Houston’s
Montrose Clinic and Assistance Fund merge

Two of Houston's largest AIDS service organizations, the Montrose Clinic and the Assistance Fund, have merged to create Legacy Community Health Services, the agencies announced Tuesday. The Montrose Clinic offers health care services to HIV patients, gays and lesbians, and other groups in the city. The Assistance Fund provides emergency financial aid to HIV patients to help them pay for medication and health insurance premiums.

By joining forces, the two organizations will be able to expand services to include health care, eye care, HIV prevention education, social services, and clinical research services, among others. The newly formed agency also is working to expand services to indigent and uninsured clients, says Ken Malone, Assistance Fund executive director. "Once our organizations began discussing a possible merger, we were able to see the vision for the new organization," says Malone in a press statement.

Katy Caldwell, executive director of the Montrose Clinic, will serve as Legacy's executive director. Malone will now serve as associate executive director of Legacy.

"It's a good marriage because it gives us the ability to streamline our services and makes it easier for our clients," says Caldwell in a press statement. "As a Federally Qualified Health Center, we are able to continue our commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to high quality health care--regardless of their ability to pay."

The boards of both organizations unanimously approved the merger in October. During February and March the two organizations will reallocate staff between the agency's three facilities in the city to better meet the community's health care needs. Legacy Community Health Services is also breaking ground on a Walgreens pharmacy within its facilities; the pharmacy is scheduled to open in early 2006. This will allow clients to receive all of their health care services at one location, say Legacy officials. (Advocate.com)