Home   About NCHD

The Nueces County Hospital District was established, and is governed and operated pursuant to Article 9, Section 4 of the Texas constitution and Chapter 281 of the Texas Health & Safety Code, and other applicable laws of the State of Texas.

In brief, State law requires each county in Texas to provide funding for care of its indigent residents. In counties where the population base is over 190,000, the county has the option of establishing a hospital district to address its indigent care funding obligation. In 1968, Nueces County voters exercised that option when it created the Nueces County Hospital District. Under State law, the Hospital District (through the County Commissioners Court) is authorized to levy ad valorem taxes to support its functions.

The Hospital District is governed by a seven-member Board of Managers. The Board of Managers is appointed by the Nueces County Commissioners Court and serve staggered three (3)-year terms. The Board of Managers recommends to Commissioners Court for final approval the Hospital District's rate, operating and capital budgets, and other related special financial matters. However, all other matters of governance are assumed by the Board of Managers. The Commissioners Court authority to appoint the Board of Managers and approve the Hospital District's annual tax rate and budget is mandated by the Texas Constitution and Texas Health and Safety Code.

On October 1, 1996, Nueces County Hospital District leased its hospital (Memorial Medical Center) and clinics to Spohn Health System. With that lease, the Hospital District also contracted with Spohn Health System to provide healthcare services to the indigent residents of Nueces County. Under this arrangement, the Hospital District continues to comply with its statutory obligation to provide monetary funding for indigent care. However, the Hospital District transferred its healthcare delivery responsibilities to Spohn Health System under terms of this agreement, resulting in the redefining of the Hospital District's mission and future role in addressing public healthcare needs for the medically indigent residents of Nueces County.