“Glen and that i only searched and you can we’re down to the past $fifty,000,” Curran said. “So, right here i go once more, we’re out of money. … It is simply extremely challenging to have to do this once you discover they’ve been sitting on $20 billion.”
In a coronary attack of good timing, the medical Info and you can Attributes Government reimbursed ETCC $130,100000 for uncompensated COVID-19 proper care the fresh clinics had considering. It would help security their charges for a few more weeks.
Robison had submitted their brand new software to possess FQHC standing from inside the March, and you may a customer got already been in https://tennesseetitleloans.net/cities/dyersburg/ contact, asking for a few clarifications. That has been a beneficial signal. But there was still no term about a site head to, the fresh new vital second step.
More step 1
At the end of June, the state fitness department in the end unwrapped applications into the FQHC incubator finance. But Curran was surprised to see one people you may ask for no more than $170,000, maybe not the latest hundreds of thousands he previously hoped for. Which, the guy told you, try “merely a tale.” The fresh centers burnt throughout that much in a few days.
Curran immediately titled longtime state Sen. Robert Nichols, a Republican whoever region comes with Henderson County and you will exactly who assisted score the fresh incubator money utilized in last year’s expenses statement. Nichols got toured ETCC, and Curran phone calls your an effective “straight-right up boy,” whilst the a couple features disagreed on the circumstances such as for example Medicaid extension.
“We have advised Robert Nichols he’ll become my buddy no matter exactly what,” Curran said. “Which is an option I’ve made. Now, I might perhaps not accept him therefore may have particular strong discussion from the that which you prior to it is all over. However, he’s going to nevertheless be my buddy.”
Contained in this weeks, the application form try yanked down about fitness department’s website. Whether it returned right up week or so afterwards, clinics that have been functioning with the FQHC standing you will definitely make an application for as the very much like $one million. The state health agency told Public Fitness View your change was created pursuing the service got “feedback of stakeholders.”
Robison easily submitted the fresh clinic’s application, plus in very early August the guy gotten a contact giving the newest $one million demand. By center of the month, ETCC signed its contract to your condition and first started waiting around for the first $50,100000 to-arrive.
The 2009 times, Curran and you can Robison shared ETCC’s story on yearly Colorado Primary Care and attention Consortium conference in Austin. The theory were to encourage other people to use the model – consolidating an enthusiastic FQHC that have a medical property program – to help close healthcare holes various other parts of Texas.
Colby Estrada dates visits at clinic’s Gun barrel City area. She and her mothers also are clients around. Credit: Blaine Younger/Social Health View
Within the Henderson Condition by yourself, regarding 4,700 people carry out end up being qualified, according to the Houston-centered Episcopal Health Base
But even Curran, a determined optimist, says Texas’ medical care trouble won’t be fixed till the country’s politicians focus on healthcare to your terrible. Just what ETCC has been doing is very important, but in terms of statewide impact is concerned, Curran claims “it is such as peeing regarding the water.”
“They’ve create points that is actually upsetting to help you people which damage our state’s capability to really manage the people,” he said. “In my opinion they’ve screwed up.”
4 million uninsured Texans manage feel freshly entitled to publicity when the Medicaid had been extended, based on study about Kaiser Members of the family Base.
Healthcare facilities and critical-need clinics such as ETCC could benefit, because they was reimbursed for lots more of one’s uncompensated proper care costs they currently have to absorb. Alot more rural hospitals provides closed in Texas – twenty six because the 2010 – compared to all other state, and extension dollars could have stored no less than a lot of them, told you John Henderson, Ceo of one’s Texas Business of Rural and you may Area Medical facilities.