By Don Evans and Collin Sewell
It is difficult to put into words the challenges America has faced over the last two years. Every sector has been altered forever. Healthcare, education, housing, the economy and workforce have undergone generational transformation. A byproduct of these challenges is the impact on mental health for citizens around the world and nowhere is that more apparent than in our own backyard.
According to Mental Health America’s , Texas ranks 50th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia in access to mental health care. The ability to access these services is particularly strained in more rural parts of the state like the Permian Basin.
An in-depth regional healthcare assessment launched by the Permian Strategic Partnership earlier this year confirmed this trend, identifying that access to behavioral health services, compounded by a shortage of specialists such as psychiatrists, is one of the most urgent healthcare needs in our region. Many residents across our communities must travel an hour or more to receive care from an inpatient hospital, and more than a quarter of Midland/Odessa residents leave the area to receive healthcare. The need for increased access to behavioral health services, including crisis stabilization, counseling, community education and residency services, has never been more important.
We know there is hope on the horizon. Recently, we received confirmation of a $40 million appropriation in Texas Senate Bill 8 for a regional behavioral health care facility in the Permian Basin. This funding will lay the groundwork for the community to launch a viable effort to raise additional dollars needed to complete the facility, to be jointly operated by the Midland and Ector County Hospital Districts.
An accomplishment like this does not happen overnight – it takes collaboration, determination and extensive research and education efforts to move forward. Taking what we learned from the initial phase of the PSP’s healthcare assessment and in partnership with Texas Tech University System, the University of Texas System and the Scharbauer Foundation, our local leaders took action.
We commend the initiative of our healthcare leaders, Russell Meyers and Russell Tippin, who submitted a joint letter to Rep. Tom Craddick and Rep. Brooks Landgraf outlining the need and requesting $87 million in funding for a regional behavioral health facility. We appreciate Rep. Craddick and Rep. Landgraf for recognizing the opportunity to capitalize on pass-through funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and congratulate them on securing support for an impactful $40 million appropriation in the Texas House version of the bill.
The data derived from the Permian Basin Healthcare Assessment helped education efforts with key leaders, such as Texas Lt Governor Dan Patrick. Now, Texas Senate Bill 8 awaits the governor’s signature after working its way through Texas’ third special legislative session. We are grateful for the attention to this project from leadership in the House and Senate.
Efforts to improve access to healthcare services in the Permian cannot stop here. In the last year, the Permian Strategic Partnership has announced funding support to establish Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance and is eager to expand its service area. We have also entered partnerships with Texas Tech University and Odessa College to bolster physician programs to help attract and retain healthcare professionals and build a sustainable workforce and economic foundation for local healthcare systems. We continue to explore other collaborative initiatives that will make it possible to improve access to all kinds of high-quality healthcare services right here in the Permian.
There is still much work to do to make the behavioral health project a reality, and this funding appropriation is a huge step forward in moving from plans to reality. As we celebrate the success in securing this financial support, we must also recognize and applaud our communities and leaders for working collectively for the mutual benefit of our region. Here in the Permian Basin, we know the sky is the limit and transformative things happen when we think big and pursue change together. We can learn from this experience as we continue to address the pressing needs of the region.
