Brunswick Ga. Could Get Low-Cost Health Care

Feb. 02--Brunswick is being considered for a federally funded health center that would provide low-cost medical care to individuals regardless of their ability to pay.

Gateway Behavioral Health Services has been awarded a planning grant through the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration and is in the process of gathering public input on the proposed center, said Barbara Meyers, Gateway administrative director.

The proposed Federally Qualified Community Health Center would provide health care, including pre-natal and pediatric care, immunizations and health screenings and other services, regardless of a patient's insurance coverage. It would fill a hole in the current health care system, Meyers said.

"Over the years we've been hearing in the community that people haven't been able to access primary health care," Meyers said. "Even if they have Medicaid (or) Medicare, it's very difficult to find a physician and certainly it's impossible to find a physician to provide them care if they don't have any insurance."

Federally Qualified Community Health centers are non-profit organizations that are funded through a variety of sources, including the Health Resources and Services Administration and for qualified patients, Medicare and Medicaid.

The Coastal Medical Access Program, which provided health care and medicine to uninsured and under-insured persons in Glynn County, closed in 2011 because of funding shortages and a heavier than normal demand for its services. It was subsequently taken over and reopened by Southeast Georgia Health System.

It is not clear whether the proposed clinic would duplicate services offered to low-income patients by the health system. A health system spokesperson said Wednesday she was unfamiliar with the proposed center.

Adding a community health center would take pressure off the hospital emergency room, where many uninsured and under-insured residents go for treatment that could have been handled at a physician's office at a lower cost.

"Communities that have community health centers are able to show that they reduce the community's reliance on emergency rooms for health care," Meyers said.

Patients at the proposed center who are uninsured and able to pay would do so, though at a rate adjusted on a sliding income scale.

Anyone would be able to receive care at the center.

U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-1, says he supports bringing the center to the Golden Isles.

"Community health centers have grown in strength and popularity, because they relieve emergency rooms of non-urgent and non-medically complex patients, thus saving the taxpayer dollars and treating patients a lot faster," Kingston said.

Public input is key to the planning of the center, Meyers said. Three forums are scheduled this month.

Meyers says she hopes individuals will provide input on the health care needs of the community.

A report will be submitted to Health Resources and Services Administration detailing the planning work of Gateway.

Speak up

Three community forums will be held to collect public input on the proposed federally funded health care center:

-- Tuesday, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Brunswick-Glynn County Library, 208 Gloucester St., Brunswick.

-- Wednesday, 1:30 to 3 p.m., Ballard Community Building, 30 Nimitz Drive, Glynn County.

-- Feb. 9, 5:30 to 7 p.m., College Place Methodist Church, 3890 Altama Ave., Brunswick.

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