Uninsured, low-income residents of Bradley County will have access to specialized health care thanks to an expansion of Project Access into the Ocoee Region.
Southeast Tennessee Project Access, a consortium led by the Bradley and Chattanooga-Hamilton County medical societies, brings together resources to improve the health and well-being of local residents who are dealing with specialized health issues. All care is provided at no cost through volunteer physicians, other providers and partnering medical facilities.
“Project Access is a physician-led community-based program that coordinates donated medical care and services for uninsured people living on fixed or low income,” said Rae Young Bond, executive director of the Medical Foundation of Chattanooga, the nonprofit organization coordinating the Project Access initiative. “Project Access is essentially a clinic without walls that allows uninsured patients to receive earlier, less costly treatment. Left untreated, many of these would end up in the emergency room, which is the least efficient, most costly form of care.”
To qualify for Project Access, patients must:
• reside in their county for at least 90 days prior to enrolling;
• not qualify for health insurance, including receive any state or federal medical benefits such as TennCare or Medicaid;
• have a family income below 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($20,385 for an individual; $34,545 for a household of three);
• have a current medical problem; and
• be referred by a participating primary care provider, physician, partner or health care facility.
Project Access began in Hamilton County in April 2004 by Dr. Joe Cofer, who was a local surgeon and then president of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society. Currently the program has more than 1,150 volunteer healthcare providers and has coordinated more than $217 million in donated health care services since inception. CHI Memorial, Erlanger and Parkridge health systems, in addition to Kindred and Siskin hospitals, are partners in providing this care. Tennova Healthcare Cleveland is joining the partnership to provide care for Bradley County patients.
“Project Access has enormous potential to improve the quality of health in the Ocoee Region simply because it brings together all of the key health partners in our area,” said Dr. Josh Worthington, local surgeon and volunteer medical director for Project Access in Bradley County. “Most importantly, this program will help an important group of people who are working hard, often at a couple of minimum wage jobs, but who aren’t eligible for health care coverage. It helps people who all too often fall through the cracks.”
Project Access is a proven resource that improves health care for the uninsured and reduces medical costs long-term. Results include:
- Improved health status among the low-income uninsured, which increases their employability and productivity;
- Decreasing numbers of Project Access patients in the emergency room; and
- Better coordination of services to allow the uninsured to receive care in a more efficient, comprehensive and higher quality system.
“Doctors and hospitals have always provided charity care, often for patients who lost their jobs which meant they lost their insurance,” Ms. Bond said. “Project Access validates their need and eligibility, equitably distributes charity services among local providers, and allows these patients to get treatment to restore them to health.”
How the Program Works:
- Patients can be referred by local health centers and clinics, participating providers, hospital partners, or social service agencies. Patients who don’t already have a primary care home will be referred to one. Project Access partners with numerous primary care centers, including Karis Community Health, the Bradley County Health Department Clinic, and Ocoee Regional Health Corporation Centers, and 14 health centers in Hamilton County.
- Prospective patients are evaluated for eligibility before enrollment.
- Project Access patients are referred just as if they had private health insurance to the network of partner physicians and facilities.
- Patients enrolled in Project Access are assisted with physician referrals, medication management, and hospital services prescribed by their physician.
“Project Access makes it easy for us to care for patients,” Dr. Worthington said, “and that is exactly why I became a physician in the first place.”
For more information about Project Access, go to www.hcProjectAccess.org or call 423-826-0269.