Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Liberty County fire marshal authorized to apply for rural health transformation grant to reduce nonurgent ER visits
Summary
Fire Marshal Andy Green briefed commissioners on a new federally funded state program (roughly $281 million awarded to Texas over five years) and the court authorized him to apply for grant funding (no local match required) to expand mobile health options and reduce nonurgent ambulance transports.
Fire Marshal Andy Green asked Liberty County Commissioners Court for permission to apply for a Rural Health Transformation Program grant administered through the Texas Health and Human Services agency. Green said the state received about $281 million for the program over five years and the local application could seek roughly $1.2–$1.5 million to expand alternatives to 911 ambulance transports, such as telemedicine, mobile health clinics and community paramedic models.
Green cited operational data to show demand: ‘‘609 calls for an ambulance in the month of April,’’ he said, and noted roughly 55% of those calls resulted in transport to the hospital while about 45% did not accept transport and simply wanted evaluation or assistance. He told the court the program is aimed at rural counties and requires no local match. The county’s recent change of EMS provider was noted as context for ongoing operational adjustments.
Commissioners approved the fire marshal’s request to apply and discussed whether to pursue a grant administrator or to use in-house grant-writing support; staff said the county has a new employee with grant-writing coursework who could assist, and commissioners asked to return to court for an RFQ if outside grant-administration help becomes necessary. The court authorized moving forward with the application process and empowered the fire marshal to seek assistance if needed.
