The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries strongly opposes the version of HB 573 that was passed by the Texas House of Representative Insurance Committee. As the trade association for the majority of federally defined Health Care Sharing Ministries, the Alliance is mystified how Chairman Tom Oliverson could make the assertion that the majority of sharing organizations “support” the bill. Indeed, six of the seven largest Health Care Sharing Ministries have made clear their opposition to the bill.

HB 573 would intentionally discriminate against Texas Christians and the ministries they’ve chosen as their health care solution. The bill would punish the ministries who have faithfully served Texans for decades by imposing a burdensome regulatory and enforcement scheme, while leaving untouched the for-profit secular organizations that have misled and harmed consumers.

The Alliance calls on Texas legislators to take a firm stand against further consideration of this Insurance Committee bill, which would reverse the Texas legislature’s long history of standing for religious liberty, and would devalue the faith and freedoms of more than 150,000 Texans who have chosen to trust their family’s health care to a Health Care Sharing Ministry.

For more facts and information about Texas HB 573, read our legislative claim and response. 

Texas HB 573 has been scheduled for a vote in the Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 12th. 

Texas residents and supporters of Health Care Sharing Ministries should take a stand for choice in Texas and contact members of the Texas House of Representatives and tell them to vote “NO” on HB 573.