What Texans Believe About Health System Reform

TMA and county medical societies conducted 18 town hall meetings, aka "House Calls," across Texas to find out what Texans want in health system reform. More than 3,000 Texas patients attended these meetings. At each House Call, participants answered three questions about (1) what they value most about our current health care system, (2) what one thing they would change in our current health care system, and (3) what they want and did not want from health system reform. To learn what Texas patients said, read this detailed report.

House Call participants also filled out a one-page survey asking if they agreed or disagreed with certain elements of health system reform. Here is what Texas patients and physicians had to say: TMA House Call Survey Results.

What Texans Believe About Our Current Health Care System

The Texas Medical Association has conducted extensive public opinion research to learn what Texans think about our health care system, what they like, and what they think needs to be changed. This data comes from focus groups held across the state and from public opinion surveys conducted with a representative sample of Texans.

 Texans hold doctors in high esteem

• Eighty-one percent of Texans have a favorable impression of doctors, 46 percent have a “very favorable” impression. Doctors ranked second in public opinion only to fire fighters.
• Sixty-five percent of Texans think their area doctors are doing an excellent or good job.
• Ninety-percent of Texans said their doctor was caring and compassionate and 85 percent said their doctor is providing the best care possible.

Texans do not perceive health insurers in a positive light

• In contrast to their high opinion of doctors, Texans have an unfavorable impression of health insurance companies. Thirty-five percent of the respondents statewide say they are unfavorable toward health insurers.

Texans clearly want to see reforms of the health care system

• Nearly two-thirds, 63 percent of Texans think the health care system needs “some reform.” Only 24 percent think it needs “radical change.”
• More respondents without insurance (40 percent statewide) want radical change in the health care system.
• Demand for radical change across the state is also high among those working in small companies (10 employees or less) – 40 percent want to see the system radically changed.

Texans blame health insurers for the problems with the health care system

• Thirty-three percent, said health insurers are the most to blame for the broken health care system.
• Respondents feel that doctors are doing the most to fix the broken system – 35 percent statewide– far larger numbers than other players in the system are.

 The cost of health care is a primary concern for Texans

• Twenty-seven percent of Texans indicated that affordable health care is the most urgent health care problem facing the state.

Source: 2007 TMA Research