Jefferson County

Low Income Primary Care Access

Summary of Information:

Low Income Population: 97,763 (at or below 200% FPL, 1998)

Regular full time equivalency: 149.7

Full time equivalents serving the low-income population: 33.8

Ratio of low-income population to low-income FTE: 2,892:1

Considered a shortage of providers: No (only Port Arthur inner

city was submitted for designation).

Physicians accepting new patients: 92%

Physicians accepting new patients who have Medicaid

coverage: 55%

Physicians who can provide interpretation for non-English

speaking patients: 67%

Languages: Spanish, Indian, French, German, Sign, Korean, Chinese, Philippino, Hindi

*Surveys completed 8/00

Community Input:

Jefferson County employers consist of primarily chemical or industrial plants. There are 4-5 local hospitals located within Beaumont and Port Arthur. There are two local health departments in Port Arthur and Beaumont, which serve a large percentage of uninsured families. The Gulf Coast Heath Center, located in Port Arthur, accepts both uninsured and insured families. Beaumont medical facilities take families/patients from surrounding counties, including Hardin and Orange.

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