Sabine County

Low Income Primary Care Access

Summary of Information:

Low Income Population: 5,501 (at or below 200% FPL, 1998)

Total practicing primary care physicians: 3

Regular full time equivalency: 2.9

Full time equivalents serving the low-income population: 1

Ratio of low-income population to low-income FTE: 5,501:1

Considered a shortage of providers: Yes, currently designated

as whole-county 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: 33%

Languages interpreted: Spanish

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

“None” -- response by two physician offices.

“Transportation.”

Are there additional barriers for the low-income population?

“None.”

“No, we have a good indigent program.”

“A lot of folks here are poor and do not have enough money to go to the doctor.”

Community Input:

Sabine County has recently lost two physicians. Another recent dilemma faced by the county was the pull out of the Emergency Medical Service serving Sabine, San Augustine, and Polk counties. Sabine County was very proactive in bringing a committee together to form their own county-based EMS system.

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