity Expansion: 2017-2023

State Hospital Redesign & Inpatient Capacity Expansion: 2017-2023

SUMMARY – Since 2016, the Texas Legislature has invested over $3.6 billion toward developing a modernized state hospital system, informed by data-driven policy guidance provided by the Meadows Institute.


Shown above: concept rendering of the Austin State Hospital Campus, re-imagined as more than a hospital, rather as a platform for the entire continuum of care for a brain health system. Images created by Page/ for Dell Medical School.

Deteriorating conditions at Texas’ state hospitals made headlines for years, highlighting the desperate need for significant repairs and improvements. Beginning in 2016, the Meadows Institute provided data-driven guidance toward the goal of developing a modernized state hospital system with facilities located closer to where people live, operated in partnership with state-funded medical schools and local health systems.

In 2017, the 85th Texas Legislature committed to an ambitious three-phase plan, beginning with an initial $300 million for the planning and implementation of new state hospital construction projects.

This brief provides an overview of funding the Texas Legislature has approved for state hospital and inpatient facility projects, including a historic $2.3 billion investment by the 88th Texas Legislature. To date, total investment in modernizing Texas’ state hospital system and expanding inpatient capacity exceeds $3.6 billion.

View the full brief here.