“Right now the dust is still settling on the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Affordable Care Act,” said ACCESS Family Care’s CEO Don McBride, “Tomorrow we’ll still be serving patients as usual, providing them with the same high quality care we demonstrate through goals and outcomes. That will never change.”
Last year, ACCESS exceeded chronic care measurement goals with its patients. 86% of diabetic patients and 81% of patients with cardiovascular disease were within goals.
“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,” said McBride.
The National Association of Community Health Centers released these points following the Supreme Court’s decision:
· The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) means that Community Health Centers will be able to continue to expand access to cost-effective and affordable health care to more people in more communities that lack services. Every penny of the ACA investment in Community Health Centers means real benefits for more Americans.
· The only disappointment in the ruling for health centers and the patients they serve is the weakening of the Medicaid expansion. This potentially leaves some of the 16 million eligible low-income people with no affordable coverage alternative, and it possibly denies many of these hard-working Americans the security of having insurance for their health care needs, no matter how complex or serious they may be.
· In the coming years, 32 million uninsured Americans across the country will have the opportunity to gain insurance coverage through Medicaid or through an Insurance Exchange. But an insurance card alone will not provide access, particularly in medically underserved communities. The role of our health centers will be to provide true access by bringing doctors, nurses and other health care professionals, and quality cost-effective primary and preventive services to new communities in need.
Under the Affordable Care Act, ACCESS Family Care (ACCESS) built a new state-of-the art community health center in Cassville that provides increased access to quality medical and dental care. The expansion allowed space to add another full-time doctor, two dentists, and two dental hygienists. This increases total patient visits by 10.212 appointments serving 5,000 additional patients who didn’t have access to affordable health care.
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 is not a free clinic; everyone pays based on their ability as determined by federal poverty guidelines and other related criteria.
“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.
· ACCESS Family Care—Anderson, offers both medical and dental services
· ACCESS Family Care—Cassville, offers both medical and dental services
· ACCESS Family Care—Joplin, offers medical, pediatrics, and dental services
· ACCESS Family Care—Neosho, offers medical services only
ACCESS Family Care’s administrative offices are located at 4301 Doniphan Drive, Neosho, Missouri.
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