AUSTIN Last night the Texas House of Representatives approved SB 526 legislation by State Senator Jane Nelson R-Flower Mound to assist the states Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). SB 526 passed the Senate last month and now moves to the governors desk.
These health centers need our support because they care for the uninsured and provide a cost-effective alternative to our hospital emergency rooms. Due to diminished funding on the federal level we need to provide more flexibility on how these centers allocate their state funding which is the purpose of this bill Senator Nelson said.
Specifically SB 526:
- Allows the Department of State Health Services to use funds from the FQHC Incubator Program which was reserved for start-up costs for new centers to support operations at the approximately 300 existing FQHCs in Texas; and
- Repeals the programs expiration date.
The Legislature authorized the incubator program through legislation authored by Senator Nelson and approved in the 78th Legislature. The cost of the program is $5 million per year.
Senator Jane Nelson represents District 12 including portions of Tarrant and Denton Counties. She is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services.
