Healthcare Can Be More Affordable by Nora Conner, SMC outreach & Enrollment Coordinator

Community Health Center Patients Helped By Federal Requirements

Federally qualified health centers’ mission is to provide affordable, accessible healthcare to improve the health of individuals and communities while reducing the overall, nationwide cost of care. Stringent quality standards are required and grants are provided to discount services for low income residents. The federal government recognizes that maintaining one’s health through regular physicals and chronic disease management greatly reduces emergency room visits and hospital stays, thereby reducing the overall cost of care.

Sweet Medical Center (SMC), with clinics in Chinook and Harlem, is a federally qualified health center. Everyone is welcome at both clinics and SMC offers various programs to help patients afford care. These programs include free assistance in signing up for Medicare, Medicaid and Marketplace insurance; Pharmacy Assistance, Dental Assistance, Vision Assistance, Mental Health Assistance, Transportation Assistance and a Sliding Fee Scale.

All patients of SMC are eligible for the clinic’s Pharmacy Discount Program (340B). Therefore, regardless of income, many prescriptions purchased through Chinook Pharmacy or Milk River Pharmacy are deeply discounted. As we celebrate National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month in May, everyone with allergies requiring an epinephrine auto injector (epi-pen) is reminded to ensure they aren’t expired. Many patients are pleasantly surprised with the large discount they can receive on the epi-pens through SMC.

Insurance enrollment assistance is also offered free of charge, regardless of income. SMC keeps certified application counselors trained to help area residents enroll for Medicare, Medicaid and Marketplace Insurance options.

SMC’s HealthShare Partnership is the clinic’s only program dependent on household income and family size. Clinic services are charged at one of five flat fees, which correlate to the federal poverty level and apply even when the patient has insurance coverage. Eligibility for the program, regardless of which level they’re on also entitles the patient to assistance with other services, including dental, vision, mental health, medical transportation and pharmacy.

For more information, see SweetMedicalCenter.org/paying-for-services.