March 18, 2020
(Austin) – Central Health-funded CommUnityCare Health Centers Tuesday launched a hotline staffed with medical professionals to triage uninsured Travis County residents experiencing a coronavirus-like symptoms (COVID-19).
People experiencing COVID-19 symptoms who are uninsured and do not have an established doctor can call the COVID-19 Hotline at 512-978-8775 for guidance. Starting today, medical professionals will answer the phones and triage callers – specifically people who are uninsured – to prevent them from going directly to a clinic, urgent care, or emergency department.
“We are working with our local public health officials and the community to contain the spread of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated disease (COVID-19), and we know Travis County residents with no insurance and no doctor need information,” CommUnityCare President & CEO Jaeson Fournier said. “The test for SARS-CoV-2 requires an order from a health provider, and is based on risk criteria. There are many instances where a test is not recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you want to find out if a test is recommended for you, please call the hotline. “
For now, the hotline is available 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
“If demand increases, we will add more capacity,” Fournier said.
Call the COVID-19 Hotline at 512-978-8775
The hotline is for people who are uninsured or patients of CommUnityCare who have been in close contact with a person known to have any of the symptoms of COVID-19 or diagnosed with COVID-19. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include a fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath.
Non-U.S. Citizens/ Non-U.S. Permanent Residents
For non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. permanent residents, COVID-19-related testing, treatment or preventive care is not included in the new public charge test. This means COVID-19-related care will not negatively impact their path to citizenship, and is permissible for a government program to pay for the test.