Agency Expands Pregnancy Testing, Support In North Travis

AUSTIN, TX — Central Health-funded CommUnityCare is expanding pregnancy testing and support services in Travis County for women with low income, officials said Monday.

”Expanding pregnancy testing is critical to improving health outcomes for both moms and their babies,” Dr. Abigail Aiken, Central Health board member and assistant professor of the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, said in a prepared statement. “If a woman is pregnant and plans to continue her pregnancy, we want to make sure she has immediate access to prenatal care and is enrolled in a health coverage program. This reduces the risk of pregnancy complications and promotes healthy birth outcomes.”

By virtue of the initiative, women can now receive a free pregnancy test without an appointment at CommUnityCare North Central, 1210 W. Braker Lane. The full-service health center is one of 24 operated by CommUnityCare, Central Health’s affiliated Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) system.

As part of the pregnancy screening, women also will receive an eligibility screening to determine their health coverage options, including MAP (Medical Access Program), MAP Basic, Healthy Texas Women, and Medicaid. Women are also connected to obstetrics care or other women’s health services.

“We want to make sure every woman has access to the best health care, regardless of their economic situation or ZIP code,” Aiken said.

CommUnityCare North Central sees more patients annually than any other clinic in the CUC system, officials noted. Of the more than 56,000 people living in the North Central Austin neighborhoods surrounding the clinic, more than 82 percent are non-white, and they experience some of the highest rates of poverty in Travis County, officials added.

The upshot: It is projected that by 2022, 32 percent of families in the area will be living in poverty, compared to 12 percent for all of Travis County, officials revealed.

Central Health opened a pregnancy testing center at the Central Health Southeast Health & Wellness Center at 2901 Montopolis Dr. in January 2018, officials added, which has provided 608 women a free pregnancy test to date.

“We use evidence-based, women-centered approaches to simultaneously address a variety of health care needs,” Central Health Southeast Health & Wellness Center Program Director Elizabeth Marrero said. “Offering a pregnancy testing center at two of CommUnityCare’s largest sites is a critical part of Central Health’s strategy for improving and expanding access to care for women with low income.”

Providing women’s health services, especially prenatal care, is essential to addressing disparities that exist for women in Texas, officials noted. Statistics point to the need: According to a 2017 Austin Public Health report, more than one-third of all Hispanic infants in Travis County were born to women with late or no prenatal care, officials said. In addition, infant mortality rates are higher for blacks than whites and Hispanics. These disparities are even more pronounced among women with low income. Statistics show pregnancy outcomes improve with prenatal access and support navigating the system.

“Often pregnancy testing is the first entry point into the health care system for women and newborn babies,” Aiken said. “If we can make care accessible, and make sure pregnant women have a health care coverage program, hopefully, more women will be able to stay in the system throughout their pregnancy and postpartum.”

Women interested in a free pregnancy test should call 512-978-8268 or visit CommUnityCare North Central, 1210 W Braker Ln., Austin, TX 78758, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

About Central Health

Central Health is the local public agency that connects Travis County residents with low income to quality health care. We work with a network of partners to eliminate health disparities and reach our vision of Travis County becoming a model healthy community.