The city of Garland has a mix of hospital services, including the Garland VA Medical Center, a Baylor Scott & White Health medical center, and emergency care, specialty care, and behavioral health service locations. But the suburb northeast of Dallas doesn’t have a full-service community hospital available for all within its city limits.

To help address that, the Garland City Council voted last week to adopt the Tap Telehealth program from Dallas-based MD Health Pathways, enabling city residents to gain access to on-demand healthcare. Following months of public discussion, the measure passed 7–2. With that vote, Garland has become the largest city yet to adopt the Tap Telehealth program.

The city said the concept for Tap Telehealth was shaped by MD Health Pathways Founder and CEO Dirk Perritt’s experience as an emergency medicine physician at a Garland hospital, “where he saw firsthand the challenges patients face in accessing timely care.” Perritt’s local insight later evolved into a “nationally scaled solution” and has now come full circle with Tap’s implementation in Garland, the city said.

“This is a landmark moment for MD Health Pathways and for Garland,” Perritt said in a statement. “With this approval, [Garland] is setting a powerful example for how communities can leverage innovation to deliver more accessible and responsive healthcare. We’re proud to partner with Garland in leading the way.”

MD Health Pathways will work closely with city leaders and community partners to engage residents, the city said, ensuring they benefit from expanded access to telehealth services ahead of the program’s official launch in 2026. 

Appearing on utility bills as an ‘opt out’ service

The telehealth program will appear on Garland residents’ utility bills as an opt-out service, according to a report by City Portal, and aims to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits by providing “accessible healthcare options.”

Around 25.8% of Garland residents have no health insurance, City Portal noted. To address that gap, the Tap program enables residents to access care without upfront costs beyond the flat monthly fee.

The Tap Telehealth program is already available for residents of Ferris, 20 miles south of Dallas. Ferris residents who don’t opt out of the city’s Tap Telehealth program pay a flat monthly fee of $9 per family, according to MD Health Pathways’ website.

Other Texas cities offering Tap Telehealth include Henderson, Crandall, Mabank, Troup, and Paradise. 

How Tap Telehealth works

For a flat monthly fee bundled into a resident’s utility bill, Tap Telehealth will connect residents to medical advice and prescriptions through text, phone, or video, providing care without leaving home or incurring insurance costs, MD Health Pathways says. Patients will begin the process by texting or calling to explain their symptoms. A doctor will then diagnose their condition, prescribe medications to a local pharmacy, or provide a referral as needed. A personalized medical profile will be created, and follow-up care will be included to monitor the patient’s recovery.

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