Williamson County continues program to offset health care costs for treating low-income residents

The Williamson County commissioners set the rate for the county's Health Care Provider Participation Program on April 20.

Commissioners set the rate at 1.44%, which participating hospitals recommended. Funds for the program are determined by that percentage of a hospital’s net patient revenue, according to Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

Funds from the program will be used to cover participation in the Comprehensive Hospital Increase Reimbursement Program and Uncompensated Care to help offset the costs associated with treating Medicaid patients and those who are uninsured. The program is also eligible to be matched with federal dollars for certain health care programs.

Participants in the program include Baylor Scott & White Emergency Medical Center Cedar Park, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Round Rock, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Taylor, Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, Seton Medical Center Williamson, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Round Rock, Georgetown Behavioral Health Institute, Springstone Rock Springs in Georgetown and PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Round Rock, officials said.

Williamson County commissioners are able to set this rate through House Bill 3954, which was approved in the 86th Texas Legislature and authorizes the county to create a local health care provider participation program and establish the fund.

This is the third year county hospitals and Williamson County have participated in the program.

“This is a rate to help cover those that are not able to pay for themselves,” Commissioner Cynthia Long said.