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» News & Events » 2009 Press Releases » 5/29 - Board Approves Contracts for Urgent Care
TCHD Board Approves Contracts for Urgent Care Services
The Travis County Healthcare District Board of Managers approved on Thursday, May 28 two contracts for the provision of urgent care services for Medical Assistance Program (MAP) enrollees. The board approved a total of $100,000 for 12-month contracts with Texas Urgent Care Associates, P.A. and NextCare Urgent Care at its regularly scheduled meeting. The funding will support 1,000 urgent care visits during the initial contract year and the contracts are expected to be effective by June 15.
With these newly approved contracts, a total of five new locations will be available for urgent care. Texas Urgent Care operates one facility at 2100 W. William Cannon Dr. Suite C, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., seven days a week. NextCare operates four facilities, with hours from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday: 6001 West William Cannon and 12701 FM 620 in Austin, 1240 East Palm Valley Blvd. in Round Rock and 902 North Austin Avenue in Georgetown. Licensed physicians man all five of the health centers. Services at the health centers are available to all MAP enrollees without the need for making an appointment. Presently, MAP enrollees are able to access convenient-care hours at CommUnityCare William Cannon Health Center and the Red River Walk-In Care Center, which both offer acute care during extended and weekend hours.
With inappropriate utilization of local hospital emergency departments creating an increasing burden on the ability to provide responsive, efficient and cost-effective care to those truly requiring emergency care, the TCHD Board of Managers considers the addition of these urgent care centers a major step forward.
Board Chairperson Dr. Tom Coopwood said, “Service expansion has always been one of the Board of Mangers' and the TCHD's strategic goals. Although some urgent care is being provided by CommUnityCare these new contracts will make this service more robust and more conveniently located. We are hopeful that this expansion will give MAP enrollees a viable alternative to seeking care in hospital emergency rooms which is very expensive and drives up the cost of health care for everyone.”
The Medical Assistance Program provides access to health care through a network of established providers for those Travis County residents who meet enrollment criteria and is funded by the Travis County Healthcare District. For more information, please visit www.traviscountyhd.org/the_medical_assistance_program.html.