[0:00] Recording in progress.

[0:03] Good morning, everybody. I call the board meeting to order, and

[0:07] note what the quorum is present. The time is now 9.08 a.m., while some board members are

[0:13] in the room with us today. Others will participate via video conference as permitted by the state law

[0:18] and the Harris video conferencing policy. Only participants scheduled to speak have been provided

[0:24] dial in information for the meeting. All others who wish to view the meeting may access the meeting online.

[0:29] yet Harris Health website. First of all, thank you all for adjusting your

[0:34] schedules for today's board meeting. The meeting date was rescheduled from the

[0:39] original date of September 25th due to lack of form. As a reminder, the Harris

[0:44] Health board requires to meet monthly to approve essential items such as medical

[0:50] staff, credentialing, necessary purchases, and to fulfill our obligations until

[0:54] So under HRSA grant for the phone list program, we appreciate your flexibility and continued commitment to the important work we do together.

[1:05] Please some housekeeping reminders. Please note that there are ceiling microphones in the courtroom and the audio may pick up background noise.

[1:12] So we ask you to individual limits side conversations during the meeting so that we can maintain the quality of the audio for the public.

[1:18] Please keep your devices on mute until it's time for you to speak.

[1:22] Please use the chat.

[1:23] Confident alert the chair you would like to ask questions or make a comment.

[1:26] The content of the comments should not be tight in the chat.

[1:29] Only alert that you would like to be recognized.

[1:32] Allow the chair to recognize you before you make any comments or before you make comments

[1:37] or ask questions.

[1:38] And we can move on to our first agenda item, which is approval of the minutes of our workshop

[1:46] in our board meeting of August 28th, so do I have a motion in a second for the approval of the

[1:52] August 4th, 2025, special called Budget Workshop Minutes motion. Thank you, Ms. Ligerradian.

[1:59] Second. Thank you, Ms. Davis. All in favor say aye. Aye.

[2:04] Any opposed? The motion passes. And do I have a motion in a second for the approval of the

[2:10] August 28th board meeting in the minutes.

[2:13] So thank you, Mr. Puente.

[2:14] Second.

[2:15] Thank you, Ms. Lily.

[2:18] All in favor say aye.

[2:19] Aye.

[2:20] Any opposed?

[2:22] Thank you and the motion passes.

[2:26] And we have some announcements and a CEO reports

[2:30] so I'm going to turn it out over to Dr. Purson.

[2:34] I'm wondering about that.

[2:35] Of course, those are the voting everyone.

[2:36] Thank you.

[2:37] I'll be very brief.

[2:38] I want to first and foremost echo your appreciation of our volunteer board members who managed

[2:46] to shift whatever needed to be shifted around to make this meeting possible.

[2:50] As you mentioned, Arizona board has to meet at least months and months to comply with regulatory

[2:57] and compliance issues, including hairstyle, credentialing, purchasing and all those things.

[3:05] And in my account, this is not, I think, the fourth time this year that we have had to

[3:12] scramble to come up with a date that works for at least five members of the board.

[3:16] But that said, I want to specifically thank our board office member, Ms. Jennifer Sirot.

[3:24] or is it right for going above and beyond and trying to manage everybody's schedule to make this

[3:30] meeting possible, including taking my very early morning, very late evening calls. When it would

[3:38] call her in a panic trying to see how we could get together at least part of board members. So Jennifer,

[3:44] thank you for here too. I also want to thank this moment and welcome Mr. Solomon Khan. He is a

[3:51] the distinguished summer security executive

[3:53] with over 15 years of experience,

[3:55] leading enterprise security programs

[3:57] across healthcare and public sector environment.

[4:00] Most recently, Mr. Conn sir,

[4:02] as Chief Information Security Officer at MRC Global,

[4:06] where he successfully led a multi-year transformation

[4:09] of the type of security framework

[4:11] achieving contrast certification

[4:13] and significantly improving response capabilities.

[4:17] Mr. Conn also worked previously at UT Health

[4:19] and Enbridge Energy.

[4:21] I'm really happy to say that he has joined Harris Health as I would achieve the information security officer.

[4:26] We are very, very happy that. And I think that was the fact my report that is morning.

[4:31] Thank you. That's what we're saying and welcome Mr. Khan to the Harris Health family.

[4:36] Do we have any board member announcements?

[4:41] I see no announcements. We can move to our public comments section. We have

[4:48] six people here joining us for public comments and first we'll start with Mr. Scott Parker from Parker Law firm and he is here virtually, Mr. Parker, you have three minutes.

[4:59] If you want to board of trustees of Harris Health, as you know my name is Scott Parker,

[5:06] and I'm an attorney, and I just send it to August 1st.

[5:10] Since my last visit on August 28th of this year, and after reviewing voluminous cases and

[5:16] statutes, and after multiple conversations and communications with numerous colleagues

[5:22] who are said to be the top condemnation attorneys in Texas, which a majority of them live in practice

[5:28] in Harris County. I have discovered that there is slim or no chance of stopping Harris

[5:34] Health, Harris County, Harris County Commissioner's Court, and or Ben Todd from condemning

[5:43] the over eight acres of Herman Park, and over the over six acres that my great-great-grandfather

[5:50] of this wanted to conditionally deed it for Park use only to the city of Houston.

[5:55] And if violated, would automatically refer back to the living areas of my great-great-grandfather

[6:03] August Hornigy.

[6:05] So today it is sad for me and my family to accept a one that it is nearly impossible for us

[6:12] to protect and honor my great-great-grandfather's August Hornigy's dying wishes that the land

[6:18] remaining a park, and two, that it is nearly impossible for us to succeed in trying to enforce

[6:25] August Hornet's other specific wishes that the land would revert back to living errors

[6:31] of August Hornet, if no longer used as a park. Based upon these facts, we have no other choice

[6:40] but to ask the following questions, and some will accept and will minimize our fate.

[6:46] One, has Harris Health or anyone involved in the condemnation of the over eight acres of

[6:51] 100 park received or obtained a fair market value or the property to be condemned or the

[6:57] expansion of Ben Top Hospital? Two, if so, are you willing to provide the owners and or

[7:02] ares that fair market value? Three, does Harris Health, Harris County, Harris County,

[7:08] Commissioners Court, Ben Top Hospital and anyone involved in the condemnation over the eight acres

[7:14] of Hermit Park to intend to pay the owners and or the airs a fair market value. And for

[7:21] as of this day, the city of Houston, the Hermit Park Conservancy still has failed to answer my

[7:26] August 20th question as to why they would normally allow Harris County to condemn this beautiful

[7:32] parkland of trees over a hundred years old and not honor August Hornet East Conditions as spoken

[7:38] been deemed to the city of Houston 111 years ago.

[7:42] Noor has the recently and really hired outside council,

[7:45] now representing the city of Houston and Harris County

[7:48] in the condemnation of this park plan,

[7:50] address my August 28th question and money,

[7:53] conversations or communications with each of them.

[7:56] I respectfully request that they answer our questions

[7:59] above without further expense or time wasted.

[8:03] And I appreciate the time given from you

[8:05] to speak on this important family matter.

[8:07] God bless you all and I encourage everyone to look at their vision and mission on the

[8:13] household website.

[8:15] Thank you and have a great day.

[8:17] Thank you so much.

[8:19] We can move on to the next person and we have Ms. Rosalind Bicell Mitchell, board chair,

[8:25] Herman Clark Conservancy and she's here in person.

[8:29] Good afternoon.

[8:34] Good afternoon.

[8:36] Awesome.

[8:37] My name is Rosalind Bicell Mitchell and I am speaking on behalf of Herman Clark and

[8:41] starting to see where I serve as board chair.

[8:44] For over a century, Herman Park

[8:46] has been one of Houston's most vital public spaces,

[8:49] a place where families gather,

[8:52] where communities connect,

[8:54] and where nature restores us in the heart of the city.

[8:57] As stewards of this legacy,

[8:59] we are committed to ensuring

[9:00] that the park continues to thrive for generations to come.

[9:04] We recognize that the hospital has raised the idea

[9:07] of replacement accrued,

[9:08] which we agree is an important step

[9:10] in the right direction but so far we have not seen a full proposal. Without greater clarity it's

[9:17] very difficult for us to respond to the many questions and concerns that we've received and that

[9:23] we are hearing from the public. We must also be candid any change to the park carry significant

[9:29] consequences. Herman Park is not for sale it is invaluable but the laws of Parkland proves

[9:35] inevitable but if the loss of Parkland proves that there must be a recognition that protecting

[9:41] and enhancing the park for the future will require substantial resources.

[9:49] Land alone cannot

[9:50] replace what may be taken away. Our guiding principle is that there must be no net loss of parkland

[9:58] for Houston. And compensation must reflect the investment needed to redress our park's long-term

[10:04] capital plans. If this process is to move forward, it must be transparent, collaborative, and grounded in the understanding that the park belongs to all

[10:16] Houstonians. The Conservancy stands ready to be a part of the conversation, working towards a solution that balances both the hospital's mission with the long-term help of the park to make sure that it remains an

[10:33] opportunity for our citizens to enjoy Parkland in our city. Thank you so much. Thank you

[10:42] so much Miss

[10:44] Vazel. Next speaker, we have Ms. Brian Lopez, the Metropolitan Organization.

[10:52] Good morning

[11:07] everybody.

[11:08] Thank you for having us here. So I'm Brian Lopez, here at the F of TMO, the Metropolitan

[11:12] on some organization.

[11:13] And I reside in over here in Third Ward,

[11:16] but I grew up over there in the Northeast side

[11:18] by all the area.

[11:20] Herosel has been over to my congregation

[11:22] over five, six times the last two, three years.

[11:25] And we've seen the rent benefit to the community,

[11:28] from the hospital system, my bent up,

[11:30] and all the public health access points

[11:34] for our communities that are no longer available

[11:37] in other areas, so we are really kind of limited

[11:40] to our options and health options.

[11:45] What I recommend is that we definitely look at the opportunity of working with these families and these parks to provide a place for things up to expand and for us to have a better place to serve our communities.

[11:57] This land is not just land. For me, it's a place where people are going to be born. You're going to have babies born in that area. You're going to have people's moms and children saved.

[12:04] This is not just a hospital, hospitals are not just a place where we have a park or a land

[12:11] and I understand that there's some traditional, you know, historic value to people's pride

[12:16] and family heritage, but also there's pride and heritage and being the people that say,

[12:21] hey, you know what, we're willing to accept that this is a new place to help several community

[12:26] help save people's lives which is very important and also bring lives into this world.

[12:31] So, I have a lot of family members and friends that have used the public medical system and

[12:36] you know, we're part of the LVJ medical proposal to expand it and we have seen the change

[12:41] in the hospital services and you know, the amount of people that are no longer waiting

[12:46] in the emergency room waiting to die which is to be the case.

[12:50] I think if we have this expansion, it's very important that we are able to communicate

[12:56] this affects effectively with the community, but also we need to tell people, hey you know what,

[13:02] we're going to lose a lot of healthcare benefits for the community once we have the Medicare

[13:09] Medicaid situation settled out and you know that's something we also need to elaborate with especially

[13:15] with you guys I think with my community we have a lot of feedback and we would like to give you guys

[13:21] that and you know we'd like to work with you long term on solving that issue as soon as possible

[13:25] because we need a transition before we get to that point.

[13:29] So thank you very much for your time,

[13:30] I'm just feeling you, my two cents,

[13:31] and you know, for the benefits of the community

[13:33] as seen from these hospital systems,

[13:36] and also how we like to thank people

[13:38] that are willing to collaborate

[13:40] to help with this expansion.

[13:41] But thank you very much for your time.

[13:44] Thank you so much, Mr. Olympus.

[13:46] Next speaker is Ms. Barbara Davis.

[13:48] I

[13:56] call and I have to fix you with the screen.

[14:00] My name is Barbara Davis.

[14:02] I'm actually a survivor of a DWI that was caused Thanksgiving in 1996.

[14:07] My husband and friend were killed.

[14:09] And I was so critically injured, the paramedics told my mother that I was dead.

[14:13] They argued and actually came back to the hospital to see for themselves.

[14:16] When my mother's then got there at Bentom.

[14:19] They said to me, when I'm your fine member, I get covered in blood.

[14:23] She doesn't actually so be a vegetarian state.

[14:25] The rest of her life will certainly have had a plan.

[14:28] and thanks to Ben Tom. I'm here talking to y'all. And when I'm black and

[14:34] stash, I make up foreign words. I had seen the article, rather negative article

[14:40] in the newspaper, and which people were all going on, you know, we want more

[14:44] parkland. It's 445 acres. I went to look at the parkland. The area they were

[14:49] talking about, which is right adjacent across the way from this

[14:52] I agree all the ambulance is parbed and it's pretty much a cutting somebody that cuts

[14:58] to a parking lot to go-

[15:00] So, to this old building that seems like it's abandoned and fenced off, the people part and just walk across to go to the parking lot. It's an isolated area. It's not a place where people are going to go picnic. They have picnic tables right across the way from the hospital. Probably employees go sit there or something. I saw a lot of homeless people hanging out. But it's, in rough shape, the land itself, there's a lot of dirt instead of grass. I've videoed it for that.

[15:29] But it's, and you can say, well, 100-year-old trees, and I love trees, I love trees, but I

[15:34] love people saying lies that are a few trees, a few trees.

[15:41] I actually, the car accident up that very 13.

[15:45] And the first place I said, well, I prefer Ben Tom, because I wasn't sure.

[15:49] I brought it up.

[15:50] Hit me and flipped me over.

[15:52] I should say out of cars.

[15:54] Anyway, they said it's full.

[15:56] So they took me to Herman. Thank God I was all right that there was no internal damage

[16:00] But that was the first place at wide. I've got 57 seconds. Anyway

[16:05] 445 acres. This is 8.9 acres a very small price. They need 18,000 beds within the next 10 years

[16:12] I were already short when I wanted to go on a weekday and the afternoon

[16:18] February 13th. It's a desperate dire thing for a level one trauma center. We need more with the 5 million plus people that

[16:26] that we have and used it, I forget all the stats,

[16:28] but it's really something we entirely need.

[16:31] And as a survivor, if you've never had a headache,

[16:35] you can't appreciate someone that's had one,

[16:37] when you need a level one trauma center.

[16:39] And it's not just for gunshots, it's terrible,

[16:42] car wrecks and whatever, that's really good.

[16:44] A little bit of foam, the pencil up into our heart.

[16:47] That's where you want to go.

[16:48] That's the place that we need to value the priority

[16:52] of few trees.

[16:53] And if you look and actually see it, the videos were not accurate.

[16:57] I was a flyover.

[16:58] You need to see the pictures or drive there yourself and see the area or look at my videos after this.

[17:04] By the way, it's Russian shut up.

[17:06] That town was important.

[17:07] It was that I come here.

[17:08] It's my holidays day of the year.

[17:09] But I came here first before I go to service because that's how important I think your dog will allow me to be here.

[17:16] Thank you.

[17:17] Thank you so much Miss Davis.

[17:19] this. Our next speaker is Ms. Jettman, Mr. Bishop John for the

[17:25] policy tree.

[17:31] Good morning. Good morning. I'm Bishop John Oldle

[17:34] Tree, the First Registration Policy and Church and of the Metro

[17:38] Policy and Organization. And I am here to support this acquisition

[17:45] of this 8.9 acres of land has been noted. The needs in our county of farm medical services

[17:59] is increasing. It is increasing to a great deal. Ain't moved to Houston with my family.

[18:11] some 44 years ago and we had two small children. I remember I spent in the emergency room at

[18:24] Vintal Hospital and I have been in the hospital since with a crowded emergency room with hospital

[18:35] beds, in corridors, and best quiet. I, as along along with the

[18:43] Department of the organization, supported the new LVJ

[18:49] hospital. Our county is growing. We need more services. We

[18:56] need more medical attention that is able to be provided to our

[19:04] community. And this 8.9 acres does not interfere with hermit pork. It does not interfere with

[19:15] the zoo and the land has not been used ever for pork space. So it is time and we really support

[19:28] this and to Dr. Porcett and the board we overwhelmingly agree to this acquisition of this

[19:40] and I believe as has been said I whole community the

[19:50] population is not decreasing it is increasing

[19:54] and the Veteran Laws and Organizations behind this.

[20:02] Thank you so much, Bishop John Ogletree.

[20:06] So, the next presenter is Dr. James McDevitt

[20:10] and they from Baylor College of Medicine.

[20:20] Morning, Chair and Chair Hustles.

[20:22] That was the board, Dr. Porson.

[20:24] Thank you for having me today.

[20:25] I'm happy to speak to you.

[20:27] I want to thank you for the opportunity

[20:28] to be here and support the resolution today

[20:31] for the expansion of the Bentop Hospital.

[20:34] I would say this isn't just a construction project.

[20:37] It's an investment in the health and future of this county and the health of people in

[20:42] our county.

[20:43] I think I've been able to introduce myself.

[20:44] Did I do?

[20:45] Jimic David, I'm executive vice president, Dean, Florida, and Baylor College of Medicine.

[20:49] So it's nice to be a very important part of this.

[20:53] As most all of you in the room know, we have an 80-year history of the Texas Medical Center

[20:58] and Bentop Hospital, working in a highly collaborative relationship, which has really

[21:04] symbolized Houston's commitment to health, healing, and quality of life.

[21:09] Bentop has always been a lot more than a safety net hospital.

[21:12] When I trained in a major trauma center in the Northeast United States, everybody in

[21:18] that trauma center knew and talked about in respect to Bentop Hospital, it was a national

[21:22] footprint and national reputation that people locally used to may not fully appreciate.

[21:28] When I speak to anyone of the hundreds of residents of Philadelphia that come to Houston

[21:32] to train every year, many of whom come and stay in our community to didn't care the

[21:35] patients of Harris County, almost to a person, they will cite the availability of training

[21:42] at Bentop Hospital as one of the main attractors to why they want to come to Houston to practice

[21:49] medicine. It is a crown jewel.

[21:52] Well,

[21:54] having said that the demands on VENTOP have grown, the facility itself no longer matches the scope and sophistication of the care delivered within his walls.

[22:02] Expansion will allow Harris Health to deliver to the most vulnerable residents of our community, while strengthening the broader ecosystem of the Texas Medical Center.

[22:12] I want to underscore this is not a Baylor College Medicine project of priority. This is not a Harris Health priority.

[22:18] the, this is a shared community priority.

[22:24] Leaders across the Texas Medical Center,

[22:26] all the organizations, Texas Medical Center,

[22:29] representing research, education, patient care,

[22:32] and the greatest medical center in the country,

[22:35] have all joined together in strong support.

[22:37] We all seek clearly how essential this hospital is,

[22:40] both to our patients and to the continued vitality

[22:42] to the Medical Center.

[22:43] I appreciate the thoughtful leadership of this board,

[22:46] the productive force in advancing in project of such consequence. On behalf of the Bay

[22:51] of the College of Medicine and the alignment with the many voices of the TMC institutions,

[22:56] I strongly endorse proposed resolution and the opportunity represents the better serve our community.

[23:02] Thank you for your service and for your commitment to people in Arts County.

[23:06] Thank you so much Dr. McBate. With that we have concluded our public comments and we will

[23:12] enter into our executive session and the board will go now into executive session for items 5A to

[23:18] D estimated by law under Texas official code annotated 151.002.160.007 Texas Health and Safety

[23:26] Code annotated 161.032 and Texas government code annotated 551.071.072. Board members and

[23:37] presenters scheduled to speak in executive session do not need to log off IT will move you in and out

[23:42] of executive session room. The public meeting will resume a live stream from

[23:46] Harris Health website from Return from the executive session. The time is now

[23:50] 9.31 a.m. We will take a brief technology set recess to transition into our

[23:56] virtual executive session.

[24:04] Thank you. Welcome back everybody. We have returned from

[24:07] executive session where no action was taken. I note that the forum is present. The

[24:11] time is now 10, 13 a.m. We will move on with item seven general action items related to

[24:20] quality and medical staffing. First, we have consideration for approval of

[24:24] credentialing changes for the members of the Harris Health Medical Staff and Dr. Sharma,

[24:29] can you say two words about that? That's good morning, Madam Chair. Again, so our medical

[24:34] staff credentials report for the month of September 2025 is as follows. We have a total of 49 initial

[24:41] medical staff appointments, 122 reappointments, eight changes in clinical

[24:46] privileges, and 16 resignations. Those are the highlights that we have to

[24:51] answer any questions, otherwise respectfully. That's member for it. Thank you.

[24:56] Thank you, Dr. Sharma. And do I have a motion in the second for the approval of

[25:00] credentialing changes for members of Harris Health Medical Staff as presented, so

[25:04] moved. Second, thank you, Ms. Europe. Then, thank you, Ms. Lake-Jervidianne. All in

[25:11] Thank you, the motion passes.

[25:13] I think the item is general action related to the quality of correctional health medical staff.

[25:19] Consideration for approval of credential and changes for the members of Harris health correctional medical staff.

[25:24] Dr. Egan's.

[25:26] Good morning, Dr. Pericost. Thank you. And also to the board.

[25:30] The correctional health medical executive committee has six applicants for initial appointment.

[25:36] No resignations and no real appointments and we're asking the board to approve those six applicants at this time.

[25:48] Thank you.

[25:48] Let me make the motion first. Do I have a motion in a second for the approval of credentialing changes for the members of the Harris Health Corruption on Health Medical staff as presented.

[25:57] And we have Mr. Pointe making the motion in this David's second. All in favor say aye.

[26:02] Hi.

[26:03] Hi.

[26:04] Any opposed?

[26:06] The motion passes.

[26:07] Thank you so much.

[26:08] Our next item is consideration of approval of the proposed correctional health medical bylaws.

[26:13] That's Dr. Egan's as well.

[26:15] Having the words.

[26:18] Yes.

[26:19] Thank you, Dr. Caracostas.

[26:20] Again, the medical executive committee made some minor changes to the.

[26:25] A loss for correctional health.

[26:28] Those are included in your packet.

[26:30] and we're asking the board to approve those at this time.

[26:33] They were approved by the Medical Executive Committee

[26:36] and reviewed by Ego.

[26:38] Thank you.

[26:40] Thank you, Dr. Egan.

[26:41] So I have a motion in a second for approval

[26:43] of the proposed Congressional Health Medical staff

[26:46] by laws as presented.

[26:47] Motion.

[26:48] Thank you, Mr. Jordan.

[26:49] Thank you, Ms. Davis.

[26:51] All in favor say aye.

[26:52] Aye.

[26:53] Any opposed?

[26:54] By laws are approved.

[26:55] Thank you, Dr. Egan.

[26:57] And with that, we can move on to our new items

[27:00] for the board consideration,

[27:03] consideration for approval of the resolution regarding public

[27:08] project to the redeveloped and expandment of hospital the project. Authorizing that position

[27:14] of eminent domain for public convenience and necessity of three parcels within Herman Park

[27:20] consisting of approximately 8.9 acres of real property for the project of making certain

[27:27] In findings pursuant to the provisions of chapter 26, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, the proposed

[27:34] resolution will adopt certain findings and determinations based on the hearing held

[27:41] by Harris Health Board and July 24th.

[27:44] As Dr. Parsa will explain in the first step of several, is the first step of several actions

[27:49] required to acquire the property and reference in the order.

[27:54] Dr. Parsa.

[27:55] Good morning, again, thank you.

[27:57] Thank you.

[27:58] And before I read the statement, I prepared the one and two.

[28:01] I also mentioned that in addition to the letter of support.

[28:04] The report received this morning from the mental hospital organization.

[28:07] We have also received letter of support from the Texas Medical Center hospitals.

[28:12] From Harris County Hospital District Foundation and Harris Health Strategic Fund Foundation.

[28:18] And we expect more letters for to come in.

[28:21] But my statement.

[28:23] I don't have to tell anyone here about the healthcare crisis that our community is facing

[28:29] today that is expected to get only worse in the coming months.

[28:34] Every county has the largest uninsured population in Texas and one of the largest in the country.

[28:41] Those numbers are lucky to get worse as more residents lose their Medicaid dollars' ability,

[28:46] lose access to health insurance and as our economy worsens.

[28:52] We should all be fully aware by now of the $1 billion dollar cut to Medicaid that resolved

[28:58] it by the passing of the one-day beautiful bill act earlier this year.

[29:02] Absent federal action before October 1 of this year and action that is not expected to occur.

[29:08] Medicaid with proportion of share hospital cuts hold results in an additional $800 million

[29:13] don't be dunked into the state of Texas health care funding according to the teaching hospitals

[29:18] of Texas calculations.

[29:20] To make matters even worse, the Affordable Care Act marketplace advanced premium tax

[29:26] credits are also said to expire on October 1.

[29:30] Because of this, hundreds of thousands of Texas, including many custonians, will lose their

[29:37] health insurance coverage as a result.

[30:00] Results of all of the funding cuts, loss of eligibility and health insurance for the ability,

[30:05] every self anticipates that thousands of additional Houston residents will lose access to health

[30:11] insurance and will have to rely on aerosol services for even the basic health care needs.

[30:18] In short, we anticipate a tsunami of hundreds of thousands of additional uninsured and underinsured

[30:25] Texans and Harris County residents in the coming months further

[30:28] stressing our already overstretched capacity and further exacerbating the urgent

[30:35] public health necessity that we currently face.

[30:39] Harris Health Services and Ventile Hospital in particular are needed now more than ever.

[30:46] We all remember that during the COVID pandemic the value of Ventile Hospital became

[30:51] crystal clear as the only public safety net hospital in Texas Medical Center and one of

[30:58] only two adult worldwide trauma centers been taught to care of a disproportionate number

[31:05] of COVID patients. By doing so, they taught health to prevent many of the horrors

[31:13] that were experienced by community across our country and the world when their medical systems

[31:19] collapsed under the stress of COVID.

[31:23] Suspend-top open source in 1990 that Park Blitzer Harris County has almost doubled, while

[31:29] the capacity of end-top has decreased.

[31:33] Today, Ben-top is consistently operating at or above 100 percent capacity, but it is forced

[31:39] to place patients in beds in hospital hallways and corridors.

[31:43] The result of the lack of adequate hospital capacity to address the net-ever increasing

[31:49] demand is prolonged wait times for people receiving medical attention at Bentop's emergency

[31:54] room and even longer wait times for the patients who are sick enough to be admitted to the

[32:01] hospital but have no beds available to be assigned to in order to receive care.

[32:06] This, who set risk, our commitment to this community to be there when Houstonians lives

[32:13] literally hang in the balance and to provide timely world-class emergency and trauma care

[32:22] that makes the difference within life and death.

[32:26] Consequently, expansion of mental hospital capacity was identified as the top priority in

[32:32] Hereself's 2020 strategic plan.

[32:35] And the reason why Bentow expansion was part

[32:38] of the Hereself's 2023 $2.5 billion bond proposal

[32:42] that received overwhelming support by Heres County residents.

[32:47] As part of this proposal,

[32:48] Hereself allocated nearly $400 million

[32:52] toward expansion of Bentow

[32:53] by adding approximately 100 new patient rooms

[32:57] to Bentow hospital.

[32:59] This is a desperately needed additional capacity to vent out to allow it to deliver the

[33:05] timely life-saving care that Houston has come to expand and depend on.

[33:12] The urgency needed additional capacity to vent out has to occur at or adjacent to vent

[33:18] out to allow for maximum operational efficiency and physical stewardship.

[33:25] Bentop has to have ready access to the expanded capacity to address its overcrowding challenges

[33:32] while patients at the future Bentop expansion must have access to everything Bentop has to offer,

[33:38] including the emergency room, operating rooms, radiology, pathology, special

[33:44] disturbances, parking, center, utility, security, etc. It is therefore operationally impractical

[33:50] and physically irresponsible to create the urgency needed additional capacity for bento

[33:58] anywhere that is geographically distant from the existing bento.

[34:02] There is no space in the current footprint of bento hospital to allow for the creation of the

[34:07] initial capacity. Building on top of bento is also physically preventive and operationally impractical.

[34:15] The current bento hospital suffers from significant infrastructure issues

[34:19] related to deferred maintenance that has been caused by many years of

[34:24] underfunding, this county's only public safety net hospital system. More

[34:31] over, disruptive end-tobs current patient care operations while trying to

[34:35] create additional patient beds above the current mental hospital would lead to

[34:40] significant harm to bed-tobs ability to deliver services at the current levels.

[34:45] We simply have no other choice but one, the only adjacent space conducive to achieving

[34:53] the goal of extending menta in a financially responsible and operationally efficient

[34:59] manner to address the urgent of the health necessity that Houston is currently facing is

[35:06] the parcels of land immediately adjacent and in front of menta out emergency department.

[35:12] These parcels belong to the city of Houston and are part of Herman Park, separated from

[35:18] the main park by Cambridge Street. At 8.9 acres, these parcels are less than 2% of the

[35:26] entirety of Herman Park. I would like to remind everyone again that while the need for

[35:31] Harris Health Services at all of our locations, including mental hospital currently far at

[35:38] ways our capacity. The need for our services is only expected to grow at a rapid pace in the coming months.

[35:48] The time to show up then pops future is now. The board action today is preliminary step in a longer multi-step legal process to acquire these pieces of land.

[36:02] This process will include notifications of all property interest holders including all

[36:09] holders of a reversionary interest in these parcels according to the statute of requirements.

[36:16] As required by Texas law, all interest holders will be paid the fair market value of their

[36:24] interests as determined during the eminent domain process.

[36:27] Following the board's action today, Harry Snell will continue to work with relevant stakeholders

[36:35] prior to requesting commissioner's court action in order to ensure that the interests of

[36:40] the community are fully embedded as part of this process. I just want to close by to reiterating

[36:47] the immense public necessity of this project, to ensure a viable future for Penthouse Hospital

[36:54] as an Inter-Paceable Foundation to the entire healthcare ecosystem of Houston and Harris County.

[37:02] A future in which Ventalk can continue to deliver on its promise of being there

[37:08] when its life-saving services matter most and when life and death hang in the balance.

[37:15] A future in which Ventalk can continue to be a beacon of hope to hundreds of thousands of

[37:21] patients who rely on the top as they're only access to high quality care.

[37:27] And the future in which Bentalk can continue to be a center of excellence for health care

[37:32] research and innovation and the major training ground for Baylor College of Medicine medical

[37:37] students and residents and thousands of nurses and other allied health professionals.

[37:44] I think I can also thank you for the opportunity I'm happy to answer any questions.

[37:48] Thank you, Dr. Poisson. I don't see any questions in the room or in the chat, so I am going

[37:53] to move on with a motion. So I have a motion in a second for approval of the resolution

[38:00] relating to the public project to redevelop and expand bent up hospital, authorizing that

[38:06] position of an imminent domain of public convenience and necessity of three parcels within

[38:17] be for the project and making certain findings pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 26, Texas Park

[38:24] and Wildlife Code as presented. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Legerbidean. All in favor,

[38:31] say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any opposed? Thank you so much. The motion passes and

[38:39] unanimously unanimously. Thank you so much. Thank you, everyone. We can move on with our next item,

[38:46] which is item 9 strategic discussion.

[38:49] We have some reports from civil committees that are in your package so please take a minute

[38:55] to review them and we can and we'll move on to our consent agenda which is our purchasing

[39:00] recommendations.

[39:01] Consideration of approval of the purchasing recommendations items A1 through A11 in the

[39:07] matrix is in your eligible packages so the purchasing recommendations are included in

[39:14] your practice for review. Mr. Williams and Mr. Edgar, do you have any comments about this items?

[39:20] No, ma'am. Unfortunately, Ms. Williams can be with us today. This is Jack Adger. All items are in

[39:26] order and we recommend approval as presented. Thank you so much. Do I have a motion of the second

[39:32] for approval of the purchasing recommendations A1 to A11 from the purchasing matrix? Thank you,

[39:39] Thank you, Ms. Vera-Bland.

[39:40] Thank you, Mr. Pointe.

[39:41] All in favor say aye.

[39:43] Aye.

[39:43] Opposed?

[39:44] Any opposed?

[39:46] The motion passes.

[39:47] We will move now to consent agenda items B2F.

[39:51] Or members, let me know if you would like to do any items for discussion.

[39:54] If none, do I have a motion then?

[39:56] Say them for the approval of the consent agenda.

[39:59] Items A3E note that item F is only information owned.

[40:03] And there's nothing in the action.

[40:05] Thank you, Ms. Davis.

[40:06] So thank you, Mr. Puente, all in favor say aye.

[40:10] Aye.

[40:11] The most.

[40:12] And plus the motion passes.

[40:15] OK, so we can proceed to item 11, which

[40:23] are the items related to health care for the homeless program.

[40:30] Review and acceptance of the following reports

[40:32] for the health care for the homeless program

[40:34] as required by the United States Department

[40:36] the Health and Human Services, which provides funding for the Harris County Hospital District,

[40:42] Harris Health and provides health services for persons experiencing homelessness

[40:47] under Section 330H of the Public Health Service Act. We don't have Dr. Small and Ms.

[40:54] Burden here for a short presentation. I do, the health care for the homeless program will present

[41:02] and all items together in one presentation.

[41:05] Afterwards, we will take both on each item separately.

[41:08] Now, I would proceed to read the remaining agenda items

[41:11] for approval of the presentation.

[41:13] The first item is consideration for approval

[41:15] of the eligibility for reduced costs

[41:18] of injectable epinephrine and insulin policy.

[41:22] And the next item is the consideration

[41:24] of approval of the CHP 2026 non-compete continuation

[41:30] budget period.

[41:32] With that, Dr. Small and Ms. Bourdain, you can proceed with the presentation.

[41:37] Good morning, everyone. And today's simple presentation will offer us Dr.

[41:43] Carpose to share. Our patient served for the month of August. Our new injectable epinephrine

[41:50] insulin policy and our 226 non-competing continuation budget.

[41:59] And today, as of August,

[42:00] This we have served 5,416 on duplicated patients,

[42:05] and total completed visits, 20,723.

[42:08] As I stated last month, we are still a health schedule

[42:11] on our goal as defined by HRSA.

[42:15] Next slide.

[42:17] For the month of August, we served 1,243 on duplicated patients,

[42:22] 840 of those were seeking family practice services.

[42:26] Total completed visits is a little less

[42:28] and when we were last year, 2,341 completed businesses.

[42:33] However, we do have two nurse practitioner vacancies

[42:36] and we are undergoing renovation

[42:38] and one of our sites at Open Door Clamp Commission.

[42:41] Next slide.

[42:43] All right, so we have a new policy today

[42:45] in your packet for review and approval.

[42:48] You'll find a copy of the injectable up in that grant

[42:50] and insulin policy in accordance with executive order 13937.

[42:55] The purpose of this policy is to ensure

[42:57] that low income patients have affordable access to insulin and MP pins and health centers

[43:04] are now required to make sure that these medications are below or at the 340B acquisition

[43:10] calls and that these medications are available within our clinics.

[43:14] We do have these.

[43:15] We were already providing each of these insulin and epinephrine at no cost to our patients.

[43:22] Any questions?

[43:26] All right, in your packet also for review and approval, you will find a copy of the 2026 non competing continuation budget.

[43:34] This is the budget period progress report, and it was drafted in order for HRSA to approve the next bit of budget period under our existing grant.

[43:43] This is not a new budget. This is not a new grant. This is just for them to approve that what we are doing for this period next period in 2026.

[43:51] This budget is an alignment with our past performance and budget items related to the operation

[43:56] of our program.

[43:59] One more slide.

[44:01] Community engagement.

[44:03] Okay.

[44:03] So July, we had two events, one at Fifth Ward Missionary, Baptist Church, and our dental

[44:11] team, also a partner with the University of WIT UT.

[44:17] They, Dr. Chu and the dental team, were there providing screenings, which also led to visits

[44:21] is the next month.

[44:23] And then we also did our junior volunteer field trip,

[44:25] which we do every year,

[44:26] and we allow the junior volunteers

[44:28] that are participating in our self-to-come

[44:30] inside of the van and see how we provide our services

[44:33] and also gather information about the home's community.

[44:37] And that's all we have today.

[44:40] Thank you.

[44:41] Thank you so much for your presentation.

[44:43] So we're going to move on to the building items.

[44:46] And I just would like to request in your presentation

[44:49] of a business, would you meet mine the next time

[44:51] just dividing them by medical visits and non-tinnical visits for information.

[44:58] Yes, we do.

[44:59] Good morning clarity.

[45:00] So our first voting item, do I have a motion in the second for the acceptance of the health care for the homeless program, September 25,

[45:08] have operational updates. Thank you, Mr. BWINถ. Second. Thank you, Mrs. Vera Blann. All in favor say aye.

[45:15] Aye. Any opposed? motion passed.

[45:19] This our next item, do I have an emotion in this item for the approval of the

[45:24] health care for the homeless program eligibility for reduce cost of injectable

[45:29] epineffff an insulin policy? Thank you, Vera Blann. Thank you, Ms. Ngatier. But then, all in favor, say aye.

[45:38] The motion passes and our third and last item, do I have a motion and second for the approval of the healthcare for the homeless program 2026 non-competing continuation budget period request?

[45:51] Thank you, Ms. Davis.

[45:53] Thank you, Ms. Vera Blan. All in favor say aye.

[45:55] In your post, the motion passes and we can move back to our last executive session.

[46:02] The board will move now into executive sessions for items 12, e.g. as permitted by law

[46:07] and makes this health occupational code annotated 161.0 for the food and the federal code annotated

[46:15] 551.071.511.0854 members and percentors, especially the speaking executive session, do not

[46:23] need to log off I.T. will move you in and out of the executive session room. The public

[46:27] meeting will resume the live stream from Harris South website of the return to acceptance.

[46:32] Executive session. The time is now 10.35.

[46:37] Recording stopped.

[46:40] Recording in progress.

[46:45] Thank you so much. We can return from executive session. I note that the

[46:50] performance present the time is now 10.40 am. The board will now take action on items 12

[46:56] F&G of the executive session agenda, there's no action to be taken in item 12, I or J,

[47:02] item met.

[47:03] Do I have a motion in a second for the approval of the settlement in civil action number?

[47:09] Well, let me call on 24-CV-05109 in the U.S. District Court for Southern District Cuisine Division

[47:19] in the amount of $35,000.

[47:21] Pressing COO Paris Health, or here's this,

[47:24] again, on rise to execute any agreement, release,

[47:28] or any other necessity documents to reflect the settlement.

[47:33] So thank you, David.

[47:35] Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[47:35] But again, fallen favor say aye.

[47:37] Aye.

[47:38] Any opposed?

[47:40] The motion passes.

[47:41] Thank you so much.

[47:43] Item G, do I have a motion in a second

[47:45] for the approval of Harris Health to participate

[47:47] in the settlement with Albujan Inc. Apatex Corporation,

[47:53] a meal for Massidicals LLC,

[47:56] HIKMA for Massidicals USA Inc.

[47:59] In Divor, Inc. The actress Inc.

[48:03] Santa for Massidical Industries

[48:05] and Zyvis for Massidical USA Inc.

[48:09] In Texas, opioid multi-district litigation,

[48:11] NBL number 2-018-63587 in the 152nd District Court of Harris County, Texas.

[48:24] President and Harris of Harris Health or his insignias authorized to execute any agreement,

[48:29] release, or any other necessity documents to reflect this settlement.

[48:35] Thank you, Mr. Davis.

[48:37] Thank you, Mr. Puente.

[48:38] All in favor, say aye.

[48:41] in your post, the motion passes and if no one is opposed, we're adjourned, we have completed

[48:48] the marathonic board meeting. Reminder to all the board members to put in your calendar

[48:53] all the future board meetings and please be here in person. You're missing out.

[48:59] I think it's not for in Corona.

[49:02] It's not for in Corona.

[49:04] I think it's not for in Corona.

[49:06] The time is 10-43.

Sep 23, 2025 Board Meetings - Harris Health System

Transcript