FAQs
- What is People’s Community Clinic?
- What services are provided at People’s Community Clinic?
- Who does People’s Community Clinic serve?
- How did the Clinic get its start?
- How many people benefit from People’s Community Clinic?
- How do people become patients at the Clinic? Are you accepting new patients now?
- Do patients pay for services?
- What is the Clinic’s model of care?
- Does the Clinic offer any specialized programs?
- Is the Clinic affiliated with any major medical organizations or religious entities?
- Does the Clinic partner with other area nonprofits?
- How does the Clinic handle patients who need specialty care?
- How is the Clinic funded?
- How can I volunteer at People's Community Clinic?
- How do the Clinic’s costs compare to emergency room services?
- Does the Clinic get Federal and State funding?
- Who are the Clinic’s major donors?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is People’s Community Clinic?
People’s Community Clinic is Austin’s only independent healthcare clinic offering comprehensive primary medical care to Austin’s uninsured.
What services are provided at People’s Community Clinic?
People’s Community Clinic offers a broad array of primary medical care services--prenatal, pediatric, adolescent, and adult care—as well social work and mental health services and healthy lifestyle counseling. The Clinic also maintains an onsite pharmacy and lab.
Who does People’s Community Clinic serve?
The Clinic provides a medical home to more than 11,000 Central Texans, serving working families who do not have any health insurance or are covered by a government-sponsored program such as Medicaid/Superior/Amerigroup, Medicare or the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). We do not accept patients with private health insurance.
How did the Clinic get its start?
It was founded as People’s Free Clinic in 1970 in the basement of the Congregational Church on Guadalupe across from the University of Texas campus, by a few visionary volunteer doctors and nurses.
How many people benefit from People’s Community Clinic?
Everyone in Austin benefits from People’s Community Clinic, either through direct use of its services or indirectly, by keeping overcrowded emergency room use down. People’s Community Clinic is the medical home for more than 11,000 Central Texans.
How do people become patients at the Clinic? Are you accepting new patients now?
Central Texans wishing to become a patient at the Clinic should call our appointment line (512-478-4939, option 3, option 1) and ask if we are currently accepting new patients. For more information on becoming a patient, please see our New Patient Information. Although we would like to accept new patients at all times, the demand for our services is very high (1 in 4 Texans is uninsured) and our practices areas are often full. We strive to find the right balance between increasing our number of patients and maintaining our high quality of care.
Yes, uninsured patients pay for office visits on a sliding scale determined by their income and family size. Some patients qualify for state funds such as Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare. The Clinic’s financial counselors help patients apply for those programs once they are accepted into our practice.
What is the Clinic’s model of care?
People’s Community Clinic has pioneered a healthcare model that provides the right care, at the right time, cost-effectively. Patients see the same primary care team at every visit, ensuring continuity of care.
Does the Clinic offer any specialized programs?
People’s Community Clinic is the only clinic in Austin to offer specialized healthcare for adolescents through the Center for Adolescent Health, including services for homeless youth and parenting teens through community partners. The Clinic’s Tandem Program has been very successful in helping teen mothers to prevent subsequent pregnancies. Participants in the Clinic’s Integrated Behavioral Health Program demonstrate significant declines in depression and anxiety, and fewer visits for primary and emergency room care. For a full list of our programs, see the Special Programs section of our website.
Is the Clinic affiliated with any major medical organizations or religious entities?
People’s Community Clinic is an independent private nonprofit clinic, which means that it is not affiliated with any major medical organization, religious entity or governmental agency. This independence enables the Clinic to respond quickly to new trends in patient needs.
Does the Clinic partner with other area nonprofits?
In addition to the central Clinic at IH-35 and 30th Street, PCC has outreach sites for teens and young adults at LifeWorks, Phoenix Academy, and American YouthWorks facilities. The Clinic is also involved in many other formal and informal partnerships:
- American YouthWorks
- Any Baby Can
- Austin Child Guidance Center
- Austin Oriental Medicine Academy
- Austin and Manor Independent School Districts
- Austin Public Library
- Centex Systems Support Services
- Integrated Care Collaboration
- LifeWorks
- Montopolis Community Health Center
- Phoenix Academy
- Project Access of the Travis County Medical Society
- Reach Out and Read
- St. David’s Community Health Foundation
- St. David’s Healthcare System
- Seton Healthcare System
- South Austin Hospital
- Travis County Healthcare District
- UTMB Pediatrics-Austin
How does the Clinic handle patients who need specialty care?
While the Clinic offers more comprehensive care than many primary care facilities, specialty care for our patients is an ongoing challenge. The St. David’s Community Health Foundation dental van visits the Clinic several times a year, and we work with Travis County Medical Society’s Project Access program, which refers patients to participating specialists for free or reduced cost care.
The Clinic receives about 60 percent of its approximately $7.2 million budget from private sources — individual donations, grants, gifts and special events. The rest is from patient fees, government funds, and reimbursements.
How can I volunteer at People's Community Clinic?
We have volunteers in almost every department at PCC, including Immunizations, Nutrition, Health Education, Pharmacy, Medical Records, Finance, Development, Reach Out and Read, and more! While we often have volunteer medical professionals, most volunteer positions do not require any medical expertise. Visit our volunteer page to learn more about the program, see current openings, submit a volunteer application, and contact the Volunteer Coordinator.
How do the Clinic’s costs compare to emergency room services?
People’s Community Clinic serves the entire Central Texas community by providing a medical home to people who would otherwise use the emergency room for primary care treatment needs. A visit to the Clinic costs one-fourth the cost of an average trip to an emergency room.
Does the Clinic get Federal and State funding?
In addition to receiving about 60 percent of its funding from private sources, the Clinic does receive some government funding. Funding from government sources represents less than 20 percent of the total budget.
Who are the Clinic’s major donors?
The Clinic receives strong support from the St. David’s Community Health Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and the Topfer Family Foundation, as well as many other regional foundations. We also receive funding from the Travis County Healthcare District. For more information about donors, please visit our Donor News and Major Supporters page.