|
|
|
|
|
Funding continues program for uninsured
by Jule Hubbard
The Wilkes Health Department has received $131,000 to continue a program that helps uninsured and under-insured adults receive health care.
Wilkes Health Department Director Beth Lovette said the $131,000, plus about $73,400 received earlier, would fund the HealthCare Connection program going for another year. Mrs. Lovette said the money is from a variety of private and public sources.
"Since receiving the first Health Net grant in 2007, the HealthCare Connection has served 3,224 uninsured adults through providing a primary care medical home and/or working collaboratively with community partners to provide specialty care prescribed by a physician to 186 uninsured adults," said Mrs. Lovette.
She said part of the money provides the salary of a social worker employed full time at the health department to work with private primary care physicians and specialists in meeting health care needs of uninsured and under-insured people. This includes negotiating contracts with specialists.
Through the social worker, low income uninsured and under-insured adults are assigned to a medical home, linked to the Care Connection Pharmacy and/or linked to specialty diagnostic or treatment services (whenever possible)," she said.
Mrs. Lovette said several private primary medical care providers in the county work with HealthCare Connection by adjusting fees on a sliding scale based on the income of patients.
"Our (medical home) community partners include the three rural health clinics: Boomer Medical Center, West Wilkes Medical Center, Mountain View Medical Center. It also includes two private practices: Wilkes Family Health, Wilkes Regional Family Medicine, as well as the Health Department. Wilkes Regional Medical Center and many specialty physicians partner with us for those services through an annual contractual commitment of service."
She said part of the funding for HealthCare Connection also pays part of the salary of a primary care physician employed full time at the health department. This physician's responsibilities include seeing adult patients who aren't insured.
The money also helps provide clinical support for health care for uninsured people.
"Wilkes Regional Medical Center is an important partner in providing these services, including the support of the Care Connection Pharmacy." |
|
|
|
|
