By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
GARLAND – Last week the Garland City Council voted in executive session to cancel the MD Health Pathways/Tap Telehealth contract.
The City Council had originally voted last fall in a 7 – 2 vote with Garland Mayor Dylan Hedrick and District 3 Councilmember Ed Moore voting against to enter into an agreement with MD Health Pathways to deliver Community Telehealth Services aimed at expanding access to care for uninsured and underinsured residents.
Many residents had initially been against the telehealth contract, which was to offer citywide access to basic healthcare services through a monthly fee added to residents’ utility bills.
There had also been an option to opt out.
One Garland resident who ask not to be named said the vote last week to cancel the contract was due to “Growing citizen outrage and the deceptive tactics by MDHP being increasingly (and publicly) exposed. And of course, the upcoming elections.”
A social media post pointed out lack of transparency on MD Health Pathways part regarding their community notification flyer, which was included in utility bills.
The flyer apparently did not fully align with what had been communicated to the City of Garland and its residents with concerns including no disclosure of the $6 monthly charge that appeared on residents’ water bills, nor that the charge was subject to increase; no explanation of how residents could opt out of the program; and no transparency at the point of registration, including when the QR code was scanned regarding billing or opt-out options.
Mayor Hedrick said this week “Although I voted against it, the City Council originally approved the MD Health Pathways program 7-2 with the intent of expanding access to healthcare services in Garland. At the time, the proposal was presented as an innovative way to connect residents to medical care through telehealth technology, with the goal of improving accessibility and preventative care options within our community.
As with many new initiatives, the program was brought forward with the hope that it would provide meaningful benefits. However, after approval, many residents began raising questions — about the contract’s structure, the scope of services, the cost to ratepayers, and the overall value to the community.
Over the past several weeks, residents spoke during public meetings, sent emails, made calls, and had conversations across Garland. They asked for clarity. They asked for accountability. Most importantly, they asked their City Council to take another look.
City Council members listened carefully to that feedback and weighed it alongside the original goals of the program. Ultimately, direction was given to cancel the contract reflecting the judgment that moving forward was not in the best interest of the city at this time.
Let me be clear: I believe telehealth will certainly play a role in the future of healthcare for our Garland residents, and I never spoke negatively about telehealth. I disagreed only with the program’s opt-out nature.
I did not use the service during the 10,000-resident trial period, so I cannot speak personally about the program’s benefits. I can only repeat the anecdotes I heard from citizens during our public comment period. Several stated they believed the service was useful.”
Councilmember Moore added his comments to the cancellation and stated “The decision by the Garland City Council to cancel the May 2 non-binding MD Medical Pathways citizen vote reflects more than just a policy choice — it reflects a Council that listened carefully to the community and to one another and then chose to act in the best interest of moving Garland forward together.
Over the past several months, residents shared their concerns, perspectives, and passions in many ways. Council members also engaged in thoughtful discussions among ourselves, weighing the impacts on our neighborhoods and the long-term direction of our city. This decision represents a collective commitment not only to listen, but to reconcile differences and proceed as a united Council.
While this issue challenged our community, it also demonstrated the strength of civic engagement in Garland. By acting together, the Council has taken an important step toward restoring focus, rebuilding trust, and working collaboratively on the issues that matter most to our residents.”
For those looking for low or no-cost healthcare options in Garland, Hope Clinic https://hopeclinic-garland.org/ is a patient-centered medical home providing free healthcare services. Celebrating 25 years, they are currently the only nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering accessible healthcare to the community. Tanya L. Downing,Executive Director of Hope Clinic, said of the MD Health Pathways/Tap Telehealth contract cancellation that MD Health did not have an effect on Hope Clinic, but she did speak at the recent Garland City Council meeting reminding the community that Hope Clinic exists.
Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.
