Saturday, May 9, 2009
Texas State Rep. Allen Vaught pushes for regional hospital district
House Bill (HB) 515, which will provide several North Texas counties with the option to join into the Dallas County Hospital District, was reported favorably out of the House County Affairs Committee yesterday. Representative Allen Vaught (Dallas) has filed this legislation for two consecutive sessions, but this year the bill is gaining traction in the House.
Representative Vaught filed this legislation after hearing from his constituents about their concern for unreimbursed health care at Parkland Hospital and about the increasing number of uninsured Texans. According to the Texas Health Institute, the uninsured population in North Texas is expected to surge over the next ten years, with an uninsured growth rate increase of 30.1% in the Metroplex.
House Bill 515 will allow counties contiguous to Dallas County to join into the Dallas County Hospital District through two different options. The first option would allow voters in a contiguous county to file a petition with the Dallas County Commissioners Court requesting inclusion in the hospital district, and the second option would allow the Commissioners Court to pursue annexation of another county. Both options would require a public hearing to determine whether or not the inclusion is feasible and then would go before the voters of all involved counties for an election. Parkland Hospital, included in the Dallas County Hospital District, is one of only two public hospitals in the Metroplex that provides indigent care and serves our needy population.
"Expanding the hospital district will provide those surrounding counties with access to a public hospital, Level I Trauma Center and one of the largest civilian burn units," said Rep. Vaught. Parkland Hospital CEO Dr. Ron Anderson, Dallas County Judge Jim Foster, and Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey all testified in support of the bill in the House committee. Since HB 515 is now out of committee, it could soon be scheduled for a vote on the House floor.
Source: Rep. Allen Vaught
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