Providers pilot programs, build clinic in Southeast Austin

By Joe Olivieri

Travis County is more than two years into its participation in the federal 1115 Healthcare Transformation Waiver, and some residents are seeing changes to how health care is delivered locally.

Some area clinics have expanded operating hours and can offer new drugs to treat Hepatitis C, said Sarah Cook, Medicaid Waiver director for the county's health care district, Central Health.

In eastern Travis County, mobile health care providers recently offered primary care at a fire station in an area where services were not previously available.

Another project funds teaching cultural competency to medical professionals so they can better engage the area's growing Hispanic population.

Meanwhile, construction has begun on the Southeast Health and Wellness Center, according to Central Health.Work on the 2901 Montopolis Drive facility should finish in October.

"What we have seen in our whole regional health care partnership is really phenomenal work," Cook said. "A lot of patients are getting new kinds of care [such as the] opening of the psychiatric emergency department at [University Medical Center Brackenridge].

"The work is tremendous ... and the benefits are starting to be shown."

Background

The 1115 Waiver reforms how Medicaid reimburses health care providers.

In November 2012, Travis County voters approved Proposition 1, a 5 cent property tax rate increase that helped the county better use the waiver.

Cook said the state and federal governments have approved 47 four-year-long projects in Travis County through the waiver. Local health care providers footed the bill, and if they meet agreed-upon benchmarks, the government will reimburse them annually for their efforts.

The waiver's next step, the three-year projects, have just launched, Cook said.

Health and Wellness Center

Local health officials are planning the new coordinated care facility at the site of the former Veterans Administration Austin Outpatient Clinic.

The goal of the center will be providing a facility at which residents can obtain a full spectrum of health-related services, according to Central Health.

"We really involved the community throughout the process," Central Health spokeswoman Ginette Magaa said.

Cook said there will be gastrointestinal and pulmonary care, as well as a new dental clinic and telepsychiatry at the new center.

"We will also have expanded hours there, so [patients] will be able to be seen after the work day," she said. "We know how important that is."