THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9511010513
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
About 350 chronically ill, uninsured patients will no longer receive care from the Health Department because it is closing its free Adult Health Clinic.
As of today, no new patients will be seen in the three-session-a-week program, and existing patients will have until Jan. 1 to make other arrangements, said Director of Health Dr. Suzan Dandoy.
Letters are being mailed this week informing patients of the changes.
The Beach Health Clinic, a resort-area nonprofit organization staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses, has agreed to take over the cases of those who can't find care through private physicians. In exchange, the city will redirect to Beach Health the $46,000 that remains of the department's Adult Health Clinic budget for this fiscal year.
Dandoy said the Adult Health Clinic, at 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd., is closing because a three-year grant from the private Virginia Health Care Foundation ends Jan. 1.
For each of the past three years, the city has received $52,000 from the nonprofit foundation and has matched the grant with $92,000.
The city also provides money for the Beach Health Clinic.
When the next fiscal year begins July 1, it will be up to the City Council to decide whether to continue that funding.
As for the rest of this year, Dandoy said, ``I can't guarantee there will be no impact. I don't run Beach Health. I hope some (patients) will go back to their own doctors. It's up to them to work it out with their physicians.''
Beach Health Clinic already provides free and low-cost health care to hundreds of the city's uninsured. It has, until now, dealt primarily with acute illnesses, referring chronically ill patients to the city's Adult Health Clinic.
Joseph Hood, president of Beach Health's board of directors, said that with its complement of 30 volunteer doctors and 40 volunteer nurses, Beach Health is ready to absorb the city patients into its caseload.
In addition to the city funding, Beach Health gets money from Tidewater Health Care, Sentara Health System, the United Way and First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach.
In the 1995-96 fiscal year, the city gave the private clinic nearly $13,000 in incentive grants. Beach Health also pays no rent to the city for the building it occupies at 302 22nd St.
This magnitude of public funding for a private clinic is a first, Hood said.
Any resident of Virginia Beach with no military benefits, Medicare or Medicaid, and who does not earn more than 200 percent of the poverty level, is eligible for care from the Beach Health Clinic for free or on a sliding-fee scale based on income level.
``It's for the working poor, the folks who fall between the cracks,'' said Michelle Horn, office supervisor at Beach Health.
Martha Marotta is one of those who, in the absence of the private clinic, might face a crisis.
At 62, the Kempsville woman is still too young for Medicare, but she doesn't make enough money to pay for her medical care. Marotta bolsters her Social Security income with a part-time job, earning $4.25 an hour.
She can't afford medical insurance.
For five years, Marotta has taken advantage of the free checkups and prescription medicines at the Adult Health Clinic. She suffers from high blood pressure, hypoglycemia and arthritis.
In January, Marotta expects to transfer to Beach Health Clinic. She is worried, though, that she won't find parking at the Oceanfront clinic, especially during the busy summer months.
Of the state's 35 health districts, Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Hampton are among 12 that provide adult primary care.
The Adult Health Clinic, which employs one full-time doctor and a nurse practitioner, is one of many programs the Beach Health Department oversees.
All other city health clinics and services will continue to operate. These include ones for tuberculosis; sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS; pregnancy testing; family planning; immunizations; maternity care; dental care; child health; and WIC (Women Infants and Children supplemental nutrition).
Together, these clinics and programs provided free care totaling nearly 90,000 patient visits during the fiscal year that ended June 30.
Since January, the city clinic has logged 1,022 patient visits. That compares with 1,542 visits for all of 1994.
At the same time, Beach Health doctors have tallied 4,362 patient visits so far this year, up from 3,042 in 1994.
In addition to the professionals who staff Beach Health, more than 50 physicians and five dentists accept referrals from the clinic. The clinic employs three full-time and six part-time staff members.
This year's operating budget is about $150,000, most of which pays for prescription medicines. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by STEVE EARLEY, The Virginian-Pilot
Martha Marotta is one of those who, without the private clinic,
might face a crisis. At 62, she is still too young for Medicare, but
she doesn't make enough money to pay for her medical care. And she
can't afford medical insurance.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET by CNB