The Starr County Commissioners Court meeting on July 10, 2025, featured presentations from two healthcare service providers, Frontier Direct Care and Salazar Insurance Group, focusing on innovative solutions for employee health benefits.

Frontier Direct Care, represented by Executive Vice President Joe Wilson, outlined their model aimed at reducing healthcare costs for local employers. Wilson emphasized three core components of their service: direct primary care, direct contracting for specialized services, and a direct pharmacy program. He explained that by establishing facilities near employers, they can provide accessible healthcare that addresses about 90% of common health needs, including chronic disease management. The company claims to significantly lower costs, citing a case where a city saved $200 per member per month after implementing their services. Wilson assured the court that their approach guarantees savings, promising to reimburse any shortfall if projected savings are not met.

Following this, Dion Chavez and Dion Hernandez from Salazar Insurance Group presented their agency's capabilities in managing a range of employee benefits, including health, dental, and life insurance. With over 20 years of experience and a strong local presence, they service numerous municipalities and school districts across the Rio Grande Valley. They highlighted their use of technology to streamline benefits administration and improve employee communication. Salazar Insurance Group also emphasized a no-fee approach if selected as the broker of record, aiming to provide efficient and cost-effective solutions for Starr County's employee benefits.

The discussions underscored a commitment to enhancing healthcare access and affordability for local government employees, with both companies offering tailored solutions to meet the needs of Starr County. The court will consider these proposals as they seek to improve health benefits for their workforce.