Travis County Commissioners Approve Central Health’s FY 2026 “Year of Access” Budget, Expanding Care for Residents

AUSTIN, Texas — The Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved Central Health’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget and tax rate Tuesday, formally adopting the plan known as the “Year of Access.”

For the average Travis County home valued at $515,433, the Central Health tax will increase by about $64 next year.

The FY 2026 budget invests more than $1.1 billion across the Central Health system to expand access—by hiring more doctors and opening new clinics—while improving health outcomes and strengthening efficiency. For the second year in a row, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the budget, underscoring a shared commitment between county leaders and Central Health to build a stronger safety net. This plan reflects direct input from patients, community partners, and local leaders gathered through Community Conversations, board meetings, and CEO roundtables held across Travis County.

“I think it’s important for the community to understand the extent to which Central Health is truly stepping up and providing access to health care for people who otherwise couldn’t afford it, particularly as federal funding has been cut,” said Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea (Precinct 2). “The growth we’ve seen from about 47,000 patients (Medical Access Program members) in 2018 to more than 135,000 last year, that’s remarkable growth.”

The “Year of Access” represents the first time Central Health, CommUnityCare Health Centers, and Sendero Health Plans are coordinating together as a united safety net system under one plan and set of goals.

Collectively during FY 2026 (which runs Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026), the system —which includes contracted partners — expects to:

• Deliver care to more than 209,000 people in 1.25 million visits
• Provide services through 309 Central Health providers and a network of over 11,000 contracted providers

“Central Health’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget has one clear purpose: to ensure everyone in Travis County can access high-quality care through a strong, resilient, safety-net system,” said Dr. Pat Lee, Central Health’s president & CEO. “Despite state and federal uncertainty and national headwinds, we are making bold, value-driven choices with our largest-ever investment in CommUnityCare—protecting access while other Federally Qualified Health Centers nationwide face cuts.”

Key Priorities in the FY 2026 Budget

Expand Access and Improve Outcomes

• Reduce appointment wait times to two weeks or less
• Cut avoidable emergency room visits and hospital readmissions by 10%
• Expand enrollment in coverage such as the Medical Access Program (MAP) and MAP Basic by 5%

Safeguarding Care Through Uncertain Times

• Provide a record $98.8 million investment in CommUnityCare supporting more than 600,000 patient visits.
• Invest $34 million in Integral Care to support mental-behavioral health services–a $9 million increase over last year.
• Safeguard access to care for people with low income despite reductions in Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
• Expand primary and specialty care services, including optometry, dentures, infusion therapy, behavioral health, and substance abuse treatment.
• Dedicate more than $33 million to services supporting the unhoused community.
• Contract with partners like Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, Black Men’s Health Clinic, Foundation Communities, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), Hungry Hill, Sobering Center and more.

Ensure Smart Growth and Taxpayer Value

• Reduce avoidable system duplication by 50% through vendor consolidation, streamlined contracts, and shared services.
• Increase non-tax revenue by 2% through grants, philanthropy, and Medicaid reimbursements.

“We’ve really been working hard this past year and will continue to work on leveraging and strengthening our partnerships with CommUnityCare, Integral Care, and with Dell Medical School,” said Ann Kitchen, Central Health’s board of managers chair. “The course we’re charting is something we’re doing together with our community and with the commissioners.”

Fiscal Overview

The approved tax rate is 11.8023¢ per $100 of assessed value, about $64 more per year for the average homestead than last year, or roughly 5% of the total property tax bill, the lowest share of any major Texas hospital district.

You can read more about the FY 2026 Budget here: https://www.centralhealth.net/get-involved-fiscal-year-2026-budget/ 

You can view the FY 2026 financials here: https://www.centralhealth.net/about-central-health/finance/