Ten years ago, Travis County voters approved a substantial tax increase for Central Health to provide more health care for the poor and to fund a “new medical school consistent with the mission of Central Health.”

Central Health’s 2022 budget approved by the Travis County Commissioners increased tax revenue 6%, but inexplicably decreased the poor’s health care services 34% during a pandemic.

Central Health’s promised voters in 2012 that “$35 million would be permanently earmarked for services provided to needy patients by the medical school's faculty and residents…”.

Since 2013 the Dell Medical School has received $280 million in $35 million annual payments from Central Health.

Neither Central Health nor Dell Medical School has produced any documentation of the specific amount and type of health care the poor have received for these taxpayer dollars.

Central Health’s diversion of $280 million from the poor’s health care disproportionately impacts people of color, the majority of the 185,000 uninsured county residents.

It is well-documented that a lack of health coverage results in people having worse health outcomes and shorter life spans.

The Travis County Commissioners’ Court has express statutory authority to oversee Central Health’s finances and to order an independent performance audit.

WE, THEREFORE, PETITION the Travis County Commissioners Court to immediately order a comprehensive, independent, third-party performance audit of Central Health to determine: 1) the specific quantity, quality, and appropriateness of health care to the poor provided by Dell Medical School for $280 million in CH’s annual payments: and 2) the overall effectiveness and efficiency of Central Health’s health care services to the poor.