Wed, Mar 17 2010
|
|
Published March 22, 2007 10:56 pm - State Rep. Ron Richard did a tour Thursday as a volunteer at the Community Clinic of Joplin as part of an effort, he said, to gather information that can be used in writing a new state health-care plan. Local state lawmaker studies health needs By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com State Rep. Ron Richard did a tour Thursday as a volunteer at the Community Clinic of Joplin as part of an effort, he said, to gather information that can be used in writing a new state health-care plan. The Missouri House soon will begin work on MO HealthNet, a health-care plan proposed by Gov. Matt Blunt. The clinic serves residents who need medical care and have no health insurance. The state plan will be aimed at providing a “health-care home” for many Missouri residents who do not have a medical provider or regular source of primary medical care. Richard, of Joplin, said Michelle Ducre, executive director of the clinic, had visited him in Jefferson City to discuss health-care needs, “and I wanted to come here to talk with her and her people to make sure we can draft a program where people don’t fall through the cracks.” The new program is to replace Missouri’s current Medicaid program in 2008. Ducre said she likes provisions of the plan that call for participants to have access to a health-care provider who will know them personally, and focus on wellness by providing access to checkups and screenings. “A lot of our challenges here are chronic diseases that could be prevented if people could get tested, and then make some lifestyle changes,” she said. Doris Carson, a registered nurse at the clinic, agreed and said diabetes “is a huge problem locally.” “And then it affects their kidneys and their eyesight, and so many other things,” she said. Ducre and Richard said giving participants in the program a place to go for health care will keep them from having to go to emergency rooms, where costs are much higher. Gayle Thornberry, of Joplin, said she is on disability, and the Community Clinic is the only place she can go for health care. “I have asthma, and I went to the hospital last week,” she said. “They said I need to come here.” Many of those served by the clinic are people who work but are not getting health insurance through their jobs, Richard said. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Archives section
Gorillas trip Livin’ the Dream |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
Authorities blame bassinet for death of infant w/ Simplicity Inc. bassinet photos
 |
 |
"2010 Spelling Bee Sponsored by: Tamko Building Products." 
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
