Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas — The City of Edinburg stands behind the creation of a Hospital District for Hidalgo County. The five member board unanimously approved a resolution supporting the measure at the September 2, regularly scheduled City Council Meeting.
The resolution supports Hidalgo County’s call for an election that will allow voters to decide if a Hospital District should be created. The district would help with the creation of the new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
On November 4, voters will decide whether to approve the Hospital District with an initial tax of eight cents per $100 valuation, generating about $20 million. Revenue raised by the Hospital District is eligible for a federal program that will provide a three to one match accessing tens of millions of dollars. These funds would support indigent care and the development of UTRGV’s medical school. Currently Hidalgo County and local hospitals absorb the cost for indigent care.
Mayor Richard H. Garcia says Hidalgo County is a medically underserved area with severe doctor shortages, limited resources, and critical health care epidemics. Studies have shown that Hidalgo County has the largest number of persons without health insurance in the nation. And with the continued population growth in the area that number is expected to continue to escalate. The Mayor says the answer to addressing these needs is the new UTRGV Medical School and Hospital District working together.
Creating a hospital district is not a new concept in fact voters in other Texas cities, most recently in Travis County have approved such entities for the same reasons; more doctors, increased access to quality health care, and taking care of the indigent.
If approved by voters on November 4, the Hospital District would take effect as early as January 2016 and would be governed by a nine-member board appointed by the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court and the cities of Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Mission.
