Family Health Centers of Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties offer slide-scale options, serve the uninsured

By DANIEL SUDDEATH
Daniel.Suddeath@newsandtribune.com

May 23, 2009 08:54 pm

— The uninsured. To Linda Codey, they aren’t just political fodder used for pushing a national health care plan.
Codey, chief executive officer of the nonprofit Family Health Centers of Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties, knows each patient is unique. Whether they are unemployed or part of the working poor class that can’t afford health benefits, Codey sees them as people in need of care with few places to turn.
“We are a stopgap between no health care or emergency room care for a lot of people in Southern Indiana,” she said.
The New Albany center, located at 1000 E. Spring St., is only taking uninsured patients, though Codey hopes it will be set up to accept Medicare and Medicaid patients like the Jeffersonville location soon.
Located on the campus of Clark Memorial Hospital, the Jeffersonville center is a separate entity from the Floyd and Harrison chapters, as it receives federal dollars, while the others rely on state funding. Clark manages the other locations through a partnership arrangement.
The first Clark County center opened in 1992, and now there also is a location in Charlestown. The New Albany location will celebrate its 10th anniversary in February, and Codey said the patient list keeps on growing.
And in a time of recession and double-digit unemployment rates in Indiana, Codey said many people have no other option.
Before the economic downturn spiraled into a recession, the New Albany center was getting an average of 20 new patients a month. Over the past year, that has turned into 20 to 30 new patients a week.
The centers offer a variety of services with full-time nurse practitioners in Floyd and Harrison counties coupled with physicians in Jeffersonville that see patients from around the region. There’s even a dentist at the Jeffersonville location, with all of the services based on a slide-scale format for those having trouble paying.
“Nobody is turned away if they can’t pay,” Codey said.
Clark Memorial and Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services play vital roles in the success of the centers by writing off millions of dollars worth of services. But that’s just a snapshot of the support, as Codey said several physicians and medical facilities in the area provide the centers’ patients with free care.
“We couldn’t operate without it. They’ve been fantastic for 17 years, and as we grow, they just become more fantastic,” Codey said of the charity of the local medical community.
Ted Miller, chief financial officer for Floyd Memorial, sits on the board of directors for the family centers along with Tim Pence, who is director of pharmacy at Floyd Memorial and serves as president of the Health Center board.
Miller said Floyd Memorial workers volunteer time at the New Albany clinic on top of the financial support offered by the hospital.
“It’s really part of the mission of Floyd Memorial,” he said, adding that the centers “really serve many of the underserved.”
Prescription medication companies provide the centers with free meds to be distributed to patients. New Albany hands out nearly $55,000 in free medication a month and the Jeffersonville location about $25,000 monthly, Codey said.
While the organizations rely on contributions from the community, it still takes an additional $3.25 million annually to run the four centers, Codey said. Federal, state and donated dollars from charitable organizations provide the funding, but Codey said doubling the operating costs would enable the centers to serve many more people, as the waiting time to get a new patient into a center continues to grow.
She said there is definitely not a shortage of uninsured residents in Southern Indiana.
Codey has found many of the patients who come to the centers suffer chronic illnesses much more frequently than the typical, insured person. She said it’s due in part to the lack of preventive measures available for those without health insurance.
“If everyone had access to health care, we could start working with people before the problem hits,” Codey said.
Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., said he’s pleased some of the federal stimulus money went to the Jeffersonville center, but added it’s not enough.
“Our local health clinics that aid those without health insurance provide an invaluable service — particularly during this time of economic downturn when they are experiencing increased demand for services,” Hill said.
“I also believe the need for such health centers underscores the importance of seriously addressing our nation’s health care issues. The millions of Americans and scores of Hoosiers without health insurance is simply unacceptable.”

WHERE TO GO
• The Family Health Center of Floyd County is located at 1000 E. Spring St. in New Albany. To schedule an appointment, call 812-941-1701. The center is currently taking only uninsured patients but would like to expand its services to include Medicare and Medicaid patients.

SO YOU KNOW
• Over the last year, the Family Health Center of Floyd County has averaged 20 to 30 new patients a week, up from about 20 new patients a month before the recession began.
• The Floyd County Family Health Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary in February.

$3.25 million
• The amount of money it takes to run the four Family Health Centers annually, not counting the free services provided by area physicians and medical facilities.

WHAT THEY SAY
“I also believe the need for such health centers underscores the importance of seriously addressing our nation’s health care issues. The millions of Americans and scores of Hoosiers without health insurance is simply unacceptable.”
— Rep. Baron Hill (D) Ninth District

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