CNHI
August 31, 2010 —
It is estimated that about 25 percent of the residents of Eastern Kentucky don’t have health insurance or other access to medical care through a government program such as Medicare, Medicaid or KCHIP.
Where do these families go when they cannot afford to pay for a doctor’s visit or basic medications? What about those with diabetes or dental problems?
In and around Rowan County, about 100 of our uninsured neighbors show up each week at People’s Clinic at 751 West First St.
They receive free treatment by volunteer physicians, nurses, technicians and others who believe that quality health care should be available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
People’s Clinic is a community-based, non-profit, full service health care facility serving adults from 18 to 65 with incomes up to 250 percent of the poverty level.
Most of their patients are from working families or those recently unemployed. In other words, these are folks who simply cannot afford to pay for medical care and feed their families at the same time.
Why should we support People’s Clinic with personal gifts of cash? One reason could be because they provide about $36 worth of medical care for each dollar received as a donation. Another could be that they get no financial support from the state or federal government.
But the best reason is because it’s the right thing to do.
