How Texas Employers Can Approach the Primary Care Shortage
10 Minutes
Team Curative
Jun 5, 2024
A primary care provider (PCP) is a healthcare professional who helps patients manage their health and is usually the first point of contact when an individual has a medical problem that is not an emergency. PCPs establish long-term relationships with patients, helping them stay healthy and get better faster when they’re ill. Research shows that people who regularly see a PCP experience better health outcomes.
Despite its importance, many employed Americans are reluctant to seek primary care out of fear of unforeseen costs. Some states, such as Texas, face unique health system challenges — staffing shortages and a lack of comprehensive health insurance — making it harder for residents to access primary care.
Let’s discuss the type of health insurance Texas employers can offer their employees to increase access to primary care and combat the PCP shortage. After all, the best health insurance for companies puts employees’ needs first.
Texans face severe primary care shortages
There are serious healthcare disparities in Texas. A recent survey of residents in the four largest metropolitan areas in Texas found that:
34% are dissatisfied with unaffordable out-of-pocket health insurance costs.
59% have difficulty paying out-of-pocket healthcare expenses due to high deductibles.
52% say they can’t afford their out-of-pocket costs if they had a major medical event or were diagnosed with a chronic illness.
51% said the health benefits package offered by their place of employment influenced their decision to work there.
Primary care access is another struggle Texans face. Recent data shows that 249 of 254 Texas counties have areas with shortages of primary care physicians. A shortage area has fewer than one primary care physician for every 3,500 residents. However, in communities with “high needs,” that ratio drops to one physician for every 3,000 residents. In 228 of the shortage areas, the entire county has a shortage — nearly double what it was as of 2019.
Factors contributing to the primary care shortage in Texas include population growth and reduced supply of primary care physicians due to burnout and retirement. The physician shortage is projected to increase through 2032. Current projections for medical education enrollment indicate that the state’s medical education system will not create a supply of physicians who will meet projected demand.
Texas leaders will need to address these challenges by improving the accessibility of primary care over the next several years. Texas employers looking to help their talent access primary care should find the best health insurance for companies. The best health insurance will encourage healthy lifestyles by offering flexible, comprehensive plans.
How the primary care shortage harms Texas employees
Primary care is essential for overall individual health and well-being. It is also extremely important on a family and community level. According to a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, people in countries and health systems with high-quality primary care enjoy better health outcomes and more health equity.
The lack of primary care access in Texas means a lower quality of life. PCPs provide a range of services that benefit patients. They can catch potential health problems before they become severe. People with a PCP spend less time in the hospital and less money on medical costs in the long run.
PCPs don’t just help patients with physical ailments; they provide mental health care. Warnings about the future of the Texas mental health care workforce have been present since 2016:
“More than 80% of Texas counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, which are defined as more than 30,000 residents per clinician,” the Texas Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan stated. “Many of the most experienced and skilled practitioners are approaching retirement. Texas higher education institutions have been unable to produce enough graduates to meet the predicted demand.”
Without access to these important primary care services, Texans are at a disadvantage in terms of preventive health and overall health.
Access to primary care improves employee health
The quality of health insurance Texas residents have access to impacts employers and employees. Texas employers can improve their bottom line and talents’ lives by finding the best, comprehensive health insurance for companies. Comprehensive health insurance should include access to primary care along with:
Preventative care: regular screenings, check-ups, and vaccinations
Hospital care: in-patient stays, surgery, medication, and hospital services
Emergency services: unexpected trips for emergency evaluation and treatment
Prescription medication: coverage of all or a portion of the cost of prescription drugs
Mental health and addiction treatment: counseling, therapy, rehabilitation, and medication
Maternity and newborn care: prenatal and postnatal care for both the mother and baby
The inability to access healthcare services leads to increased worker absenteeism. Presenteeism is also an issue. Presenteeism occurs when ill employees work when they’re unwell, which hinders job performance. Working while sick can delay an employee’s recovery time, increase their risk of future health problems, lead to increased absences, and cause illness to spread in the workplace.
Productivity losses linked to absenteeism and presenteeism have cost U.S. employers $2,945 per employee per year. That number includes sick days, short-term disability, long-term disability, and impaired job performance.
The best health insurance for companies proactively encourages health and wellness while helping reduce absenteeism and presenteeism costs. A less obvious benefit of offering talent comprehensive health insurance is less turnover. A study found that 56% of Americans with employer-sponsored health benefits identified the quality of their health coverage as a decisive factor in staying at their current job. Understanding how your company can help meet talent health needs and providing comprehensive health insurance with access to primary care allows them to do their best in their personal and professional lives.
How employers can help employees navigate the primary care shortage
The Texas workforce needs more access to primary care. Primary care can be offered via comprehensive health insurance. Since there is a lack of quality and affordable health insurance, there is low engagement with healthcare services. That means employers are paying a high price for unused benefits. Employers and employees are paying for underutilized healthcare coverage that still costs both parties.
Employers should seek affordable, easy-to-understand, and accessible healthcare coverage. These factors lead to increased employee engagement, better health outcomes, and a more effective workforce. It’s time for a change in healthcare for people, companies, and health insurance brokers. Comprehensive health insurance Texas residents need is just one click away—that’s where the Curative Health Plan comes in.
Curative: Helping Texans establish primary care habits
At Curative, we’re proud to offer innovative health insurance for companies. Curative helps employers provide health insurance Texas residents need to access primary care and live healthier lives. Our approach to insurance prioritizes providing patients with access to healthcare.
Despite the shortage of PCPs, Curative can allow employees to focus on their well-being instead of barriers to care. Curative provides top-notch, in-person, or virtual primary care to Texans, helps them navigate the healthcare system to receive the preventive care they deserve, and increases employee engagement to ensure a healthier workforce.
The result? Happier, healthier communities and cost savings for employers.
Curative is a next-generation group health plan employees will love. Learn more about Curative’s robust local and national provider network here.
Access to $0 care: Finding in-network services can take a lot of time, especially without help. We’ll help your talent find in-network services at zero cost to them, so they can take one more thing off their plate.
No-hassle meds: Access to medication is a huge part of comprehensive healthcare. Members have access to rapid medication delivery through the Curative Pharmacy. We can also help find an in-network pharmacy along with guidance on transferring and filling prescriptions. We’ll help ensure their medication is working properly and can offer guidance if they have questions about side effects or usage. No-hassle meds mean your talent can focus on being their best self, both in and outside the workplace.
Support on your time: Our care team will help your talent stay on track with their care through one-on-one check-ins. We work around the work schedule and can provide support as frequently or as seldom as needed, so they can engage in their wellness while also being present in the workplace.
Virtual therapy with Televero: Today, many people are always on the go. That's why it's so important to give your talent the opportunity to utilize virtual care. Employees in Texas can tap into remote therapy through our partnership with Televero. It's hassle-free to schedule appointments and get connected to a therapist within a week.
Cancer Screenings with Galleri: Curative offers eligible members no-cost access to the Galleri® multi-cancer early detection test from GRAIL. Galleri can help detect more than 50 types of cancer with a single blood test.
For more information on health insurance, Texas comprehensive care resources, and how Curative can help you cultivate better employee mental health in your organization, visit our members page.
To see all disclaimers, please view them here.
References
Cleveland Clinic (2020). The Importance of Having a Primary Care Doctor. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16507-the-importance-of-having-a-primary-care-doctor.
RWJ Barnabas Health (2024). Everyone Needs a Primary Care Physician. https://www.rwjbh.org/blog/2024/january/everyone-needs-a-primary-care-physician/#:~:text=People%20who%20regularly%20see%20a,early%20treatment%20for%20chronic%20diseases.
Miller, Charles (2022). Physician Shortage Grows Worse Across Texas. Texas 2036. https://texas2036.org/posts/physician-shortage-grows-worse-across-texas/#:~:text=Recent%20analysis%20of%20primary%20care,it%20was%20as%20of%202019.
Texas Department of State Health Services (2022). Physician Supply and Demand Projections 2021-2032. https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/legislative/2022-Reports/Physician-Supply-and-Demand-Projections-2021-2032.pdf.
Levine, Rachel, et al. (2023). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Is Taking Action to Strengthen Primary Care. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/blog/2023/11/07/us-department-health-and-human-services-taking-action-strengthen-primary-care.html.
Golinkin, Web (2024). Primary Care: Why It’s Important And How To Increase Access To It. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbooksauthors/2024/02/23/primary-care-why-its-important-and-how-to-increase-access-to-it/?sh=3965eab354ba.
Simpson, Stephen (2023). Texas’ shortage of mental health care professionals is getting worse. Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/21/texas-mental-health-workforce-shortage/.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022). 7.8 million workers had an illness-related work absence in January 2022. https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/7-8-million-workers-had-an-illness-related-work-absence-in-january-2022.htm#:~:text=About%204.2%20million%20of%20the,first%20collected%20in%20June%201976.
Kaiser Permanente Business (2022). The real cost of absenteeism — and what you can do about it. https://business.kaiserpermanente.org/insights/absenteeism-costs-what-you-can-do.
Burke, Zane (2023). Health Equity is Now Every Employer's Business. Inc. https://www.inc.com/inc-masters/health-equity-is-now-every-employers-business.html.
