Clinics, such as Access Family Care in Joplin, provide answers to some of the health care coverage questions being debated in Congress, U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt said Tuesday.

Blunt toured the Joplin location of the multi-site clinic operation that provides medical and dental services in the region. Fees are charged on a sliding scale based on the patient’s income.

Blunt said that because the operation is a Federally Qualified Health Center, it can hold down costs because physicians working there are not required to have medical liability insurance coverage.

The Republican congressman said medical liability reform needs to be part of the federal health care solution, and that the health care bill passed last week in the Senate “is a huge step in the wrong direction.”

The measure would reduce health care access and cost too much, he said. Taxes to pay for the plan would be imposed immediately, while spending for health care would not start until 2013, he said.

Blunt’s comments came at the end of an hourlong tour of the Joplin clinic. State funds helped cover costs for opening the site. Blunt and U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond helped obtain federal allocations for equipment and other costs there, and at clinic sites in Anderson and Cassville. Started as MyClinic in 2004, the Joplin clinic was moved just over a year ago to a former supermarket building at 530 S. Maiden Lane.

“People need to be able to get health care regardless of pre-existing conditions, and it needs to be accessible and convenient, which is why places like this attract people who are more likely to go someplace close to home,” Blunt said.

The Joplin clinic sees about 100 patients a day, and it is planning to expand hours to meet increased needs, said Charles Bentlage, medical director.

“We have appointments scheduled through the end of February,” he said.

Starting Feb. 15, the clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. six days a week. The clinic is working to expand its pediatric and women’s health services. Another conversion under way, Bentlage said, is a shift to all-electronic medical records.

Bentlage led the tour, which included Pedro Pantoja and Francisco Bustillo, both members of Access’ board of directors, and Mayor Gary Shaw.

Debra Davidson, chief operating officer, said about half of those using the clinic have no insurance. About 45 percent have Medicaid coverage, and the remainder use Medicare or private insurance.

“Some people do have insurance, but they come here because their deductibles are so high,” she said.

By Susan Redden © 2009 The Joplin Globe

A new program at Jordan Valley Community Health Center aims to offer mothers and babies the healthiest start possible.

“Our Healthy Start” provides prenatal and well-woman health care at the center in collaboration with providers from St. John’s Health System, the Women, Infants & Children Program, the Doula Foundation and other community partners.

“Many women in our community either don’t get prenatal care at all or get incomplete care that only addresses the immediate needs that arise from the pregnancy,” said Meera Scarrow, St. John’s Women’s Services medical director, in a news release.

Funding for the effort comes in part from a more than $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced last fall by U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt.

Patients can also access other services at Jordan Valley including WIC, the Doula Foundation and primary medical, dental and behavioral health services.

The center serves as the health care home for more than 20,000 uninsured and underinsured individuals in the area.

For more information, call 831-0150 or visit www.jvchc.com

By News Leader Staff © 2009 News-Leader.com