September 18, 2018
(Austin) – Central Health asked Travis County Commissioner’s Court to postpone voting on the health care district’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget and tax rate, so it may continue discussing its future investment in Sendero Health Plans, the health care district’s nonprofit Health Maintenance Organization (HMO).
Central Health presented its FY 2019 budget and tax rate during Tuesday’s Travis County Commissioner’s Court meeting, but President and CEO Mike Geeslin asked commissioners to delay any action until the Board of Managers can reconvene to discuss Sendero. Travis County Commissioners must approve the health care districts budget and tax rate every year, and they’ve requested additional analysis about the pros and cons of continuing to fund Sendero.
WHAT: Central Health Special Board Meeting, including citizen’s communications, to discuss the FY 2019 budget and future investment in Sendero.
WHO: Central Health Board of Managers and the public.
WHEN/WHERE: 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22, at Central Health, 1111 East Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78702.
BACKGROUND
Following months of extensive analysis and discussions, the Central Health Board of Managers voted Wednesday, Sept. 12, to cap funding for Sendero due in part to ongoing financial challenges. Limiting future funding would likely set up Sendero’s exit from the insurance market. Central Health’s proposed $24 million investment for FY 2019, which passed by 4-3 board vote, included funding for calendar year 2018, plus funds for calendar year 2019 to enable a responsible “wind-down” of Sendero.
Regardless of the board’s ultimate decision, Sendero’s 24,000 members who will see no lapse in coverage in 2018.