Springfield Medical Care System and Valley Health Connections: Affordable Health Care for All Submitted by VT Journal on Tue, 08/13/2013 - 3:24pm By Joel Slutsky SPRINGFIELD, VT – We are now in the middle of National Health Center Week that runs from August 11 to August 17. A proclamation by President Obama stated, “Community health centers play a critical role in providing affordable, high-quality, preventative and primary healthcare to millions of Americans.” If you currently need a primary care doctor, you may call Springfield Medical Care System (SMCS) at 802-885-7604. You may also call Valley Health Connections (VHC) who has a business partnership with Springfield Medical Care System at 802-885-1616 to provide enrollment services to patients seeking financial assistance, insurance, or other social services. Private consultations with the VHC staff are available by appointment at their primary care offices or at the VHC office on 268 River Street in Springfield. Care is accessible to all based on a sliding fee schedule that may be applied to any of its services. SMCS accepts all forms of health insurance including New Hampshire and Vermont Medicaid, Medicare, and the private health insurances that most people have through their employers. The actual cost charged to families using the sliding fee scale is adjusted downward for larger family size and lower income level. The sliding fee scale slides to zero for families with low incomes. Many families qualify for the sliding fee scale even with family members who work part or full-time. Valley Health Connections can assist anyone with questions about qualifying for financial assistance or the sliding fee scale. Vermont Health Connect is the State of Vermont health insurance marketplace (Exchange). Valley Health Connections is the local connection, an organization whose staff helps people with enrollment in the Exchange and other needed services. According to Sarah Kemble, Medical Director, SMCS is designated by the Federal Bureau of Primary Health Care (Department of Health and Human Services) as a rural federally qualified health center. Along with its many sister health centers, SMCS is a member of the Bi-State Primary Care Association and the National Association of Community Health Centers. Ms. Kemble stated, “The first community health centers were started over 40 years ago, as the health care arm of the civil rights movement. They continue to be based on the ideal that health care should be a right, and that access to dignified, high-quality health care should be available to all people.” The largest expansion of the community health center program occurred during the presidency of George W. Bush. SMCS was created in 2009 from a group of previously existing practices. The staff at SMCS primary care offices serves patients of all ages at locations in Springfield, Bellows Falls, Ludlow and Chester, Vermont and Charlestown, New Hampshire. Board-certified doctors, dentists, nurses, dental hygienists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners provide comprehensive preventive and primary care services. Family and internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics-gynecology and psychiatric practitioners are also on the team. SMCS is integrated with Springfield Hospital and the Windham Center where patients with more serious or acute illnesses can be admitted for inpatient medical, surgical and psychiatric care. When I asked Ms. Kemble about the differences between the SMCS program and Obamacare she said, “Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act, was enacted to expand access to affordable health insurance for millions of Americans who are currently uninsured. Through the Exchanges, Vermont residents who have no insurance or who purchase their insurance as individuals or obtain their insurance through employers with fewer than 50 workers can enroll in health insurance coverage beginning October 1st for coverage starting January 1, 2014. However, once people have insurance, they still need access to health care facilities to receive care from doctors, nurses, dentists and other clinical practitioners. Health insurance without health care is meaningless, and in much of rural America, a scarce commodity. All are welcome to receive high quality preventative and primary care services such as pediatrics, health screenings, behavioral health services, dental care, access to discounted pharmaceuticals, diagnostic lab and radiology services, and a broad array of acute hospital and specialty services.” More information on these valuable programs can be found on line at www.springfieldmed.org. Thanks to Sarah Kemble, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer of Springfield Medical Care System and Anna Smith, Director Marketing/Community, Springfield Medical Care System for assistance with this article. - See more at: http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/springfield-medical-care-system-and-valley-health-connections-affordable-health-care-all-0#sthash.nqdKUWdL.dpuf
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