SUBJECT
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A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Laredo, Texas, in support of the implementation of House Bill 2038 (The “DOCTOR Act”), and urging the Texas Medical Board to ensure that the final rules enable maximum participation by health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) and medically underserved areas (MUAs), such as Laredo and Webb County.
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VIVA LAREDO PLAN ALIGNMENT
Alignment Rating:
Supporting goal(s)/policy(ies):
• Goal 1: Improve access to health care services for all residents.
• Policy 1.2: Increase access to care for low-income, uninsured, and underserved areas.
• Policy 1.3: Support recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in underserved areas.
• Goal 2: Promote health equity and reduce health disparities.
• Policy 2.1: Expand access to culturally competent and linguistically appropriate services.
• Goal 3: Strengthen the healthcare delivery system through partnerships.
• Policy 3.1: Strengthen the healthcare delivery system through partnerships.
Summary of alignment:
The resolution aligns with the Viva Laredo Comprehensive Plan by addressing healthcare workforce gaps, improving access to care, and advancing health equity in medically underserved communities such as Laredo and Webb County.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
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BACKGROUND
The City of Laredo, located along the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas, faces persistent challenges in attracting and retaining qualified medical professionals, particularly in underserved and rural areas. Like many border communities, Laredo experiences physician shortages that significantly affect access to timely and quality health care services for its residents.
In response to these statewide healthcare workforce challenges, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2038, also known as the Decreasing Occupational Certification Timelines, Obstacles, and Regulations (DOCTOR) Act, which was enacted in 2025. This legislation aims to expand the medical workforce in Texas by facilitating the licensing of qualified foreign-trained physicians and recent medical graduates.
House Bill 2038 introduces two key provisions:
• Provisional Licensure for Foreign-Trained Physicians:
H.B. 2038 enables the Texas Medical Board to issue provisional licenses to foreign-licensed physicians who meet rigorous standards, including English proficiency, U.S. work authorization, passage of medical examinations, and confirmed employment offers from healthcare facilities in Texas. Initially restricted to accredited medical facilities, these physicians may later serve in rural or medically underserved areas, addressing critical healthcare access gaps.
• Licensure for Physician Graduates Without Residency:
The Act establishes a new pathway for recent medical school graduates-both domestic and international-who are not enrolled in residency programs, to obtain a limited license to practice under supervision in rural Texas counties. These “physician graduates” must enter into a supervised practice agreement with a licensed sponsoring physician and are limited to practicing in counties with populations under 100,000. Importantly, the City of Laredo qualifies under this provision, offering a potential pipeline of supervised, early-career physicians to serve its population.
By supporting the implementation of H.B. 2038, the City of Laredo stands to benefit from improved access to medical services and a broader, more diverse physician workforce. These reforms align with Laredo’s longstanding commitment to public health equity, medical workforce development, and service expansion for medically underserved communities.
The City of Laredo recognizes the DOCTOR Act as a strategic step toward alleviating healthcare professional shortages and ensuring the delivery of competent, accessible, and affordable care to its residents.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends that Council approve the Resolution.
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Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Year: 2025
Budgeted Y/N?: N/A
Source of Funds: N/A
Account #: N/A
Change Order: Exceeds 25% Y/N: N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
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