A Commitment to Health Equity: Central Health's 2025 Budget for a Healthier Travis County

After months of listening, engaging with stakeholders, and deeply analyzing the challenges faced by underserved communities in Travis County, we have arrived at a critical moment: voting on one of? Central Health’s largest budgets to date. This budget is more than a financial plan - it is a commitment to whole-person care, grounded in the belief that health is a fundamental human right. We believe that every person, regardless of race or background, deserves equitable and compassionate care. Central Health is tasked with providing care to everyone who needs it, and this budget reflects our unwavering dedication to that mission.

I'm especially proud we are expanding healthcare services, including specialty care like cardiology and nephrology, areas where our patients previously faced unacceptable wait times that exacerbated health disparities and led to poor outcomes. We are also broadening our behavioral health services, enhancing care for the homeless, offering respite care for those needing peaceful recovery, and expanding our jail health services.

Central Health is playing a pivotal role in creating new service lines to fill critical gaps in our community. These service lines are not just additions, but essential components that address severe shortages in care. By innovating and expanding our offerings, we are directly responding to the needs of our community, ensuring that no one is left without the care they deserve.

Crafting this budget was not without its challenges and tough decisions. Balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability was a delicate task, but it was necessary to ensure that Central Health can continue to serve this community effectively for years to come. Our reserves – or savings – are essential to prevent disruptions in care. Our community depends on us, and we cannot afford to let them down.

I want to express my gratitude to the Central Health Board of Managers for embracing a new, more inclusive process for board recommendations this year. This process was designed to ensure that every voice was heard, every recommendation was thoroughly vetted, and that the outcome was truly reflective of our collective vision.

Looking to the future, this budget not only addresses our immediate needs but also positions Central Health for continued growth and innovation. It is a crucial step in the implementation of our 7-year Health Equity Plan, which is central to our mission of building a more just and equitable healthcare system. Together, we will build a stronger, healthier community that serves everyone with dignity and respect.

Finally, I want to sincerely thank our board and Central Health staff for your hard work, time, and unwavering commitment to health and the well-being of the people we serve. I am deeply honored and humbled to be part of this noble work, knowing that together, we are saving lives. Let us continue to support and advocate for the equitable healthcare that our community so desperately needs.

By: Maram Museitif, DrPH, MPH, CPH , Central Health Board Treasurer