This summer, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced $1 million in federal Mental Health Block Grant funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration to expand Outpatient Competency Restoration (OCR) services for Texans with mental health and substance use disorders living in mostly rural communities. Expanding … [Read more...] about HHSC Expands Outpatient Competency Restoration Services in Texas
Indigent Health Care
Indigent Health Care
County-Run Programs Provide Basic, Optional Services
The Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act of 1985 found in Chapter 61 of the Health and Safety Code requires counties that are not completely covered by a hospital district or public hospital to provide basic health services to indigent residents through a county-run County Indigent Health Care Program (CIHCP); Texas is home to 143 county-administered CIHCPs. On Sept. 1, … [Read more...] about Indigent Health Care
Never Lose Sight of Service
Indigent Health Care Coordinators Seek Best Possible Patient Outcome
The nuts and bolts of county indigent health care are spelled out in state law. But to many program coordinators, success is based on more than a statute. “We are all one catastrophic event or one major illness away from need,” shared Candy Blair, Collin County public health director for the last 17 years. “Imagine having to ask yourself, ‘Do I eat, or do I fill my … [Read more...] about Never Lose Sight of Service
County Indigent Health Care Q&A: Part 2
Editor’s Note: Our March issue covered the background of county indigent health care, patient eligibility, and county jail inmates. The following completes our two-part series. In 1985, Rita Kelley was serving as the regional planner of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services for the seven-county Central Texas Council of Governments (CTCOG) region. In June of that year, Walt Reedy, … [Read more...] about County Indigent Health Care Q&A: Part 2
Bee County Inmate/Indigent Health Care
Fine-Tuned Process Maximizes Cost Savings
When Bee County Judge Stephanie Moreno was appointed in 2015, one of her chief priorities was to address the burgeoning, and seemingly uncontrollable, cost of inmate health care. “It was the first task I attempted to resolve when I took office because we had essentially no control over this expense, Moreno recalled. The County Judge spearheaded a process to qualify inmates as … [Read more...] about Bee County Inmate/Indigent Health Care