By Ellen Stein
Axis Health System
This year, the nation’s Community Health Centers will celebrate the 50th anniversary of expanding access to quality and affordable primary and preventive health-care services to millions of people in the United States.
Locally, in 2014, we were fortunate that Axis Health System was able to open La Plata Integrated Healthcare, a CHC serving our community. This month, LPIH celebrates its first year providing behavioral and primary health care to all residents, including those who are un- and underinsured.
CHCs, like LPIH, are in place to reduce health disparities and to work for a healthier community. They comprise the nation’s largest primary-care network of more than 1,200 health-care organizations, collectively serving more than 24 million patients in more than 9,000 rural and urban communities in every state and territory. CHCs are governed locally, publicly supported, not-for-profit organization that provide a comprehensive range of health-care services while remaining responsive to community needs.
Last fall, with the hiring of an outreach and enrollment specialist, LPIH joined other local not-for-profit and public agencies in helping people gain access to health care and health insurance, including La Plata Family Centers Coalition, Mercy Regional Medical Center and San Juan Basin Health Department. This group – organized as the Medical Coverage Collaborative, started by SJBHD and supported by the newly renamed Community Health Action Coalition – has provided for more than a decade eligibility and enrollment assistance to area residents seeking private and public health insurance.
In 2012, the most recent year data is available, 24 percent of La Plata County residents younger than age 64 were uninsured. From Nov. 15 through Jan. 15 of this year, 2,002 La Plata County residents have been enrolled in private health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado. They join another 120,000 Colorado residents during this same time period renewing and obtaining health insurance, sometimes for the first time.
Open enrollment ends Feb. 15. After this date, unless an individual experiences a qualifying life event – such as moving to a new state, certain changes in income, marriage, divorce or having a baby – the opportunity to sign up for private health insurance is gone until next October, though Medicaid enrollment can occur at any time. Most individuals now are required to have health insurance or pay a fine.
Having health insurance has many benefits: coverage cannot be denied or charges increased for a pre-existing condition, free preventive care with no co-pays, physician and urgent care visits, specialty and emergency care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, lab services, counseling and more.
America’s Community Health Centers have a lot to celebrate this year and particularly are excited to be helping citizens gain access to health care, health insurance and to take a more active role in their health and wellness. La Plata County’s Community Health Center, LPIH, is located at 1970 East Third Avenue, north of Durango Public Library, and can be reached at 335-2288.
Ellen Stein, director of Development for Axis Health System, coordinates marketing, public relations and community outreach activities. Reach her at 335-2257 or estein@axishealthsystem.org.
If you go
Colorado residents interested in free, in-person eligibility and enrollment assistance have several options before the deadline:
Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for National Youth Enrollment Day, members of the Medical Coverage Collaborative will be in the Student Union Building at Fort Lewis College to answer questions and enroll students, staff and the general public.
Feb. 3, 6 p.m., Kevin O’Connor, health coverage guide from San Juan Basin Health Department, will give a free informational presentation at the Durango Public Library. This is not an enrollment event, but appointments can be scheduled.
Feb. 7, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Medical Coverage Collaborative members will be at the Commons Building, 701 Camino del Rio, to answer questions and provide eligibility and enrollment assistance.
If you can’t attend one of these events, contact a member of the Medical Coverage Collaborative for help:
Axis Health System/La Plata Integrated Healthcare: 335-2371.
La Plata Family Centers Coalition: Durango, 385-4747; Bayfield, 884-4747.
Mercy Regional Medical Center: 764-2385.
San Juan Basin Health Department: Durango, 335-2021; Pagosa Springs, 264-2409, ext. 203.
You may also explore health-insurance options on your own at Connect for Health’s website: http://connectforhealthco.com/.
