• March 12, 2024

Texas health centers expand services thanks to $19.3 million in grants

Texas health centers expand services thanks to $19.3 million in grants
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An additional $40 million is available this year

Health centers across Texas are offering expanded services to underserved and uninsured Texans after completing projects funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services Federally Qualified Health Center Incubator Program last year. A total of $19.3 million in grants was awarded to FQHCs, FQHC look-alikes and eligible non-profit health centers.

“The FQHC Incubator funding has had a major impact on our health center by allowing us to open an entity-owned pharmacy. Having a pharmacy on site was a dream of our health center for many years,” said Kristi Barger, pharmacy manager for Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program. “The pharmacy and its services affect the entire clinic system and provides a collaborative relationship between our providers and pharmacists. This new relationship benefits our patient population by improving medication compliance, wait times, affordability, and overall quality of care.”

This initial round of funding was awarded to 35 entities in communities across the state. The grants ranged from $500,000 to $1 million and were used to build new clinics, renovate existing facilities, purchase equipment and mobile health units, and hire staff and health care providers for clinics. The projects are estimated to serve more than 200,000 patients.

“Having previously participated in the FQHC Incubator Program, support from DSHS has been vital to improving Lone Star Circle of Care’s capacity to provide comprehensive healthcare throughout Central Texas. With the FY2023 award, LSCC transitioned from our former Big Pink Bus mobile mammography unit to a new, more dependable vehicle,” said Lone Star Circle of Care Vice President for Advancement Kim Roberts. “This upgrade promises to enhance access to timely and affordable breast cancer screening for underserved women in our region.”

The Texas Legislature appropriated an additional $40 million in funds to be awarded to existing FQHCs, FQHC look-alikes, and non-profit health centers wanting to become FQHC look-alikes in 2024. Eligible entities are considered on a first-come, first-served basis and applicants must specify which activities they need funding for based on a list of available options. Health centers may review information about the application process and submit their application at www.dshs.texas.gov/fqhc-incubator-program.

 

2022 -2023 Grant Recipients City
Brazos Valley Community Action Agency, Inc. College Station
Lone Star Family Health Center Conroe
Navarro County Ambulatory Care Association Corsicana
Health Services of North Texas, Inc. Denton
United Medical Centers Eagle Pass
Centro San Vicente El Paso
Project Vida Health Center El Paso
Cactus Health Services, Inc. Fort Stockton
Lone Star Circle of Care Georgetown
Carevide/Community Health Service Agency, Inc. of Hunt County Greenville
East Texas Community Clinic, Inc. Gun Barrel City
Bee Busy Wellness Center Houston
The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD Houston
Legacy Community Health Services Houston
Spring Branch Community Health Center Houston
Stephen F. Austin Community Health Center, Inc. Houston
Vecino/Houston Community Health Centers Houston
Gateway Community Health Center Laredo
South Plains Rural Health Services Levelland
Health Center of Southeast Texas Liberty
Community Healthcore/Sabine Valley Regional MHMR Center Longview
Wellness Pointe/Longview Wellness Center, Inc. Longview
Genesis PrimeCare/East Texas Border Health Clinic Marshall
Midland Community Healthcare Services Midland
Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program (MEHOP)/Vibrance Health North Bay City
Atascosa Health Center, Inc. Pleasanton
AccessHealth/Fort Bend Family Health Center Richmond
La Esperanza Clinic, Inc. San Angelo
CentroMed/El Centro del Barrio San Antonio
TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries Tomball
Tyler Family Circle of Care Tyler
Community Health Development, Inc. Uvalde
Waco Family Medicine/Heart of Texas Community Health Center, Inc. Waco
Ellis County Coalition for Health Options Waxahachie
North Central Texas Community Health Care Center, Inc. Wichita Falls

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