ACCESS to Assist Community with Insurance Marketplace Enrollment
ACCESS Family Care (ACCESS) received a grant designed to assist patients in enrolling into affordable health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces or Medicaid. The $140,059 grant provides funding to hire, train, and certify Outreach and Enrollment specialists as part of the progression of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
“The ACA is a moving target that changes as it progresses. The ability to provide dedicated and well-trained staff whose sole duty is to educate patients on increased opportunities for healthcare coverage will be a huge help for people eligible to enroll,” states Chief Operations Officer Dr. Debra Davidson.
All 22 Missouri community health centers were recipients of awards totaling $2,947,351. These health centers served 438, 406 patients through 196 clinic sites last year. 34.68% of these patients are currently uninsured, and for ACCESS it was 41% last year who were uninsured.
“ACCESS has embraced the opportunity to further serve our most vulnerable populations in need of quality health care,” adds Davidson.
With their Outreach and Enrollment funding, Missouri health centers expect to hire 59 additional workers who will assist 62,102 Missourians with enrollment into affordable health insurance coverage.
Dr. Davidson states, “ACCESS will continue to be there for those needing primary health and dental care and will have trained individuals to assist anyone in determining which healthcare plan from the new Insurance Marketplace best fits within their affordable needs.”
ACCESS Family Care (ACCESS), was founded in 1996 as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) for the purpose of increasing access to primary health care for those who lack medical insurance coverage. As an FQHC, ACCESS receives a 330 Federal grant from the Bureau of Primary Health Care designed to offset the expenses associated with providing sliding fee discounts to patients who demonstrate economic need.
ACCESS Family Care—Anderson with both medical and dental services is located at 927 N. Business 71 Anderson. It’s open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM with late hours until 7:00 PM on Tuesdays and can be reached at 417-845-8300. The dental clinic is located in the same building with the same hours, except they close at 2:00 on Fridays, and can be reached at 417-845-2273.
ACCESS Family Care—Cassville with both medical and dental services is located at 4016 North Main Street, Cassville, and can be reached at 417-847-0057. The clinic is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM with late hours until 7:00 PM on Tuesdays.
ACCESS Family Care—Joplin with medical, pediatrics, and dental combined in one location is located at 530 S. Maiden Lane. The hours there are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM and late hours until 7:00 PM on Tuesdays. Medical services now observe extended hours Monday-Saturday until 8:00 PM. For medical appointments call 417-782-6200 and for dental appointments call 417-782-0080.
ACCESS Family Care—Neosho, medical services only, is located at 412 East McKinney, Neosho, and can be reached at Phone: 417 451-4447. The clinic is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM with late hours until 7:00 PM on Tuesdays.
ACCESS Family Care’s administrative offices are located at 4301 Doniphan Drive in Neosho, Missouri, and the phone number is 417-451-9450.
“One of the special characteristics of community health centers is that they work to increase wellness in the communities they serve. We are highly regulated, we monitor and report on patient health outcomes, and we meet high standards for excellent care,” comments Chief Executive Officer Don McBride.
Last year, ACCESS met or exceeded state and national healthcare goals as demonstrated with being the only Missouri health center to achieve state recognition for those efforts. “Missouri ranks as one of the nation’s unhealthiest states. ACCESS is working hard and with patient cooperation, we’re making a difference and improving wellness in our communities. That’s our job,” adds McBride.