mayo 17, 2024
Events in 2024 show two decades of progress by today’s Central Health system
(AUSTIN) – Twenty years ago, on May 15, 2004, voters approved the creation of a Travis County hospital district, what’s now known as Central Health, by a 9.4-point margin (54.7% in favor) overall. In Central and East Austin, more than 80% of voters backed creating the district.
Under the banner “Save Lives, Save Money,” a broad coalition of community leaders, progressive groups, Democratic activists and clubs, and social justice advocates backed the measure and helped it pass at the ballot box.
“Twenty years ago, the voters created Central Health,” said Ann Kitchen, Central Health Board Chair, “That gave our community the foundation upon which to create a safety net healthcare system that ensures high-quality, comprehensive, and equitable care for people in Travis County.” As a former state representative and the director of the Indigent Care Collaboration, Kitchen worked with many in the community to pass the hospital district initiative in 2004.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, voters in Austin proved ready and willing when asked to support major tax-funded investments in transportation, education, and other projects to keep the region competitive and resilient in the face of its rapid growth. The 2004 election extended that strategy to a Travis County safety net healthcare system that was fragmented between different venues and decision makers all over the county.
Twenty years later, progress has been substantial. Even as Travis County’s population has exploded, our healthcare system has evolved and matured. The second time voters were asked to consider the hospital district, in 2012, they approved by a 10-point margin Central Health’s foundational funding commitment in support of expanding safety net care through several efforts including the UT Dell Medical School.
Also on May 15, Central Health, CommUnityCare, and Sendero Health Plans announced a new unified branding initiative, part of a larger effort to strengthen the image of the united system among its patients and members and the communities it serves.
“The goal is to make sure everyone understands who we are, how we work together, and how we are building a stronger healthcare safety net for Central Texans,” said Dr. Pat Lee, Central Health President and CEO. “Trust is the cornerstone of our family, and it is essential that we strengthen our bonds and partnerships within our system and with our community. By working together, we can overcome the systemic challenges that have plagued our healthcare system and affected the people we serve for far too long.”
Central Health is planning to celebrate its 20th birthday with community events in the summer and fall. The “real” 20th-anniversary date for the district – when its first board members were sworn in – is August 2.