Examining the Health Care Safety Net: Free Clinics

In addition to Medicaid and WVCHIP, which are health coverage programs that reimburse providers for services received by Medicaid and WVCHIP beneficiaries, West Virginia has a number of other programs or "safety-nets" for people who are uninsured or underinsured. One of these safety net programs is the state’s network of free clinics. As the name indicates, services are provided free of charge for low-income people without health care coverage. Last year 75,000 West Virginians received services through the free clinics.

The type of services that free clinics offer varies from site to site but all of them provide primary care services and free prescription drugs. West Virginia’s largest free clinic is Health Right located in Charleston. Health Right provides primary care, prescription drugs, dental services, specialty care and health and wellness programs for about 17,000 people from central West Virginia.

Most of the free clinics are located in the more urban areas of West Virginia including Charleston, Weirton, Morgantown, Huntington, Clarksburg and Wheeling. To find the location of a free clinic, the office hours and services available check the web at www.healthright.org/freecliniclist.

Seniors on Medicare without prescription drug benefits can get help through a free clinic in their area.

For more information on free or low cost health care services, read the newsletter in the coming months.

WV CHIP RENEWAL FORM - NOW EASY TO SPOT!

After November 1, 2020, WV CHIP families receiving their WV CHIP Renewal application will be mailed a renewal form that will be printed on tan paper.
Since RAPIDS began sending out the revised joint application last spring, both outreach staff, DHHR Change Centers and some DHHR local offices commented that it would be helpful if forms were noticeable or marked renewal.
Starting in November, renewal forms will be on tan paper. The CHIP office hopes this will make it easier for both the customer and local office staff to identify.

The CHIP office would like to thank everyone for their cooperation and the hard work they have provided in the outreach of WV CHIP.

WV Health Centers to Participate in 340b Prescription Drug Program

The WV Primary Care Association (WVPCA) and its member health centers are pleased to announce a new initiative, called the 340b Prescription Drug Program, which is designed to provide reduced cost prescription assistance to uninsured West Virginians. Here’s how it works:

1. Federally Qualified Health Centers, Disproportionate Share Hospitals, family planning clinics, and other entities are eligible to purchase prescription drugs at a federally mandated ceiling price.

2. These entities can then appropriately dispense the prescriptions to their patients at a significantly reduced cost, either through an in-house pharmacy or through a contract with a local private pharmacy.

The goal of the WVPCA and its member health centers is to implement a 340b drug program in all 33 Federally Qualified Health Center corporate sites in the state by December 31, 2004. When coupled with health center indigent drug programs, this new initiative should provide statewide access to free or low-cost prescription drugs to all uninsured residents of West Virginia; making WV the first state in the nation to offer prescription assistance statewide.

The WVPCA expects that it will rely heavily on the positive experiences of its member health centers already participating in the 340b Prescription Drug Program such as Cabin Creek Health Center, New River Health Association, Valley Health System, Pendleton Community Care, and Shenandoah Valley Medical Systems. To learn more about the 340b drug program or to find a health center near you, please visit our website at www.wvpca.org.

New Medicaid HMO in West Virginia

Unicare Health Plan of WV has joined Carelink and The Health Plan of the Upper Ohio Valley to provide HMO coverage for Medicaid members across the state. Service area expansion will continue, county-by-county, which will bring managed health care to enrollees living in both urban and rural counties. HMOs offer special programs to members including, but not limited to, education, case management and disease management services. Beginning in November, Medicaid members will be able to choose between Unicare and Carelink in Kanawha, Boone, and Clay Counties. The DHHR anticipates that some Medicaid members will be transitioning to Unicare in Nicholas and Mercer Counties in December.

Wal-Mart offers "Project Insight"

During the month of November, Wal-Mart stores with a vision center will be sponsoring a program called "Project Insight". This program is being offered to children up to the age of 18 years old with NO insurance.

Wal-Mart will provide the eye exam for FREE and will also pay for frames and lenses. This program is open to all children. The child must be seen in the month of November to take advantage of this program. Some limitations apply. Please contact your local Wal-Mart for more information.

Unraveling Women’s Health in WV-4th Annual Policy Conference

The fourth annual Women’s Health Policy Conference is excited to be offering health care professionals and advocates the opportunity to improve the quality of health care in West Virginia. We will be looking in-depth at three health issues— Domestic Violence, Depression and Heart Disease.
Please make plans to attend the reception on Tuesday to raise funds for the WV Women’s Health Center. The Women’s Health Center of West Virginia has provided affordable, high-quality reproductive health services since 1976. WHC is committed to reproductive choice and to provision of accessible health care that respects the dignity, confidentiality and personal values of women.

The Agenda for this two-day event is as follows:

Tuesday, Dec. 02, 2003

Registration Embassy Suites

9:00-10:15 WELCOME
Welcome, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (invited) and Delegate Barbara Fleischauer, Conference Chair

Strategies for Implementing Policy, Barbara Gault, Director of Research, Institute for Women’s Policy.

10:30-11:45 GUNS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

11:45-12:45 LUNCH

1:00-1:50 SOCIAL POLICIES IMPACTING WOMEN AND FAMILIES

2:00 – 3:15 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DEPRESSION

3:30 – 4:45 TOBACCO AND HEART DISEASE

5:00 - 7:00 RECEPTION / FUNDRAISER FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTER

Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2003

9:00-10:00 POLICY APPROACHES
Thinking Out of the Box: Effective Use of the Courts to Enforce Public Policy, Attorney General Darrell V. McGraw, Jr.

10:00-12:00 POLICY DISCUSSION FORUMS

12:15-1:15 LUNCH

1:15-2:15 LEGISLATIVE ROUND TABLE

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 20!
To attend, or for more information, please call (304)346-0300

WHP Conference
100 Capitol Street, Suite 1009
Charleston, WV 25301
304-346-0300
(f )304-346-1861

Mark Your Calendars for These Important Dates!

December 2-3, 2003
The Fourth Annual West Virginia Women’s Health Policy Conference at Embassy Suites in Charleston. If your are interested in attending you may call 304-346-0300 for more information

February 17, 2020
A Policy Forum on Children’s Issues will be held on February 17, 2004. Look for more details regarding this forum in future issues of the WVHKFC newsletter.

February 18, 2020
We invite you to join child advocates from around the state at the West Virginia State Capitol to rally, advocate, and problem-solve on behalf of all of West Virginia’s children! Children’s Day at the Legislature will be held on February 18, 2004. For more information, please contact the Coalition for West Virginia’s Children at (304) 342-6972 or visit www.coalitionwvchildren.org.