Wal-Mart Launches New Primary Care Clinics In South Carolina
By Lauren Sausser, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"We told
It seems
"For our associates and dependents on the health plan, you can come and see a provider in the
A spokeswoman for the company said she anticipates 1,200
Customers pay
Advocates for the new model call it cutting edge. They say the
"That's not a medical home," said
Both
"I think this is good news and bad news," said
Keck said
"We have to have every access point possible in the system," he said. "We should be happy about it."
"You cannot beat that," the 45-year-old said. She had some pain in her feet and her knee that she wanted checked out and the nurse determined that her blood pressure was "borderline." An outpatient practice in town would have charged her
"This (clinic) is needed in the community because everyone doesn't have insurance and really can't afford to go to the doctor because of the expense," Simmons said. "It's been the talk. It's been buzzing. We're very excited."
Haley was not available to answer questions about the pilot program, but her spokesman
The
Reach
Healthy Connections Checkup
The South Carolina Medicaid agency launched a new program called Healthy Connections Checkup on Friday.
It will provide preventative screenings and family-planning benefits to an estimated 300,000 residents who fall below 194 percent of the federal poverty level.
The program is less comprehensive than traditional
It's also much less expensive to administer. Healthy Connections Checkup costs the state approximately
"We've put public health and prevention and screenings front and center where it should be," said Medicaid Director
Critics argue that the program is well-intentioned, but that it will not benefit uninsured patients who are truly sick because it only covers the cost of screening, not actual treatment.
But "there are many, many organizations that see people for free or for a reduced cost," Keck said. "When we find people who need care and aren't able to pay for it, we can connect them."
For more information, visit www.scdhhs.gov.
___
(c)2014 The Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.)
Visit The Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.) at www.postandcourier.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 951 |
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News