Texas shows the U.S. how to cut waste, fraud and abuse

OPINION:

As blue states raise taxes to sustain bloated Medicaid expansions, Texas is proving there is a better path forward.

It isn’t more Washington control; it’s more Texas-style accountability — an approach that aligns directly with President Trump’s efforts to crack down on fraud, waste and abuse across federal programs.

At a time when career bureaucrats and liberal policymakers continue to push one-size-fits-all expansions, Texas has quietly built a model that proves conservative governance works: protecting taxpayers, empowering local communities and demanding transparency at every level.

It’s the same commonsense framework the Trump-Vance administration has championed nationwide, ensuring Medicaid serves those in need while safeguarding every taxpayer dollar. The result is a system that is not only more accountable but also more sustainable and increasingly a blueprint for the nation.

This didn’t happen by accident. It’s the product of deliberate leadership by Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows. Under their leadership, Texas has kept property taxes in check by strategically leveraging Local Provider Participation Funds to support the state’s Medicaid program.

Too often, the debate overlooks a fundamental choice: States can either raise taxes on families through property, sales or income taxes, or they can use existing federal law that allows local governments to partner with hospitals to help finance care. Texas chose the smarter path. The result is stronger, more sustainable health care systems and lower tax burdens.

The contrast with high-tax, big-government states couldn’t be clearer. States such as Illinois expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, ballooning costs and creating long-term liabilities for taxpayers. Texas picked fiscal responsibility. As a result, it has avoided billions of dollars in new costs while maintaining flexibility and control.

What truly sets Texas apart, however, is its commitment to transparency. As highlighted by the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Texas has implemented one of the most open Medicaid financing systems in the country. It provides detailed, provider-level data on payments, methodologies and funding sources. Many states obscure or fail to report such information.

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That level of transparency isn’t just good governance; it’s also essential to eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. It allows policymakers, taxpayers and providers to understand exactly how dollars are spent and whether the system is working.

At a time when Mr. Trump is demanding accountability in federal spending, Texas is already delivering it.

Now, other states are taking notice.

Louisiana, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania are exploring similar financing mechanisms and transparency reforms. They understand what Texas has demonstrated: You don’t need to expand government to improve outcomes. You just need to manage it better.

These efforts are being made at a critical moment. Families across America are already feeling the squeeze from rising costs, and in many blue states, Medicaid expansion has only added to the burden through higher taxes on people and unsustainable spending. Texas offers a clear alternative.

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The leadership of Stephanie Muth, executive commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services, is central to this momentum. Thanks to her, instead of asking how much more government can spend, policymakers are beginning to ask how government can spend smarter.

Washington critics will continue to push for expansion and increased federal control. They will argue that more spending equals better care. Texas has proved otherwise. By focusing on efficiency, transparency and local solutions, the state has built a system that works for both patients and taxpayers.

The lesson is simple: Conservative, “America First” principles deliver results.

As the Trump-Vance administration continues its push to eliminate waste, protect taxpayers and return power to the states, the Texas model shows we can safeguard care for the most vulnerable without saddling families with higher taxes. We can support providers without runaway spending and demand transparency instead of tolerating waste.

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In Washington, that’s often easier said than done. In Texas, thanks to leaders such as Mr. Abbott, Mr. Patrick and Mr. Burrows, it is already happening.

Now it’s time for the rest of the country to follow.

• Jenn Pellegrino is president and founder of Defend Forgotten America and a former prime-time host for Newsmax. Jorge Martinez is executive vice president and chief of staff at Defend Forgotten America and a former press secretary for the U.S. Department of Justice.