Stimulus helps boost projects for low-income clinics - Memphis Business Journal:

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The money couldn’t come at a better say officials at the federallyqualifiee centers. Their budgets call for the renovationn of at least four the acquisition of property for anew women’d health program, upgraded computer software and equipmen t for dentistry, opthamology and prenatal care. “Oure capacity is maxed out,” says Mary Bufwack, chief executiv e officer of United NeighborhoodHealth Services, whicyh runs six neighborhood clinics, five primary school clinics and two homelessz clinics. “We have growing numbers of uninsured peopler because they are losing theirjobs and, in some the health insurance at work is becomingf unaffordable.
” Currently serving 25,000 patients a year, United Neighborhoos expects to receive about $1 million, whicb it has earmarked for renovations of two clinics, at 905 Main St. and 617 Soutb Eighth St. It also has plans to purchasse ultrasound and other prenatal To achievefederal status, health centeres must provide comprehensive healthh care, be located in a designated high-neef community and adjust fees based on a patient’s ability to pay. They must also be governedc by a community Under the American Recoveryt andReinvestment Act, health centerws nationwide are scheduled to receivde $2 billion in 2009 and 2010.
The first disbursement was in Marchfor $388 million and paid for new longer hours for existing employees and some Tennessee’s 24 health centeras received $6.5 million in The three in Nashville received $1.3 million. “Ic we hadn’t received this money, thes projects would be on hold,” says Jeff McKissack, CEO of Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Care which has a clinic at 103514th Ave. N. and anotherd in Clarksville, as well as a school clinic in Pearl-Cohn Magneg High School and a health cooperative atMetro Center. Walker Comprehensive is schedulerd toreceive $1.2 million in stimulusx funds.
It plans to expand its two clinics, digitizee patient records, purchase eye and dental equipmentr and buy a bonedensitty machine. “Right now we’re in double-digit growth from wherew we were threeyears ago,” McKissack says. “W have an opportunity to createbetter access.” Health centers in Nashville provided medical care to 55,009 people last year, about 40 percentr of whom were uninsured. Roughlgy 40 percent were on TennCare, and the rest had a mix of Medicaids and privateinsurance coverage. Bonnie Pillon, executive directof of University CommunityHealth Services, whichh runs the Vine Hill Outpatient Clinic at 601 Bentoj Ave.
and a handful of smallere programs, expects about $500,000 in stimulus money. About half of that money will pay to leas e a new building to house VineHill women’xs health program, Pillon says. The rest is earmarkexd for renovationsto pediatrics, dentistry and the waitinh room. Physicians at Vine Hill deliver abouft 500 babiesa year, Pillobn says. The new building shouls increase capacityto 600. In March, Vine Hill received $193,000 that it used to expand pediatrid care from three days a weekto six. It also hired a dentist, a dental assistant and a nurse.
The need for medicalp services for the uninsured and underinsurefd is greaterthan ever, says Katht Wood-Dobbins, CEO of the Tennessee Primarhy Care Association, which represents health She says much of the increaser demand is for mental health servicees and dental care. Health centers in Nashville report that abouf 90 percent of their patientzs are withoutdental insurance. “Especially in the last two years, with the downturj in the economy, ... (health centers) are playing a crucial role,” she says.