Gov. Greg Abbott has announced a step forward in improving mental healthcare access for rural Texans by awarding $239 million in healthcare construction grants.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is providing funding for the construction projects. The goal is to expand inpatient mental health services in rural communities, providing more hospital beds and more options for care without requiring patients to travel long distances across the state.
“The State of Texas continues working to expand access to critical mental health resources to ensure Texans get the support they need, no matter where they live,” Abbott stated in a March 20 press release. “With this $239 million investment, Texas … will expand inpatient mental health services so rural communities and local governments will be able to treat patients with acute psychiatric illnesses closer to home.”
The $239 million in construction grants will be distributed across four health facilities in Texas.
DHR Health in Edinburg in Hidalgo County in South Texas will receive $85 million to add up to 100 beds. Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas in Beaumont will receive $64 million to fund repairs and renovations that will allow for the addition of 72 beds. In Conroe, the Montgomery County Mental Health Treatment Facility will expand with a $50 million investment, providing up to 100 new beds. Additionally, a new hospital in Victoria County will be built with $40 million, offering up to 60 beds specifically for mental health patients.
Together, these projects will create up to 332 new beds for inpatient care in rural areas across the Lone Star State.
The funding will also support the construction or expansion of these facilities to accommodate at least 50% of ‘forensic patients.’ These patients, typically connected to the criminal justice system, are sent to state hospitals for ‘competency restoration,’ a crucial step in determining whether they are fit to stand trial.
Scott Schalchlin, the deputy executive commissioner for the HHSC Health and Specialty Care System, spoke on the importance of the mental health care expansion projects.
“HHSC is committed to working with the Legislature to increase options for accessing quality behavioral health resources. The program supports hospitals and local governments that understand the needs of their communities, enabling more people to receive support right where they live,” Schalchlin said.
According to Abbott’s office, the projects are now in various stages of design and planning, and construction is set to begin in the coming months.