Access to Care
MECKLENBURG COUNTY’S SAFETY NET SERVICES Mecklenburg County has a robust network of organizations that comprise our health care safety net and serve the uninsured and underserved in our community with free or low-cost health care services. Medlink is a collaborative effort bringing together representatives from all of the local health care safety net organizations that provide or support the delivery of health care services. Medlink partners work jointly to better serve the community through improving access to health care for uninsured and underinsured residents in Mecklenburg County. For details on Medlink and the organizations that comprise our health care safety net, including a referral guide for free and low-cost health services in our community, visit the Medlink page on the Mecklenburg County’s Health Department website. Safety net services include:
2010 Mecklenburg Community Health Assessment
SAFETY
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Free and Low-Cost Clinics Mecklenburg County has seven free clinics located around the county (including Davidson, Huntersville and Matthews) that offer primary care services, with hours and services varying by site. Care Ring operates an additional low-cost clinic with modest office fees designed to provide basic care to those between 200-400% FPL that make too much money to qualify for free clinics or public programs. NC MedAssist NC MedAssist is a community pharmacy that provides free prescription medications to lowincome, uninsured residents of the community. NC MedAssist provides pharmacy services to the free clinic and Physicians Reach Out patients. Mecklenburg County Health Department
Carolinas Medical Center Ambulatory Care Clinics CMC’s four ambulatory care clinics—Myers Park, North Park, Elizabeth Family Medicine, and Biddle Point—offer primary care services, OB/GYN services and a variety of specialty services. Low-income, documented residents are treated on a sliding-scale fee. CW Williams Community Health Center, Inc. CW Williams is currently Mecklenburg County’s only Federally Qualified Health Center. With two locations, CW Williams offers primary care and pediatrics, along with on-site podiatry clinics, homeless health care clinics, women’s health services, as well as an on-site pharmacy. The center accepts commercial insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and has sliding-scale fees for without ability to pay. Physicians Reach Out (PRO) PRO is a program of Care Ring, a local non-profit organization. In partnership with the Mecklenburg County Medical Society and the Charlotte Dental Society, volunteer physicians and dentists in the community provide free or low-cost health care for low-income individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid and do not have access to private insurance.
While MCDH does not provide primary care services, it does offer WIC, family planning, immunizations, STD and TB treatment, women’s health, including mammography and Pap smears, and a variety of other services or on a sliding scale fee. Dental Services Access to dental care, in particular for adults, is a continuing challenge in our community. Very few resources are available for adults in need of dental care. Given the well-documented link between oral health and overall health, this is a significant concern. The number of dentists accepting Medicaid and NC Health Choice for children has increased in recent years; as of June 2010 there were 84 practices accepting children’s Medicaid, 54 of which were accepting new patients. The bulk of dental care for children with Medicaid is provided by Biddle Point Pediatric Dental Clinic.
Prepared by: Mecklenburg County Health Department (MCHD), Epidemiology Program
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