• Skip to main content
Facebook Social icon (opens in a new window)
Twitter Social icon (opens in a new window)
Instagram Social icon (opens in a new window)
YouTube Social icon (opens in a new window)
phone 512.978.8000
  • Español

Central Health

  • For MAP Members
  • For Providers
  • Contact
  • Careers & Culture
512.978.8000
  • Español
Central Health Home Icon
Search Icon
  • Get Health Coverage
    • GET HEALTH COVERAGE

      • Central Health Coverage Programs
      • Sendero Health Plans
      • Health Insurance Marketplace Information
  • Get Healthcare
    • GET HEALTHCARE

      • Clinical Services
      • Health & Wellness
      • Locations
      • CommUnityCare Health Centers
  • About Us
    • ABOUT US

      • About Us
      • Board of Managers
      • Executive Leadership
      • Finance
        • FY 2024 Budget Process
      • Purchasing & Procurement
  • Get Involved
    • Get Involved

      • Get Involved
      • Community Health Champions
      • Health Equity Policy Council
      • Partner With Us
  • News
    • NEWS

      • Newsroom
      • Library
Home > Press Releases > Central Health Ends Funding for Pregnancy Terminations

Central Health Ends Funding for Pregnancy Terminations

August 11, 2011

The Central Health Board of Managers voted to end funding for elective pregnancy termination services at the Board’s Thursday, Aug. 11 special called meeting. Central Health currently allocates approximately $450,000 to contracts with providers of these services for eligible residents of Travis County.

When Central Health began operations in 2004, it took over contracts for pregnancy termination services from the City of Austin. In 2010 when the contract terms were ending, the Board of Managers voted to continue funding these services, which are a small portion of the full compliment of comprehensive women’s health services funded by Central Health.

The Board’s decision to end funding follows adoption of Senate Bill 7, passed last month in a special session of the Texas Legislature, which states that any hospital district using public funds to finance pregnancy terminations (except in the case of a medical emergency) may not receive any state funding.

In weighing whether to continue funding pregnancy terminations in light of the challenges presented by SB 7 as well as the outstanding needs for community health care in Travis County, the Central Health Board concluded that continuing to fund pregnancy termination services would likely result in diversion of time and resources that Central Health would use to meet its primary mission of creating access to healthcare for those who need it most.

In addition to the challenges posed by Senate Bill 7, the continued volatility across the healthcare landscape including funding cuts at the state level has placed increased pressure on Central Health to provide services for an expanding population of individuals without access to care. Countering opposition to the continued funding of pregnancy termination services would likely consume a disproportionate share of time and resources, negatively affecting Central Health’s ability to address the healthcare service needs of the community, including filling the funding gaps recently created at the state level for women’s health services.

“Our focus has to be on the people who rely on us for healthcare services. We still believe that providing pregnancy termination services is a valid part of the continuum of women’s health services, but we can’t risk taking action that would jeopardize our ability to fulfill our mission. We do believe that women who currently seek legal, safe pregnancy termination services will continue to be able to access those services here in Travis County,” Central Health Board Chairperson Dr. Thomas Coopwood said.

Facebook Social icon (opens in a new window) Twitter Social icon (opens in a new window) Instagram Social icon (opens in a new window) YouTube Social icon (opens in a new window)

Notice: The Travis County Healthcare District d/b/a Central Health adopted a tax rate that will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year’s tax rate. The tax rate will effectively be raised by 6.0 percent and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home by approximately $6.18 (six dollars and eighteen cents).

Questions about MAP or MAP Basic:

512-978-8130

CommUnityCare:

512-978-9015

Sendero Health Plans:

877-800-5722

Join Our Team

Submit a Public Information Request

1111 East Cesar Chavez St.
Austin, TX 78702
512-978-8000

Copyright © 2023 Central Health. All rights reserved.

NOTICE: THE TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT D/B/A CENTRAL HEALTH ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR’S TAX RATE. THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 6.0 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $6.18 (SIX DOLLARS AND EIGHTTEEN CENTS).

Copyright © 2022 Central Health. All Rights Reserved.