Group Lobbies for Health Care for Collin County, Texas, Poor. - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

By Ed Housewright, The Dallas Morning News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Sep. 11--McKINNEY, Texas-More than 150 people packed the Collin County commissioners' meeting Tuesday to forcefully ask that the county help fund a clinic for low-income residents.

Before the meeting began, Fire Marshal Steve Deffibaugh cleared out everyone who was standing, citing building occupancy codes. About 50 people remained, occupying every seat in the chamber.

'The people of this county want health care for the poor,' said Frank Bonet, a leader of Plano Area Interfaith, in his presentation to commissioners.

For several months, interfaith members have spoken to city councils and community groups to try to rally support for a county-funded clinic. The group would like $125,000 in startup costs and $285,000 in annual operating funds from the county. Interfaith members say the proposed clinic could serve 3,000 people a year who fall under the federal poverty line - $8,980 in annual income for a single person.

Commissioners, who approve the county budget, have maintained that they are providing all the health care they can afford. This year, the county expects to treat about 340 indigent residents at a cost of about $2.8 million. To qualify for care, a single person in Collin County can't make more than $2,245 a year.

'It's fairly clear what we feel our funding capabilities are,' said County Judge Ron Harris, who presides over the commissioners court. 'I don't think there's any movement to change that view.'

He told interfaith members that commissioners would keep the group's request in mind but offered no promise of funding.

'That's not acceptable to our organization,' Mr. Bonet responded.

After the meeting, interfaith members said they were disappointed in the reception from commissioners.

'I think they had made their decision before we walked in the door,' said Chris Koehler, a member of the strategic planning committee of Plano Area Interfaith.

The group says that the clinic would have two paid office workers and would rely on volunteer doctors and nurses to provide care. Mr. Bonet said 14 doctors have made a commitment to work at the clinic. The clinic would be open two nights a week for a total of six hours, and patients would pay $10, he said.

'This plan is a reasonable plan,' Mr. Bonet told commissioners. 'It's a modest amount.'

Commissioners pay for indigent health care out of a trust fund that was set up 20 years ago from the sale of the county hospital. Today, that fund totals $16.2 million in cash reserves, records show.

In July, commissioners took $694,000 from the trust fund to cover a midyear shortfall in the indigent-care budget. Commissioners say they are reluctant to increase health care spending because the trust fund is expected to shrink to $5.2 million in four years with rising medical and personnel costs.

Currently, the county exceeds the state's minimum requirement for providing indigent care, commissioners said.

'Just because they're meeting the minimum doesn't mean it's acceptable,' Mr. Koehler said.

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