This year, Texas state lawmakers earmarked $2.26 billion to aid state hospitals and increase mental health care access. The funds cover the construction of hospitals in Lubbock, the Permian Basin and in Amarillo, totaling $159 million. It’s an investment officials hope will boost the state’s offerings after consistently being rated one of the worst for mental health care by advocacy organizations such as Mental Health America. Advocates say the Amarillo hospital will fill the gaps when it comes to serving the nearly 436,000 living in the farthest northern areas of the state, a largely rural area that has long been starved for mental health care. The hospital will provide inpatient care, a service that has been unavailable in the area. This will allow people to get any kind of care they need closer to home.
More: