Rains County

Low Income Primary Care Access

Summary of Information:

Low Income Population: 4,056 (at or below 200% FPL, 1998)

Total practicing primary care physicians: 1

Regular full time equivalency: 1

Full time equivalents serving the low-income population: .1

Ratio of low-income population to low-income FTE: 40,560:1

Considered a shortage of providers: Yes. Rains County is currently

designated as a Primary Care HPSA.

Physicians accepting new patients: 100%

Physicians accepting new patients who have Medicaid coverage: 100%

Physicians who can provide interpretation for non-English speaking patients: 0%

Languages interpreted: NA

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

“Transportation is a handicap for the elderly.”

Are there additional barriers for the low-income population?

“Unsure.”

Community Input: Transportation is the biggest issue—all services are out of county and it is all farm-to-market roads. Recently an established rural health clinic in Emory was reopened after being closed for a year. However, this clinic does not offer indigent health care services and requires copayments up front. There are no Children’s Health Insurance Program providers. Also, there is a need for interpreters for non-English speaking patients.

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