Numerous agencies provide medical, mental health and substance abuse services to all populations in the community including those who are low-income. The following agencies are the primary providers holistic community health care. This is not a complete listing; there are numerous agencies and organizations providing a wide range of health and social services to promote and improve life.
City of Austin and Travis County Health Services
The City of Austin and Travis County provide directly or contracts public health services including prevention, wellness, and environmental services; primary medical and dental care; and social services. These services are provided through City-County Community Health Centers and the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department.
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City-County Community Health Centers (CHCs)
Ten City-County CHCs provide 120,000 primary care medical, dental, and social service visits each year in Travis County. Between 40 and 50 percent of these visits are by uninsured, self-pay patients. Of these patients, almost half are unable to make any payment for services and about a third make partial payments on a sliding fee scale. Forty-five percent of those who visit CHCs are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or the Medical Assistance Program. Patient revenue and city and county funds and grants provide core financing for the CHCs.
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David Powell Clinic
The David Powell Clinic provides primary medical care and comprehensive social work services on an outpatient basis to central Texas residents with AIDS and HIV. HIV health services focus on the prevention of illness and the ongoing management of chronic conditions and acute heath problems. Services are provided through a coordinated team effort which includes physicians, nurses, social workers, a nutritionist, and support staff. Services are available to uninsured or underinsured individuals in all stages of HIV disease. The clinic provides services in a respectful and caring atmosphere that allows clients to feel accepted, safe, and empowered to make decisions about their health.
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Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department
The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department (A/TCHHSD) has the primary leadership role in providing public health services. A/TCHHSD is a combined City of Austin and County of Travis agency that seeks to improve the health, safety, and well being of our community through the provision of a wide range of services. The services are generally population based and the outcomes are relevant to the health status of the entire community. The A/TCHHSD Public Health Division is engaged in health promotion as well as primary prevention and the remediation of environmental hazards through facility inspections and the enforcement of state and local laws, ordinances, and regulations. The A/TCHHSD provides services to prevent, control, and treat communicable diseases including: tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS), coordinating the provision of age appropriate immunizations, and conducting surveillance of disease outbreaks and food-borne illnesses. The A/TCHHSD Managed Services Division assures client access to services provided through contractual relationships between the Department and providers of services in the community by ensuring that program guidelines are met. This division provides indigent health care services (through the Medical Assistance Program), HIV services, and a variety of other social services through contracts, inter-locals, and subcontracts. The Managed Services Division also integrates the eligibility, intake, and screening functions within the Department.
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Austin Travis County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center (ATCMHMR)
The Austin Travis County MHMR Center (ATCMHMR), designated by the state as the local mental health and mental retardation authority, delivers an array of community-based services in over 60 locations throughout the city and county to over 22,000 consumers a year. These services include information and referral, 24-hour crisis intervention, psychiatric evaluation, outpatient care, medication monitoring, therapeutic day programs, psychosocial rehabilitation, case coordination, service coordination, Assertive Community Treatment, supported housing, employment and vocational services, family support and respite care, and counseling. ATCMHMR contracts with the city and county to manage a local substance abuse treatment provider network. ATCMHMR also contracts with the city to manage the substance abuse services network for Ryan White HIV/AIDS services. Sixty percent of the population served is uninsured.
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Substance Abuse Managed Service Organization (MSO)
Historically, the City of Austin and Travis County have purchased substance abuse treatment services through multiple agencies with eligibility determinations made and services provided by the individual organizations pursuant to the terms of their respective contracts. Recently, the City of Austin and Travis County entered into an Inter-local Agreement with ATCMHMR's wholly owned MSO, Capital Area Behavioral Healthcare Corporation (CABHCC), to provide substance abuse services, thus preventing duplication of administrative services and promoting a more complete continuum of care for clients.
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Seton Healthcare Network
The Seton Healthcare Network includes Seton Medical Center, Seton Northwest Hospital, Brackenridge Hospital (Austin's traditional safety net facility), and Children's Hospital of Austin. During 1998, charity care and community benefits supported by Seton included direct medical services, immunizations, medications and supplies, transportation, health screenings, and health education to almost 90,000 Central Texas residents. The Seton Healthcare Network funds the Seton McCarthy Community Health Center, the Seton South Community Health Center, Seton Topfer Community Health Center and the Blackstock Clinic.
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Seton McCarthy Community Health Center
The Seton McCarthy Center provides medical, social, education, and family therapy services to 4,200 patients annually. More than 75 percent of these patients are uninsured.
Seton South Community Health Center
The Seton South Community Health Center provides services to 6,000 patients annually, 90 percent of whom qualify for payment on a sliding fee scale.
Seton Topfer Community Health Center
Seton Topfer Community Health Center opened in March 2000 and provides primary care services.
Blackstock Clinic
Blackstock Clinic provides primary care and some specialty services to about 9,600 patients annually, of whom 50 to 60 percent are uninsured.
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St. David's Health Care Partnership
St. David's HealthCare Partnership, a joint venture of St. David's Health Care System and HCA - The Healthcare Company, operates the St. David's network of hospitals, made up of St. David's Medical Center, South Austin Hospital, Round Rock Medical Center, and North Austin Medical Center. In addition, St. David's HealthCare Partnership has funded initiatives such as immunization programs, health screenings, mammography, and health education classes.
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El Buen Samaritano
El Buen Samaritano is a primary care clinic funded primarily by Episcopal Health Charities. The clinic also receives funding from United Way/Capital Area. It provides about 6,000 patient visits annually, 93 percent of which are by uninsured patients.
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People's Community Clinic
People's Community Clinic provides primary care and support services to 15,000 patients, accounting for 60,000 visits each year. It receives funding from St. David's Foundation, the City of Austin, Travis County, United Way/Capital Area, various grants and donations, and patient revenue. The clinic is involved in a number of collaborative efforts with other non-profit organizations and providers, businesses, and community groups to improve access to services for the uninsured.
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Volunteer Healthcare Clinic
The Volunteer Healthcare Clinic provided primary care, specialty care, and prescription drugs for 5,000 patients last year, all of which are uninsured. A number of sources, including private donations, United Way/Capital Area, and the Seton Healthcare Network support basic clinic operating needs. Area health care providers donate all clinical services.
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Planned Parenthood of Austin
Planned Parenthood provides reproductive and sexual health services to about 18,000 patients per year in four clinics. Another 15,000 people participate in community-based education programs. All of the clinics accept Medicaid and have a sliding fee scale. One clinic provides fully subsidized services to uninsured clients below 100 percent of the poverty level. Funding comes from a variety of sources including the federal government, client fees, and local contributions.
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Community Women's Wellness Center
The Community Women's Wellness Center provides free cancer screening services and wellness services to approximately 4,000 women each year (primarily the working poor over 40 years of age) who meet 200% of federal poverty guidelines. The nurses perform extensive case management to refer women for needed health and social services. The Center receives support from the St. David's Health Care Foundation, the Women Race for the Cure, The Texas Department of Health, and the Shivers Cancer Foundation. The Center has a tripartite mission consisting of education, service, and research and is operated by the University of Texas School of Nursing.
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