Providers, businesses deliver access to low-cost care

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 12.4 percent of Missourians had no health insurance as of 2005, up from 11.8 percent the year before; that works out to about 60,000 Show-Me State residents.

Many area groups realize the need to provide adequate and affordable health care to those residents, as well as the underinsured, and are offering programs to do just that.

Family Medical Walk-In Clinics is offering Affordable Care Solutions, a new program for patients without health insurance or with high deductibles for their existing coverage.

The clinics began offering the program through a soft rollout process in November with a few businesses who have used the facility for other services, including workers’ compensation benefits.

For $50 a month, participants have access to office visits – including everything offered in the clinics, from laceration repair to X-rays to intravenous medications – for a $30 flat rate. Family members can be added for the same monthly fee, and the maximum for an immediate family is $200.

Brian Casey, clinic services representative, said that while individuals can also sign up for the program, the program really works well for small employers who want to supplement their health coverage.

“Maybe they can’t afford a benefit-rich program for their employees, so those are the ideal candidates – they haven’t had benefits for their employees before,” he said. “We’re (also) finding a lot of companies may pay for the employee’s health benefits but may not cover the spouse or dependent children.”

Casey said two companies – First Business Corp. and Safe and Sound Playground – have signed on for the program, and discussions are ongoing with others.

He added that ACS works as a low-cost alternative because the facility has enough medical professionals on hand at its four area clinics, including primary-care physicians and orthopedists, that Family Medical can take care of 85 percent to 90 percent of health needs for most people.

Jordan Valley Community Health Center also is working to make health care more affordable to the underinsured, offering a sliding fee scale for some of its patients. Patients at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level qualify for discounted fees as low as $30 for a doctor’s visit, as well as discounted prescriptions. A family of four, for example, would qualify if income is $41,300 or less.

The center’s executive director, Brooks Miller, said that demand for the discounted services is high, which creates new problems. “We’ve utilized nearly all of our federal and local resources for that program,” he said.

While the Jordan Valley CHC also serves patients with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, Miller said the clinic works to keep its self-pay patients at about 20 percent of the overall patient load. Sometimes, he said, that means they must turn those patients away.

“It’s challenging, because there are certainly a lot of people of need, but you don’t do what we do without maintaining your margins to keep your doors open,” he said.

Other options

With the increased demand for affordable health care solutions, new methods of assistance are coming from groups beyond health care providers.

Silver Dollar City will begin offering basic health services for its 2,300 employees through a new on-site medical facility in mid-April.

Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. spent an undisclosed amount to renovate an existing office building on State Highway 265 near the park into a medical facility. Dubbed Mary’s Well House in honor of co-founder Mary Herschend, the facility is for Silver Dollar City Attractions employees and their families.

Brad Thomas, SDC general manager, said the decision to offer the service was a result of employee requests in the annual employee survey.

“Employees who are returning (for the following season) and their dependents can visit the clinic,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how many hours that employee works.”

Thomas said there is a 30-day waiting period for new employees and a one-season waiting period for new employees’ family members.

Employees will pay $15 for a doctor visit, including X-rays, exams and lab work; dependent visits will cost $20.

The clinic is operated through a contract with Skaggs Community Health Center; SDC pays for the clinic and its expenses, and the medical staff – one doctor and two licensed nurses – are provided by Skaggs.

Thomas added that the clinic is open Monday through Friday year-round; employees who need medical attention outside of normal business hours can visit Skaggs for a discounted rate or go to any urgent care center as provided by the Skaggs contract.

Thomas said employees also have access to free flu shots and annual health appraisals, including blood pressure, blood glucose and triglyceride level checks.

Jordan Valley CHC Director Miller said the new health options are indicative of a nationwide effort by health care providers to counteract rapidly rising health care costs – up 7.4 percent per privately insured person in 2005, according to data from an October 2006 article in the journal Health Affairs.

“A lot of health care administrators are looking at this and saying, ‘How can we increase access to a population of need?’” Miller said. “Now you’re seeing some of the responses to that, and I think that’s a good thing for people to be concerned (about).”