May 19, 2011
The Central Health Board of Managers on Wednesday approved expansion of services with two existing contracted partners.
The first expansion will increase the total annual contract amount for family medical services with Austin Medical Education Program for enrollees of the Medical Assistance Program (MAP) at the Blackstock Family Health Center. The contract amount will double from $100,000 per year to $200,000 in order to support primary care services at the health center through the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.
The second expansion provides an additional $320,000, from $728,000 to $1,048,000 per year for People’s Community Clinic to support primary care services through the remainder of the fiscal year. A continual increase in patient encounters is the primary reason for this expansion.
The expansion of both of these contracts is based on usage of services. As demand for services by eligible patients increases, Central Health strives to proportionately increase access to care for those individuals. Service expansions such as these directly address Central Health’s stated mission of creating access to healthcare for those who need it most.
“We’re always happy when any of our contracted primary care providers have the capacity and are willing to take more patients. It’s our job to find the most efficient and cost effective way to get more people through the doors and cared for, which is what we’ve done with these expansions,” Board Chairperson Dr. Tom Coopwood said.