Yesterday’s episode of TSHL 101 brought listeners an insightful and far‑reaching conversation as Gary Gerstenhaber and Gary Emmert welcomed Deputy Speaker Pro‑Tem Ed Rogers to the program. Rogers, a seasoned leader within the Texas Silver‑Haired Legislature, shared a lifetime of experience that continues to shape his work advocating for seniors across Texas.
Rogers began by reflecting on his extensive background in nonprofit fundraising, a career that stretches back to the 1970s. From early community campaigns to major initiatives with United Way and educational organizations, he described how decades of fundraising taught him the value of persistence, communication, and building coalitions. Those same skills, he explained, now guide his work within TSHL, where he helps steer education and advocacy efforts on issues affecting older Texans.
He emphasized the scale of TSHL’s mission: more than 5.5 million seniors across Texas are touched by the resolutions and policy recommendations the organization advances. Despite that reach, TSHL operates on a modest budget of just over $100,000, funded almost entirely by volunteer member legislators themselves. Rogers noted that this self‑funded model underscores the commitment of TSHL members and the importance of their work.
One of the key resolutions Rogers discussed involves redirecting Medicaid fraud recovery funds to support rural hospitals. Texas identified more than $125 million in Medicaid fraud in 2025, money that currently flows into the state’s general fund. Rogers argued that these dollars could instead stabilize rural hospitals, many of which serve primarily Medicare and Medicaid patients and struggle with lower reimbursement rates. He shared that the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals has already expressed support for the proposal.
Rogers also addressed environmental and regulatory concerns tied to the oil and gas industry. He explained how injection wells, used to store produced water from fracking operations, have become a growing threat as abandoned or unplugged wells contaminate water supplies across 140 Texas counties. While companies operating injection wells would be responsible for cleanup, Rogers pointed to poor regulation and monitoring by the Railroad Commission, likely due to staffing shortages, as the root of the problem. He noted that a previous $100 million initiative successfully strengthened oversight of unplugged wells, suggesting similar action may be needed now.
The conversation then turned to healthcare quality in nursing homes. Rogers highlighted the urgent need for mandatory certification requirements for nursing home medical directors. With sicker patients entering facilities and only 200 certified medical directors serving 1,200 nursing homes statewide, he stressed that credentialing standards are essential to ensure proper competencies. Research shows a 15% improvement in quality scores when certified medical directors are present, yet many directors are not full‑time at their facilities.
Rogers also touched on APRN practice authority, noting that 31 states already allow full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses. Expanding that authority in Texas, he said, could help address provider shortages and improve access to care for seniors.
Finally, Rogers revisited a resolution familiar to many TSHL followers: backup generators for skilled nursing facilities. He explained that Texas now provides funding for generators capable of powering essential medical equipment, not just basic lighting and water systems — a critical step in protecting vulnerable residents during outages.
Throughout the conversation, Rogers demonstrated the depth of his experience and the clarity of his purpose. His work — and the work of TSHL — continues to shape policy discussions that affect millions of older Texans. Yesterday’s episode offered listeners a thoughtful look at the issues, the challenges, and the dedicated volunteers working to address them.
