Enact legislation that establishes a State Designated United States-Mexico Border Region with Dedicated funds for health services (creation of Region 12). This is important because US- Mexico Border health resources continue to be disproportionately distributed based on formulas that do not reflect the border’s public health and emerging disease control and prevention needs.

Over 45% of our population is school age, remaining one of the youngest communities. Being young and having a high birth rate will only augment the need for quality and adequate health care. To meet this need, both infrastructure and human resources are needed; yet, most border communities, especially Laredo, remain designated as Health Professions Shortage Areas (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) for primary care physicians, nurses, dentists and mental health providers. The disparity between need and resources is enormous and critical. Yet a constant reduction (almost 20% over the last two years) and/or level funding, especially for Title V and Primary Care services is a reality. We have one of the lowest neonatal mortality rates in the nation, the highest age appropriate immunization rate in the nation (100% for children under three years of age), and a resilient spirit to create and resolve. We have never had adequate resources and have learned to provide with what we have. However, we continue to be designated for funding based on standard formulas and level funding. What this means for communities like Laredo is that we are penalized for innovation and creativity. We are measured everyone on the same standard, but with fewer resources. If we are to be measured with the same standard, then we need to begin at the same level because our communities are greatly affected disproportionately. Imagine what we could do if we started at the same level. Time and again we are measured by national standards; yet, for Laredo, a binational community that grows two fold by day, it is essential to be viewed for its reality of growth and international significance especially as it relates to security and public health protection. Today, Laredo like other border communities, has developed models of excellence and best practices in several of our core public health services and only in this manner have we been able to be protected against serious diseases such as Tuberculosis, Dengue Fever, Hepatitis A, Diarrhea and Typhoid which at one time plagued our community.

To meet these challenges, the City of Laredo Health Department (CLHD) has continued its public health responsibilities in core public health, in preventive health care service delivery and in meeting new public health challenges such as chronic disease prevention and bioterrorism preparedness. Therefore CLHD has played an important role in assuring that families not only understood these services, but we made the commitment to assure that families understood how to access, use the health care system, and how to improve their health outcomes. To support this effort, direct funding to the border, as its own region, would potentially pose a more equitable formula to support the current and continued disparities. These best practice models in wellness, health promotion and disease control serve to protect and promote healthier living and ultimately reduce health care costs by reducing morbidity and mortality, as well as acute care services.