WSJ: Use of Federal Health Clinics Soars

[Omaha Steve]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125409659506345101.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird#articleTabs=article

* SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

By JARED A. FAVOLE

LEESBURG, Va. -- Federally funded health centers, originally created to serve the poor, are seeing a surge of patients as more Americans struggle financially.

The centers are on track to handle more than 20 million patients this year, up by more than two million from last year and twice the figure of a decade ago, according to surveys by the National Association of Community Health Centers.


Associated Press
Dr. Ross Collazo, right, talks with Rafael Cabrera this month at Miami's Camillus Health Concern, which treats low-income and homeless patients.


"They're seeing lines out the door," said the association's research director, Michelle Proser.

On a recent afternoon at the Loudoun County Community Health Center here, patients came in at a rate of one every two minutes. Operating chief Stephanie Kenyon said the waiting list has jumped to 500 from 20 in a few months. Some of the new patients are college-educated and, until recently, held jobs that put them in the middle class.

Former President George W. Bush doubled financing for the centers, bringing their number to 1,200 nationwide. President Barack Obama included $2 billion for them in his stimulus package, and a House bill would add $38 billion over a decade. That could double again the number of patients treated.

The centers are addressing in a smaller way two issues that also underlie Mr. Obama's health-care proposals: lack of access to care and high costs. The uninsured often need pay only $20 or so for an appointment with a center doctor. The no-frills centers receive block federal grants for much of their funds and pay medical staff a fixed salary, so they have little incentive to jack up costs with unnecessary care.

FULL story at link.

[Peregrine Took]

1. Oh my God! The government involved with health care?

And people lining up to get it? I must be dreaming.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

2. Wish something offering a bit more was located near me,...I need health care attention.

:( The closest "free"clinic which is a 45 minute drive wants bone marrow tests to eliminate the possibility of leukemia. Those tests aren't available on site and are incredibly expensive. So,...*shrug*. At least the clinics provide care to those whose health issues aren't life-threatening. We all have to be grateful for that.

[My Good Babushka]

3. I go to a "sliding-scale" fee clinic

since we lost our health insurance due to job loss. It's nice, but the fee only gets you into the exam room. It doesn't cover any tests. So I can't even get bloodwork or an X-ray, as each of those cost over $300. It's frustrating.