Galveston County Daily News, Aug. 23, 2009
UT System officials say that planning for a new hospital tower will continue even as Galveston County commissioners consider raising taxes to provide health care coverage for uninsured, low-income residents. The state Legislature authorized $150 million to help pay for the proposed tower but only if the county agrees to provide health care for residents whose incomes are less than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Estimated cost of the new surgical tower is $500 million.