Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of Dallas CEO Susan Somers will appear before the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services as private freestanding hospitals — the backbone of Texas’ inpatient psychiatric system — take on a growing share of forensic and crisis cases
Austin, Texas — June 29, 2026 — Susan Somers, Chief Executive Officer of Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of Dallas, will testify before the Texas Senate Committee on Health & Human Services on July 7, 2026, as lawmakers examine how the state delivers crisis mental health services and restores competency for criminally charged individuals awaiting trial.
The committee’s charge — Strengthening Crisis Related Mental Health and Homelessness Services — directs members to review the state’s authority and procedures for providing public mental health services and how those services intersect with homelessness and addiction. Lawmakers will also evaluate the effectiveness, consistency and outcomes of competency restoration for criminally charged individuals awaiting trial, examine processes for civil inpatient and outpatient commitments and consider recommendations to prioritize the most acute populations for treatment in order to reduce public safety threats.
Somers brings a front-line perspective to those questions. Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of Dallas contracts with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for the Inpatient Competency Restoration (ICR) population and has expanded that work through three contracts covering adult and geriatric forensic patients. The hospital accepts clients from every county in Texas and manages justice-involved patients from Dallas County.
“Every day, our teams see what works in competency restoration and where the system breaks down,” said Susan Somers, Chief Executive Officer of Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of Dallas. “Too many Texans wait for restoration services they could be receiving in a hospital setting. I look forward to sharing both the barriers we face and the success stories that show what’s possible when patients reach the right level of care.”
Private freestanding behavioral health hospitals serve as the backbone of inpatient behavioral health care in Texas. According to May 2026 HHSC licensing data, the state’s 64 private freestanding behavioral health hospitals operate 5,150 inpatient psychiatric beds — 52 percent of all inpatient psychiatric beds in Texas. These hospitals treat the entire spectrum of Texans, from young children to older adults.
“Susan’s testimony puts a real-world face on a system the Legislature is working hard to strengthen,” said Stuart Archer, President of the Texas Association of Behavioral Health Systems. “Our member hospitals are already doing this work in communities across the state, and we’re ready to be part of the solution lawmakers are searching for.”
About TABHS
The Texas Association of Behavioral Health Systems (TABHS), founded in 2023, is the united voice of Texas health systems operating non-state-owned freestanding behavioral health hospitals. Its member hospitals deliver the highest standard of specialized inpatient care for children, adolescents, adults and seniors in secure, team-based therapeutic settings — guiding Texans back to stability, health and hope. TABHS advocates for practical, patient-focused policy solutions that strengthen behavioral health care access across the state. Learn more at www.tabhs.com.
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TABHS Contact
Bobby Hillert, Texas Association of Behavioral Health Systems
214.728.7672 | Bobby@tabhs.com
