EPISD Employees Face Uncertainty as Contract With Fort Duncan Medical Center Remains Unsettled
EPISD employees face uncertainty after contract talks with Fort Duncan Medical Center stalled. District says staff will not face copays at MCHD Urgent Care.
EAGLE PASS, Texas — Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) has notified employees that, starting September 1, the district will not have a finalized contract with Fort Duncan Medical Center for health services. The announcement was made in a memo sent to staff on August 28 by Deputy Superintendent for Business and Finance, Ismael Mijares.
According to the memo, EPISD has been working for months to negotiate a fair agreement but has not been able to reach terms with Fort Duncan. District officials stated that the proposal from Fort Duncan would have doubled costs, requiring a significant increase in employee premiums.
To ease the impact, EPISD said it will cover copays, deductibles, and coinsurance for employees who use the Maverick County Hospital District (MCHD) Urgent Care at no cost. The urgent care facility will also extend its hours starting September 1, opening weekdays from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and weekends from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Mijares emphasized that, under federal law, Fort Duncan Medical Center and STAT Emergency Hospital must provide emergency treatment regardless of insurance status. Employees will not be required to pay upfront for emergency care.
The memo also addressed concerns for staff who already have procedures scheduled at Fort Duncan. EPISD will attempt to approve these procedures on a case-by-case basis. For cases where coverage cannot be negotiated, the district will waive costs for employees who receive care at hospitals in San Antonio, Laredo, Del Rio, or Uvalde.
“This will be until a contract is negotiated with our local hospital Fort Duncan Medical Center or until further notice,” the memo states.
Attached to the notice was a list of local providers currently accepting EPISD insurance.
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