WilCo Assists Uninsured Women With Vital Health Care Services

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — The Williamson County Commissioners Court on Wednesday approved using CARES Act funding and the county’s Tobacco Fund to assist uninsured women with health care services that were postponed due to the coronavirus.

Many low-income women have not received their annual breast cancer screenings as a result of facilities closing due to the pandemic, officials explained in an advisory. Exacerbating that reality, many women have expressed fear of visiting health care facilities as the number of COVID-19 cases increases, officials added.

As a result, officials said the county program will assist eligible women with breast cancer screening and treatment, as well as primary care and mental health services. The CARES Act funds will be used to upgrade a mobile mammography unit with 3-D imaging technology. Moreover, the “Big Pink Bus” will conduct breast cancer screenings to alleviate fears of going into healthcare facilities.

En español: WilCo Ayuda A Mujeres Sin Seguro Médico Con Servicios De Atención

Eligible women will be Williamson County citizens living at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level, officials noted. The services will be provided by Lone Star Circle of Care through a separate agreement with the county, officials added.

Income requrements at 250 percent below the poverty level are as follows:

Household size/income

• 1: $31,900.
• 2: $43,100.
• 3: $54,300.
• 4: $65,500.
• 5: $76,700.
• 6: $87,900.

“Early detection of breast cancer is critical for successful treatment," Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long said in a prepared statement. "This program will help many uninsured women receive vital screenings and care that was postponed due to the pandemic.”

County officials said they expect the program to run for three years, with some $424,145 from the CARES Act funds to be used. The commissioners court also approved using approximately $512,514 from the county’s Tobacco Fund in order to provide healthcare assistance following the conclusion of the CARES Act funding on Dec. 20.

The latter fund is the county's allotment of a previous, multi-state legal settlement made with the tobacco industry over marketing deemed to have been deceptive in terms of its products' health dangers. In response to a query from Patch, a county spokesperson said the county's Tobacco Fund contains more than $4 million — $4,226,600.09, to be exact.