Enact legislation that creates parity in the Medicaid reimbursements with the rest of the State of Texas.

Under the current Medicaid Managed Care and CHIP Programs, reimbursement rates are determined by reviewing the utilization rates of an area or region of Texas. The fact that Laredo and other border cities have limited access to health facilities and medical practitioners creates low utilization rates. This creates disparities in the rate that is reimbursed throughout the State of Texas. Physicians along the Border cover more of the expenses that come with caring for patients than other doctors throughout the State. This policy serves as a detriment to keeping or increasing the number of doctors that practice in our City. We need to ensure that doctors in Laredo get equal pay for equal work and that reimbursement rates are equitable to the rest of the State.