EL PASO – State Sen. José Rodríguez issued the following statement regarding the El Paso Children's Hospital bankruptcy filing announced today:
Increasing quality and access to health care has been a top priority for our community. It took many years and significant effort for our community to have our own standalone children's hospital. In the short time that El Paso Children's Hospital has been open, EPCH has brought many pediatric specialists to our region and helped save and improve the health of our children at home. I am extremely disappointed by the EPCH board's decision to file for bankruptcy. The board's action has now placed the future of EPCH in the hands of an out-of-town bankruptcy judge who likely has no ties to our community. I still believe that a partnership with University Medical Center would have provided protection for the EPCH's mission and service lines, including maintaining the separate corporate structure and non-profit status. This partnership would also have kept the fate of EPCH firmly in the hands of local leadership who believe in preserving EPCH’s mission and understand EPCH’s critical role in our region. I urge EPCH to keep an open line of communications with UMC and the El Paso County Commissioners Court to ensure that we can continue to provide quality health care for our children.
***
José Rodríguez represents Texas Senate District 29, which includes the counties of El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, and Presidio. He represents both urban and rural constituencies, and more than 350 miles of the Texas-Mexico border. Senator Rodríguez currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Hispanic Caucus, and is a member of the Senate Committees on Education; Health and Human Services; Veteran Affairs and Military Installations; Nominations; and Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs.