Texas Governor Greg Abbott has set in motion a sweeping expansion of the state's mental health facilities, introducing seven new state hospital projects aimed at increasing the availability of inpatient psychiatric services. As reported by the Office of the Texas Governor, this extensive initiative is the fruit of a substantial $1.5 billion funding package, secured through the collaborative efforts of Governor Abbott, the Texas Legislature, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) in 2023.
The governor, stated, “Texas continues working to increase access to critical behavioral health treatments for Texans in every corner of our state.” In a venture that showcases an ambition to reshape Texas’ mental health landscape, Abbott noted, “These new state hospital projects will help ensure that Texans experiencing a mental health issue have access to mental health professionals and high-quality treatments to address their needs.”
Deputy Executive Commissioner for the HHSC Health and Specialty Care System, Scott Schalch=chlin chimed in with equal enthusiasm, underscoring the anticipated transformation, "These projects will improve the well-being of even more people across the state. We’re not just building hospitals — we’re rebuilding lives." The unveiling of these projects reveals a gamut of developments, ranging from new constructions to expansions of existing facilities, taking shape across Texas. They include the Panhandle State Hospital in Amarillo with a budget of $159 million, earmarked for a 75-patient capacity, and a new Lubbock Psychiatric Center featuring a 50-bed maximum-security unit with $121 million allocated for its construction, as per Office of the Texas Governor.
Other key projects feature the erection of a replacement 250-bed Terrell State Hospital and a similar initiative for a 200-bed North Texas State Hospital in Wichita Falls, budgeted at $573 million and $452 million respectively. Enhancements are also foreseen for the Rio Grande State Center in Harlingen and the San Antonio State, which will see an expansion and renovation to accommodate new maximum-security units. El Paso's psychiatric services are set to amplify with a newly planned facility expansion funded at $50 million. Statewide, these efforts align with an astute investment strategy manifested since 2017, tallying a total of $2.5 billion funneled into refurbishing and advancing inpatient psychiatric care facilities.
