Nueces County backs bill to let hospital district fund physician recruitment; approves employee-benefits interlocal with district

Nueces County Commissioners Court on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution supporting draft state legislation that would allow the Nueces County Hospital District to use district funds to recruit and retain physicians and to expand graduate medical education positions, and separately approved an amended interlocal agreement under which the county will provide employee benefits for the hospital district.

The court’s action comes after a detailed briefing from hospital-district representatives about two draft bills — House Bill 4801 by Rep. Villalobos and Senate Bill 2666 by Sen. Hinojosa — that the district has asked legislators to file. The district asked the court to signal support so its legislative team can push the language through the 2025 session.

The resolution supports permissive language that would allow the hospital district to use any of its legally available funds to support recruitment, retention and expansion of residency positions, rather than imposing a mandatory…