Hitting the Ground Running for Texas Families and Businesses

My name is Annie Spilman, and I am excited to introduce myself to you as the new executive director for Texans for Affordable Healthcare. That means I’m waking up everyday with the goal of making sure you and your family have a voice at the State Capitol. 

How did I get here? My first job at the State Capitol was serving as Chief Clerk for the Texas Human Services Committee in the House of Representatives. It was a hard job. I had to manage a committee of House members—with diverging beliefs and agendas (not to mention personalities and egos!) – and organize hearings that would be the platform for touching, contentious, sometimes boring, heart wrenching, and tear jerking issues the legislature would face.

We heard countless hours of testimony from young foster children, the elderly and people with disabilities, describing their daily challenges and making pleas for help from their lawmakers. They had real problems, and they expected their elected officials to find real solutions.  

That experience taught me a lot of lessons, especially the importance of effective advocacy when it comes to crafting public policy. And that’s why I am excited to begin this work with Texans for Affordable Healthcare. 

The fact of the matter is, we have a healthcare cost crisis in Texas, and it is hurting our families. In a recent voter survey commissioned by TAHC, more than a third of patients said they were delaying medical treatment or skipping medication doses because of rising costs. A similar percentage said they were struggling to pay back medical debt. And large majorities said they felt taken advantage of by both pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers.

My message to those families and to you is: we hear you and we are working to make sure your lawmakers do too. We are working at the Capitol and through every avenue available to us to tip the scales in the direction of Texas families and businesses and away from special interests who profit from higher costs.  

As we approach the coming legislative session, we’ll be sending out updates and action alerts. Please stay engaged! There is strength in numbers and the more we work together, the louder our voices are and the more powerful our cause. 

Sincerely,

Annie Spilman
Executive Director
Texans for Affordable Healthcare