ATHENS, TX | By Kathi Nailling Staff Writer | July 12, 2017
Original article can be found at: http://www.athensreview.com/
According to the Texas Medical Association, 21 percent of adults in Texas ages 19-to-64 years old are uninsured. Eight percent of children ages 0-to-18 years old in Texas are uninsured. In Henderson County 22.4 percent of the population is uninsured. By population, Texas ranks No. 1 in the United States for the uninsured.
Family Circle of Care, a new clinic in Athens, is a Federally Qualified Health Center. According to the HealthCare.gov website, FQHC is federally-funded nonprofit health centers or clinics that serve medically-underserved areas and populations. Federally Qualified Health Centers provide primary care services, regardless of your ability to pay. Services are provided on a sliding-scale fee based on your ability to pay.
Family Circle of Care has been serving patients in Tyler since 1993. The clinic in East Texas has been providing affordable health care to women and children. In 2012, FCC expanded its healthcare to all adults.
The clinic currently has three locations in Tyler, one in Jacksonville and its newest one located in Athens. After some research and studying the demographics in Henderson County, FCC opened its Athens clinic in April.
FQHC is a community-based organization providing comprehensive primary care services to people of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay or health insurance status.
To qualify as an FQHC, the practice has met strict guidelines established by the Federal Bureau of Primary Care. The guidelines required that FCC offer a specific scope of services, including care for those without health insurance.
Family Circle of Care in Athens provides women’s health, which includes: prenatal exams and tests; minor treatments and procedures; labor and delivery; postpartum care; well women care; family planning; breast and cervical cancer screening; and STD screening.
Dr. Marel Hanks of Athens will provide: pediatric care for newborns; well child visits; immunizations; routine developmental, hearing and vision screening; lab work and newborn/child screenings; sports, school and camp physicals; and referrals to a specialist as needed.
Hanks graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Hanks will be a full-time practicing physician at the Athens location of Family Circle of Care. She specializes in pediatrics and adolescent medicine.
Hanks is affiliated with CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler.
Brad Nelson, site manager at FCC, said not everyone has access to insurance.
“We can help by qualifying a person for financial assistance,” he said. “We became a Federally Qualified Health Center to increase access to much-needed health care services.”
In addition to qualifying a person for financial assistance, the clinic accepts all health insurances, including Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP.
Family Circle of Care’s hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clinic is located at 1001 N. Palestine St. For an appointment or financial qualifications, call 903-535-9041 or 903-593-1892. Visit the website, tfcc.tmfhs.info.
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