Aransas Pass sees a healthcare revival with new urgent care facilities offering affordable services, bridging a gap since the last hospital closed in 2019.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A few healthcare developments are making their way to Aransas Pass, bringing more accessible and affordable services.

Ever since the only hospital closed back in 2019, city leaders say they’ve been working to bring medical services back. But soon, residents won’t have to cross the bridge into Corpus Christi to get the care they need.



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Off Wheeler Street, locals will soon see a new urgent care facility under construction.

Katherine Rabagos is the owner of StatCare Urgent Care, a clinic company expanding across the Coastal Bend with a focus on making quality healthcare more accessible and affordable in the area.

As a family nurse practitioner, Rabagos says expanding access to healthcare in rural areas is a top priority.

“I feel that there are a lot of hardworking people who should not have to drive to bigger cities to get this type of care. I’ve always had it in my heart to bring that type of healthcare to the community so they can access it sooner rather than later,” Rabagos said.

The walk-in clinic offers services ranging from vaccinations to prescriptions. Rabagos said one of the most important aspects is affordability.

“And if you don’t have insurance, we offer significantly lower self-pay pricing. You come in, you pay, and you get evaluated by a clinician. If you need a prescription, we can send that off. The average national cost for an urgent care visit is $120 to $150 — you can be seen and evaluated by us for $85,” Rabagos said.

As a former nurse, Aransas Pass City Councilmember Ruth Camarillo Smith understands firsthand the importance of accessible healthcare services. With the lack of certain medical services since 2019, she says it’s more important than ever to provide those services to both locals and visitors. She says the new urgent care facility is aimed at doing just that.

“So bringing this urgent care here to Aransas Pass is really historic. Aransas Pass has been without healthcare since the hospital shut down following Hurricane Harvey,” Smith said. “And the residents here really need healthcare. They don’t have any type of ER or urgent care. We’re lacking in a lot of areas.”

But StatCare isn’t the only facility looking to close that healthcare gap.

Amistad Health opened its doors in 2021 and is now expanding its services. The clinic’s CEO, Dr. Eric Baggerman, says it’s time to bring more care to the community.

“We most recently added nephrology and an adult provider. Adult care is highly needed in the Aransas Pass area, and we’ll continue to expand. We’re also looking to add an additional counselor to our current licensed counselor,” Dr. Baggerman said.

With major healthcare services expanding in the area, Smith says this is just the beginning.

“So there are still a lot of healthcare services we’re lacking — a nursing home, services for people with disabilities, seniors. We need rehabilitation and more. We’re still looking for additional healthcare services to come to Aransas Pass,” Smith said.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the StatCare Urgent Care building is set for April 20.

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