ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996 TAG: 9606270029
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
ABOUT 20,000 residents of the New River Valley lack health insurance. Reflecting national trends, many of them are working poor, or middle-class people who've recently lost health-care benefits along with their jobs. Many are children whose parents are in these categories. Whatever their status, they sometimes need medical treatment.
The Christiansburg-based Free Clinic of the New River Valley and the valley's innovative Program for Special Medical Care treated more than 1,000 of the region's uninsured and/or indigent last year. But both of these private, nonprofit health-care programs have seen needs for their services outstripping their resources. And demand for low- or no-cost medical care is likely to rise as Medicaid and Medicare are cut back.
What to do? Team up for greater efficiency.
The July 1 merger of the two United Way agencies is expected to result in enhanced medical services for a greater number of people. Partly that will be accomplished through strengthened fund raising; cost savings on purchases, such as of drugs; and the consolidation of efforts by more than 300 volunteers, mostly doctors and other health-care professionals.
But there's more to the merger than efficiency. It could result in a new form of indigent health care.
Many communities now have free clinics - a concept pioneered in Roanoke - where the indigent can be treated, usually for acute problems, by volunteer care providers. The Program for Special Medical Care is a bit different. Participating doctors see patients in the doctors' own offices, donating their services to treat long-term medical conditions. Patients can establish an on-going relationship with the physician.
Merging these initiatives will create a better network of medical services for the poor or uninsured. Others may want to take notice of a potentially winning combination.
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