City Commission Approves Resolution Supporting Proposed Cameron County Healthcare District Legislation

The La Feria City Commission held its regular meeting Tuesday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m.

On the agenda for the evening was a public hearing to receive input from the public regarding a proposed resolution in support of Cameron County filing a bill that would lead to the creation of a Cameron County Healthcare District.

Cameron County Administrator David Garcia was present at the meeting to provide information on the proposed bills to be filed in the 84th Texas Legislature by Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Prepresentative Rene Oliveira and Representative Eddie Lucio III.

Section 9, Article IX of the Texas Constitution allows the Texas legislature to provide, create, establish, maintain, and manage the operation of healthcare districts. It also allows healthcare districts to provide medical and hospital care to those within the hospital district.

One in three individuals in Cameron County lack health care coverage. In 2013, Cameron ranked second amongst all the counties for the highest number of uninsured individuals in the United States. The county currently operates the Indigent Care Program since Cameron does not have a public hospital or hospital district. The growing cost of indigent care has put a strain on the county and the current system is inadequate to meet the complex needs of a high-risk, high-disparity population.

The special district would assume full responsibility of the indigent care program and funds generated would be leveraged to gain matching federal Medicaid dollars. These federal funds can enhance the indigent care program and improve local health services.

The special district, if created, would provide medical care for needy residents, improve the quality of health services in the county, allow for collaboration with the local health community, and support primary care and behavioral services and prevention programs.

The bill would also authorize the special district to contract with various health care providers for healthcare delivery, including local hospitals, clinics, and medical schools. It would limit the maximum tax rate to 25 cents per $100 valuation and would require Cameron County to decrease its ad valorem tax rate equal to the decrease in health care spending due to the transfer of the indigent care program to the special district.

After opening the floor to the public for comments, commissioners approved the resolution of the City of La Feria joining Cameron County and otehr cities and towns throughout Cameron County expressing support for the bills which will allow the voters of the county to decide on the creation of the proposed hospital or healthcare district.

The next agenda item to be considered was a resolution of the City designating authorized signatories for contractual documents and documents for requesting funds pertaining to the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) – Texas Capital Fund (TCF) Ingrastructure Development Program in support of Cardenas BMW.

A project underway for some tme now, the block grant will provide funds for sewer, water, drainage, and road improvements to occur at the West Frontage Road of East Expressway 83 and Kansas City Road in support of the new car dealership to be built there. The resolution was approved.

The subsequent and final public item was tabled and the city commission went into closed session before returning for staff reports on the status of the Drainage Improvement Project, the Water and Wastewater Systems Improvements Project and the status of the Dome Construction Project.

The next city commission meeting is scheduled for May 12, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room at 115 E. Commercial Avenue.