The North Central Texas Community Health Care Center, Inc. (Community Healthcare Center) is devoted to providing culturally appropriate public education, strong community outreach and participation, and enrollment in health coverage to improve the health of Central Texas residents. Central Health, an independent political subdivision of the state of Texas created in 2004, manages the Medical Access Program (MAP) and MAP Basic, a comprehensive health coverage plan that provides access to care at more than 160 centers in Central Texas. Unfortunately, many uninsured adults in Texas are left without care due to a lack of connection to the health system.
To address this issue, Central Health offers free and unbiased assistance and enrollment in Medicaid, CHIP, Healthy Texas Women's Program and Health Insurance Marketplace. The hospital district is also funded by Travis County taxpayers to operate in a transparent and fiscally responsible manner. In addition, Amerigroup Texas and its affiliated health plans have developed innovative solutions to improve the health and well-being of people in traditionally marginalized communities. Through partnerships and investments in the community, these solutions are redefining what is possible to improve access to healthcare. It is evident that poor uninsured adults in Texas, most of whom are in the coverage gap, are the least likely to have a regular source of care or a regular doctor.
While some uninsured adults in Texas report receiving health care services, most report that they have few connections to the health care system. In fact, less than half of uninsured adults in Texas (48%) say they have a regular source of care or a place to go when they are sick or need advice about their health (not including the emergency room). Meanwhile, 45% of uninsured adults in Texas who have a regular source of care reported that clinics or health centers were their regular source of care, nearly double that of adults with employer coverage (23%).It is also noteworthy that 17% of uninsured adults in Texas reported that the emergency room was their usual source of care, a figure substantially higher than that of adults with private insurance (data not shown). Additionally, nearly half (47%) of uninsured people and Medicaid beneficiaries (50%) in Texas reported that they needed care but were putting it off, compared to 31% of adults with employer coverage (Figure 1).
Uninsured adults in Texas generally don't seek or receive health care services at the same rate as insured adults, even when they need care. Central Health is committed to providing access to healthcare for all Central Texans. Through its Medical Access Program (MAP) and MAP Basic plan, Central Health provides access to more than 160 centers across Central Texas. These solutions are redefining what is possible to improve access to healthcare for all Central Texans.
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