CHC annual benefit aids the uninsured
I grew up in a neighborhood where you could hear your neighbors snore and smell freshly baked cake when it came out of the oven. Despite homes being so close and neighbors always knowing your business, there was a lot of comfort knowing they were there when we needed them.
More than once, the neighbor lady set things straight between my brothers when they were finding trouble as kids. And she was first to the rescue us we needed it. It taught me that even living in a big city, neighbors looked after each other, and you could have a tight-knit community even among a million people.
Last Saturday’s fundraiser for the Specialty Care Voucher Program at Northwest Community Health Center reminded me of my old neighborhood. This program, now in its sixth year, has raised more than $54,000 to provide vouchers to patients who need to see specialists. These are patients who would otherwise not receive treatment for some life-threatening illnesses simply because they couldn’t afford treatment. More than 320 of our friends, family and neighbors have accessed this program. Another $25,000 was raised on Saturday, both securing long-term funding for the program and also pointing out how well this community pulls together to take care of its own.
Vouchers have been used to help pay for MRIs, colonoscopies, eye procedures, CAT scans, dental restorations and heart procedures.
The staff at the health center is responsible for this program. No money generated from patient visits, grant dollars or insurances is used to pay for the voucher program. Its greatest contributor is the staff, which this past year contributed more than $7,000 to the fund through payroll deductions. Their only caveat: All money raised would be used for direct patient care, and not one dollar would be spent to support the CHC’s general operations.
Our neighbors in the medical community also see the value in the program. Many of them are our biggest supporters. And they even meet us half-way, sometimes discounting their services dollar-for -dollar if the patient brings them a voucher. This money goes a long way toward ensuring our mission at the CHC: Ensuring access to affordable, quality medical and dental services.
Even through the tough times, our community rallies to take care of those who need it the most. The success of the Specialty Care Voucher Program is just another example. At the Health Center, we appreciate that our neighbors keep an eye on us when we need a hand. And we’re thankful to offer a hand up to our neighbors who could use a little boost.
If you are interested in supporting the voucher program please contact the health center at 283-6900.
(Joe Chopyak is a physician’s assistant at the Northwest Community Health Center.)