Titus County

Low Income Primary Care Access

Summary of Information:

Low Income Population: 10,964 (at or below 200% FPL, 1998)

Total practicing primary care physicians: 20

Regular full time equivalency: 20

Full time equivalents serving the low-income population: 5.8

Ratio of low-income population to low-income FTE: 1,890:1

Considered a shortage of providers: No

Physicians accepting new patients: 90%

Physicians accepting new patients who have Medicaid coverage: 55%

Physicians who can provide interpretation for non-English speaking patients: 85%

Languages interpreted: Spanish

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

“None.”-response from two physician offices.

“Severely ill patients must be flown to Tyler or elsewhere.”

“Uninsured population.”

“Money, lack of insurance.”

“Majority of physicians does not accept Medicaid, difficult to refer, practices are limited/closed.”

“Insurance not accepted, lack of money.”

“Employers not offering health insurance, bad economy and pay scale, high rent.”

Are there additional barriers for the low-income population?

“No barriers.” -- response from three physician offices.

“CHIP levels too low, count income minus childcare, don’t look at other bills, like rent or mortgage.”

“No barriers can go to the rural health clinic.”

“No because the schools take over helping the children, will pay for indigent children to be seen.”

“No because most are on Medicaid.”

“Lack of health care coverage, people with Medicaid have trouble finding a physician who will accept them as patients, so they end up in the ER.”

Community Input:

There has been a huge surge in the Hispanic population, thus increasing the need for interpreters. A larger portion of the population is on Medicaid and few physicians accept patients on Medicaid. There are almost no transportation systems for those who need it. There is a need for more Children’s Health Insurance Program providers. Additionally, dental care is not available and there is no treatment for depression.

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