Garland, TX – Last week, the Garland City Council convened for a series of meetings that focused on telehealth following an agenda item proposed by Councilmember Jeff Bass and seconded by Councilmember Carissa Dutton regarding adding a telehealth service to Garland’s utility bill. The item aimed to discuss sending the MD Health Pathways agreement to voters for their input, which mobilized community members to attend both the Work Session and Regular Meeting.
During the nearly six-hour-long Work Session, numerous residents voiced their opinions about the enrollment of MD Health Pathways’ Tap Telehealth program. The public comment segment of the meeting lasted for hours, with many supporting the initiative to place the program’s automatic opt-in agreement on the May 2026 ballot. Comments ranged from endorsements of Tap Telehealth’s services—one participant, a former Trump administration official, expressed their support—to concerns about the program’s automatic opt-in model.
Another telehealth-related topic discussed in the Work Session included a potential expansion of Parkland Hospital’s telehealth pods. A private pod is proposed to be located at the South Garland Library, allowing community members to connect privately with their healthcare providers using the library’s Wi-Fi in a convenient location for residents in the Southeastern corridor.
Additionally, the Council examined a possible relationship with RightSite, a telehealth model that collaborates with emergency services to facilitate on-site telehealth consultations with paramedics. Under this model, payment is made through insurance, ensuring that individuals without insurance do not incur charges. RightSite has a charitable fund to cover any costs for uninsured individuals.
City Council Regular Meeting Discussions Continued
Discussions continued beyond the Work Session, as residents and representatives from MD Health Pathways shared their thoughts on the potential for community input regarding Tap Telehealth’s current implementation. While the ballot language has not been finalized, it is expected to be a non-binding referendum aimed at gauging public sentiment. Some community members believe there will be support for the measure, while others, including vocal opponent Sumer Wasef, expressed their desire for it to be rejected by voters. During the meeting, resident Paul Dobrott allotted his speaking time to Wasef, allowing her to read the names of 114 residents who opposed the initiative. The room fell silent as Wasef recited the names, with some individuals adding comments on why they were unable to attend the meeting.
Public comments included a plea from Dr. Dirk Perritt, who urged the Council to reconsider its course of action: “We’ve given Council off-ramps in the beginning and a six-month opportunity to exit the contract, but as a doc, I am a doctor. I’m not a politician.” Councilmember Williams asked Perritt to elaborate on the challenges MD Health Pathways has faced in Garland.
In the weeks leading up to the meeting, representatives from MD Health Pathways attempted to use mass texting to inform residents about the program. However, currently, the City of Garland uses text messaging solely for emergency notifications, and residents opt in with that understanding.
Ultimately, the City Council unanimously voted to add a non-binding proposition regarding the provision of telehealth services through a fee on the City utility bill. These matters are slated for discussion in Executive Session during the upcoming Work Session on Monday, February 16, 2026. Watch the full Regular Meeting online here.
