The Travis County Commissioners Court took no action on the county health care district’s proposed budget and tax increase Tuesday after repeatedly questioning the wisdom of the district’s $379 million contingency fund. The controversial fund grew rapidly in recent years as the health care district, which serves low-income residents and is known as Central Health, […]
Travis County Central Health
Health organization that provides care and improves service for uninsured individuals in Travis County.
Posted inBudget
Central Health approves budget with a Hail Mary provision to halt layoffs at Integral Care
Travis County’s public hospital district, Central Health, voted Wednesday to approve its Fiscal Year 2024 budget, which includes a last-minute line item giving $7 million in emergency funding to Integral Care. Central Health’s budget still needs final approval from Travis County commissioners. Integral Care is the largest provider of mental health services in Travis County. […]
Posted inBudget
Integral Care, Austin’s largest mental health care provider, approves 48 layoffs in next budget
Integral Care, the mental health authority for Austin-Travis County, voted Thursday to approve a budget that eliminates nearly 10 percent of its positions. Along with the 48 individuals who were identified for layoffs, 67 vacant positions were also cut. Employees in the union United Workers of Integral Care said layoffs would further strain staff already struggling […]
Posted inPlanning
Erwin Center demolition marks latest change in ever-shifting health care district
Demolition of the Frank Erwin Center arena on the University of Texas campus is expected to begin next month, following approval last week from UT leaders to move ahead with the $25 million teardown of the longtime home for both university basketball teams. The vote by the UT Board of Regents also spells the end […]
Posted inCourts
Central Health, Ascension Seton trade barbs
The lawsuits between Ascension Texas, formerly known as the Seton Healthcare Family, and Travis County’s Central Health continue with little prospect of progress in the near future. Seton and Central Health have been at loggerheads since at least 2020, and each filed suit against the other in January. As in many lawsuits, it all boils […]
Posted inPublic Health
Sobering center may seek expanded role
The Austin-Travis County Sobering Center, currently in its fifth year of operations, has served more than 8,000 people, according to Jana Ortega, chair of the center’s board of directors. Ortega and Executive Director Laura Elmore addressed City Council at Tuesday’s work session, laying out its current work and possible expansion of its services. The center […]
Posted inPublic Health
County greenlights long-awaited performance audit of Central Health
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court greenlit a long-awaited independent performance audit with auditing firm Mazars for $854,200. The audit will examine how Central Health has used taxpayer money, with a close eye on the controversial, taxpayer-funded allocation of $35 million per year to Dell Medical School, which began dispensing in 2014 and has […]
Posted inPublic Health
Central Health demographic report finds ‘no escape’ from regional cost-of-living crisis
Austin’s cost-of-living crisis has spread into a regional issue impacting Travis and surrounding counties, according to Central Health’s 2022 Demographic Report. The report, key findings of which Central Health staff discussed in a community conservation last week, found that Austin remains a key access point for health care, affordable housing, public transportation, and social services […]
Posted inCourts
Central Health, Ascension Texas sue over care for low-income residents
After years of failed negotiations over health care services to low-income residents and payments for those services, Central Health, the Travis County health care district, filed suit Tuesday against Ascension Texas, a nationwide chain of hospitals and health care facilities. Ascension Texas operates Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas as well as […]
Posted inPlanning
City, Central Health eye partnership for homeless respite care facility
The city may soon begin talks with Central Health and homelessness service providers focused on creating a permanent health care facility to aid those experiencing homelessness in recovering from significant illnesses and injuries. The state of respite care for the homeless was the only agenda item for last week’s meeting of the Public Health Committee, […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin officials expect more doses of the monkeypox vaccine after U.S. declares a health emergency
Austin health officials say they expect more monkeypox vaccine doses to head to Central Texas after the Biden administration’s declaration of a public health emergency Thursday. Medical Director Desmar Walkes said Austin Public Health anticipates the extra doses next month. It’s unclear how many doses the area will get, though, so public health officials are […]
Posted inPublic Health
Community leaders release ‘red flags’ report on Central Health
Leaders of the NAACP Austin and Texas League of United Latin American Citizens District VII released a scathing report Wednesday on Central Health’s financial and operational activities. The organizations called on the Travis County Commissioners Court to order a “comprehensive, independent, third-party performance audit” of the agency. Frank Ortega, director of the LULAC district, and […]