Central Health Alters Operations Due To COVID-19

AUSTIN, TX — In response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Central Health is following the guidance of Austin Public Health by altering its business operations, officials said on Tuesday.

Changes include encouraging people to apply for the Medical Access Program (MAP) over the phone instead of in person and screening all visitors for COVID-19 before entering eligibility offices, officials said ina press advisory.

Morever, Central Health said it's also made temporary updates to its telework policy, urging all staff to work from home if the employee’s job can be performed remotely. Some offices will be closed with most employees working remotely, officials added.

“The safety of the people we serve and of our staff is our highest priority, and we are implementing all appropriate safety measures to keep them healthy,” Central Health President & CEO Mike Geeslin said. “We’re asking staff to telework, and host meetings by phone call or a teleconference platform until further notice.”

Central Health Eligibility Offices

Currently all MAP Eligibility Offices remain open regular business hours, while taking the following precautions to keep staff and clients safe:

• Anyone who has a fever or is presenting respiratory symptoms is asked not to come into the office, but instead to complete a phone application by calling (512) 978-8130 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all visitors will be screened prior to entering the eligibility office. Individuals who are symptomatic will be given a paper application and instructions on how to complete the application by mail, fax or online.
• Central Health is also limiting the number of people in waiting rooms and offices by adjusting scheduling practices which may result in rescheduling some appointments. Individuals without coverage will be given priority.
• Central Health has added the paper application and a list of documents to be provided with an application to centralhealth.net/map.

Applications and documents can be submitted to Central Health in the following ways:

• By Mail: Medical Access Program, PO Box 300489, Austin, TX 78703
• By Fax: (512) 776-0457
• By Email: mapdocs@centralhealth.net (Note: applications and documents sent through a client’s email may not be secure)

“Central Health eligibility staff will continue to monitor the situation closely,” Senior Director of Eligibility Services Kit Abney Spelce said. “There may come a time when we will be unable to see anyone in-person, in that case we will still be able to process applications over the phone, by mail, fax and online.”

For the latest information about office hours visit centralhealth.net/covid19.

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.