Central Health expands free pregnancy testing

CommUnityCare's North Central Health Center is now offering free, walk-in pregnancy testing in the hopes of removing barriers to the testing and prenatal care in Travis County.

"We think with this location we can help eliminate health care disparities for low-income women and women of color in Central Texas," said Monica Crowley, chief strategy and planning officer for Central Health, the county's health district.

According to a 2017 Austin Public Health report, the mothers of more than a third of Hispanic infants born in Travis County received late or no prenatal care. Crowley said scheduling conflicts, lack of insurance coverage and financial limitations can often be barriers to low-income women getting pregnancy tests and prenatal care.

"For many women we serve, a $20 Walgreens pregnancy test would be cost-prohibitive," she said.

The testing center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and takes both scheduled and walk-in appointments regardless of health care coverage or immigration status. Patients can also be screened for health insurance eligibility, connected with an obstetrician and provided resources if they wish to terminate the pregnancy.

The health care center is CommUnityCare's most visited facility and serves mostly nonwhite and low-income patients, according to a news release. Crowley said many low-income women are introduced to the health care system through prenatal care, and this can connect infants to the health care system after birth.

"We like to think there's no wrong door into the health care system," Crowley said. "We hope to screen (patients) to get them access to health care in general."

Though initially projected to be much higher, the state's maternal mortality rate in 2012 was about 15 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services' most recent data. Nationally, the maternal mortality rate is much higher among minority and low-income women, and many of these deaths were deemed preventable.

Dr. Ashley Choucroun, director of women's health at CommUnityCare, said early prenatal care allows doctors to identify and treat risk factors for adverse birth outcomes, educate women on healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices during pregnancy, and prevent early labor in women who have experienced it before, improving the health of both the mother and child.

"Accessing prenatal care in a timely manner is important for all women," Choucroun said.

Verenicy Lozano, a 27-year-old who was tested for pregnancy at the center, said she received good service there.

"A lot of places you have to make an appointment, and it takes a week or two to get that appointment," Lozano said. "In here it's really easy and fast."

Lozano, who's going to be a first-time mother, said she also scheduled a health care eligibility screening appointment.

Maribel Garcia, a pregnancy testing representative at the center, said she sees a lot of low-income, nonworking women as well as women who entered the country illegally. She said many get health insurance through the Children's Health Insurance Program, while others apply for health insurance through Medicaid, Travis County's Medical Access Program and Healthy Texas Women. She said the majority of patients are approved for coverage.

CommUnityCare has been offering free, walk-in pregnancy testing at its Southeast Health and Wellness Center since January 2018 and in that time has administered 608 free pregnancy tests. Garcia said that center administered 46 tests in May, and nearly half of those patients chose to be screened for health insurance and the same number signed up for an appointment with an obstetrician. Crowley said the organization decided to expand the service to the new location because of its success at the southeastern center.

"We want to get women prenatal care as early as we possibly can for them," Crowley said.

Where and when to go CommUnityCare offers free walk-in pregnancy tests at two Austin locations:

CommUnityCare North Central Health Center

1210 W. Braker Lane, Austin, TX 78758

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

CommUnityCare Southeast Health and Wellness Center

2901 Montopolis Drive, Austin, TX 78741

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday