THE ROTARY CLUB OF TALLAHASSEE HELPS IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE

The Rotary Club of Tallahassee presented a $2,500 check to the Capital Medical Society Foundation’s Executive Director Pam Irwin and We Care Network Program Coordinator Diana Bixler, MPH for its We Care Network program on March 29, 2023. The grant fulfills Rotary’s area of focus of disease prevention and treatment. These dollars help improve access to healthcare for vulnerable lowincome, uninsured adults by funding case management services to coordinate donated specialty medical and dental care, and to provide patient assistance for referral-related prescriptions, transportation, and durable medical supplies. Eligible adults’ incomes are at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, and those eligible do not qualify for any programs or insurance that could pay for the needed health care. Since the program’s inception, over $124 million in donated healthcare has been coordinated through the program.

The We Care Network’s mission is to provide a healthcare access safety net for adults who fall through the cracks. Most often, these adults are in low-wage jobs or are out of work altogether and can’t afford health insurance or the high deductibles. By improving access to healthcare, the program can improve health outcomes and the quality of life. Since 1992, the We Care Network has been coordinating specialty medical care for low-income, uninsured adults. The program serves four counties: Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, and Wakulla. The We Care Network expanded its program to provide specialty dental services in 2003.

All specialty healthcare coordinated by the We Care Network is donated. Many of the program’s donating providers are members of the Rotary Club of Tallahassee or other local Rotary clubs. Volunteers include 300 specialist physicians and 40 dentists, several of whom are members of this Rotary club. The We Care Network case managers coordinate the donated healthcare. The We Care Network continues to work with its partners to improve specialty healthcare access and to improve health outcomes. The Rotary Club of Tallahassee invests in the community through a variety of initiatives that improve educational outcomes, food insecurities, and healthcare access.