Houston County

Low Income Primary Care Access

Summary of Information:

Low Income Population: 11,116 (at or below 200% FPL, 1998)

Total practicing primary care physicians: 10

Regular full time equivalency: 9.9

Full time equivalents serving the low-income population: 2.9

Ratio of low-income population to low-income FTE: 3,833:1

Considered a shortage of providers: Yes, submitted for

Low Income HPSA designation 7/25/01.

Physicians accepting new patients: 100%

Physicians accepting new patients who have Medicaid coverage: 100%

Physicians who can provide interpretation for non-English speaking patients: 80%

Languages interpreted: Spanish

What are the barriers to health care for people in your county?

“Transportation and money.”

“There are plans to help people to get health care.”

“No barriers.”

“No because our office will do house calls or give rides to established patients.”

“Lack of insurance.”

Are there additional barriers for the low-income population?

“None” -- response given by three physician offices.

“Not very many doctors will see the low-income patients.”

Community Input:

Of the 12 non-metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in Public Health Region 5, Houston County ranks 4^th in per capita income. This is due to the presence of a fair-sized city of Crockett (over 7,300 in population) and some industry. However, national forests make up a large part of the county. Consequently, Houston County has been particularly hit hard by reductions in timber sales over the past decade. This reduction not only impacted employment, but also services, as a portion of timber sales receipts are returned to county schools and government by the Forest Service. Thus these revenues have been made up by tax increases and cuts in services. The county hospital has been part of a health care system based in Tyler for the past 5 years.

Prepared by Community Health Provider Resources, Texas Department of Health, as part of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation East Texas Rural Access Program; Spring 2001