Texas Awards Funding for Women’s Health Care
News Release
February 14, 2014
The Texas Department of State Health Services has awarded $45.4 million in new state funding to 55 agencies across the state to expand access to women's health services.
With $100 million in additional funds from the Legislature for the next two years, DSHS expanded its Primary Health Care program to increase access to essential comprehensive women’s health care services in Texas. The expansion will serve about 170,000 low-income women per year and covers a range of services including family planning and health screenings. Funds also will be available to these providers for 2015.
“We’re providing women greater access to a broader range of health services in Texas,” said Dr. David Lakey, DSHS commissioner. “These dollars will help women receive the family planning and screening services they need to be healthy.”
DSHS estimates that more than 60 percent of the women served will receive family planning services. The funding is going to agencies including local health departments, hospital districts and health clinics.
The list of recipients for2014 can be found here.Note: The listed county represents the location of theprovider; each provider may operatemultiple clinics in other counties.
As part of the expansion, low-costhealth services are available at 222clinic sites across the state. Services include:
- Pelvic examination
- STD screenings and treatment
- HIV screenings
- Diabetes screenings
- Immunizations
- High blood pressure screenings
- Cholesterol screenings
- Clinical breast exams
- Mammograms
- Pap tests
- Diagnostic services for women with abnormal breast or cervical cancer test results
- Cervical dysplasia treatment
- Individualized case management
- Prenatal medical and dental services
- Sterilizations
- Contraceptives
To be eligible for the program, women must be 18 years of age or older and at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Texas also offers women’s health services through the department’s Family Planning program and the Texas Women’s Health program administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
More information on the expansion can be found here.
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(News Media Contact: Carrie Williams, DSHS Director of Media Relations, 512-776-7119)