ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, June 21, 1996 TAG: 9606210025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
There's a July wedding planned between two of the primary health care programs that serve more than 1,000 indigent and working people in the New River Valley who lack health insurance.
The Free Clinic of the New River Valley and the Program for Special Medical Care will begin their consolidation next week. It is a merger officials believe will serve more people, despite rising medical costs and shrinking resources.
'We're really blazing a trail for indigent health care for the state of Virginia," said Mark Cruise, director of the Free Clinic.
Both of the private, nonprofit, donor-supported agencies have had similar missions. They treat or refer clients to volunteer medical care specialists.
Discussions of increased cooperation between the programs expanded into the idea of a combined network of enhanced services, a proposal approved by the boards of directors of both the Program for Special Medical Care and the Free Clinic earlier this year.
The newly combined program - which ultimately will retain the Free Clinic's name - can offer both "inside" and "outside" services, Cruise said.
Patients will continue to be treated for acute medical problems at the Free Clinic's Christiansburg facility. Long-term conditions will be treated by the Program for Special Medical Care's model, at the offices of physicians who volunteer their services.
Dr. Robert Solomon, president of the Program for Special Medical Care, said the combined program will result in better patient care and more efficient operations. "We'll be able to serve more patients than would have been possible otherwise."
Also, a joint operation will reduce the rapidly rising costs of prescription drugs and strengthen fund-raising efforts, Cruise said.
In 1995, the two organizations provided about $800,000 in health care services to 1,340 patients, with the aid of more than 300 volunteers - most of whom were health care professionals.
Both are United Way-supported agencies that primarily operate with donations from foundations and individuals.
Eligibility for services is determined by federal poverty guidelines, although some minimal fees are charged to patients who can afford to pay.
A 1994 survey estimated that 20,000 New River Valley residents lack health insurance. Cruise said the demand for low-cost medical services is steadily increasing, while the coverage provided by governmental programs such as Medicaid and Medicare is shrinking.
Current patients of the Free Clinic and the Program for Special Medical Care won't experience any disruption of service or major changes as the two agencies undertake the merger, he said.
Although there are about 30 Free Clinics throughout Virginia, Cruise said he doesn't know of another state or regional program that will provide the network of services offered by the combination.
And, in the health care business, consolidations are the trend, and bigger is better, Cruise said. "It's the wave."
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