Hope Clinic was originally established in 1999 as a faith-based, not-for-profit corporation, the Ellis County Coalition for Health Options, providing comprehensive health care services for the entire family. Located in Waxahachie, Texas, the clinic offers a sliding fee discount to the uninsured and under served in and around Ellis County. Hope Clinic’s very existence has always been the result of community driven efforts. The Clinic began when a group of caring individuals and leaders came together to discuss their deep concerns about the number of uninsured and indigent people in Ellis County who lacked access to health care. During a November 2007 community meeting, Congressman Joe Barton, R-Ennis, said, “Health care is such a big issue, and doing it the way you are doing it, with community support, is the right way to go. It’s nice to have a success story.” (Ellis County Press, 11/24/2007)
A 2005 contract with Ellis County leveraged tax dollars to provide health care access for more people in the community, while at the same time improving health outcomes for those persons qualified for the County Indigent Health Care Program. In March 2009, again with broad-based community support, Hope clinic received the designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center. The main purpose of the FQHC Program is to enhance the provision of primary health care services in under served urban and rural communities. This designation gives the Clinic the ability to serve Medicare and Medicaid patients as well as to receive federal grant monies, enhanced reimbursement, and support services from HRSA. Hope provides comprehensive health care services including adult and pediatric primary health care, women’s health, dental care and restoration, and behavioral health assessment and treatment at fees based on income and household size for the uninsured and the under served. Additional services such as prescription assistance, benefits counseling, case management, diabetes education and support, and nutrition and health education are also provided.
