Lone Star Circle of Care (LSCC), a Federally Qualified Health Center located in Central Texas, provides comprehensive healthcare services to underserved populations, including low-income families, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those lacking health insurance. Recently, LSCC was awarded Phase 2 funding from Advocates for Community Health’s (ACH) Community Health Entrepreneur Challenge in partnership with UnitedHealthcare Community & State. This $100,000 grant will help LSCC implement innovative technologies to assist more than 355,000 visits from nearly 100,000 patients served each year.

Dr. Tracy Angelocci, LSCC’s Senior Advisor for Clinical Innovation and Integration, said, “Thanks to the award from Advocates for Community Health, Lone Star Circle of Care will implement a new AI medical coding solution to help clear our claims backlog, improve collections, and make coding more efficient. These improvements in coding efficiency enable us to focus more on delivering high-quality care to underserved populations while staying fully compliant with FQHC coding requirements.”

LSCC and Cherokee Health Systems in Eastern Tennessee were selected from a competitive group of applicants for their forward-thinking project proposals to improve patient health outcomes through technology. Over the next five years, this initiative will play a key role in achieving LSCC’s strategic objectives. The new AI-assisted medical coding and billing software will reduce documentation burdens and staff burnout, improve coding accuracy and compliance, and enhance the collection of social determinants of health (SDOH) data.

With a more precise risk stratification model, LSCC can allocate case management resources quickly, ensuring that support reaches those who need it most. This strategy aims to improve both cost efficiency and clinical outcomes. To measure the success of this initiative, LSCC will gather feedback from staff and patients, using their experiences to strategize ongoing improvements. Additionally, outreach programs are being developed to engage the community and promote a collaborative approach to healthcare.

To learn more about ACH’s Community Health Entrepreneur Challenge, please visit advocatesforcommunityhealth.org.