Doctors offer quality care when patients need a helping hand
A lack of insurance shouldn’t be a barrier to quality healthcare. Unfortunately, financial concerns often prevent people from seeking the healthcare they need—and it’s a problem that continues to grow in our community.
That’s why Lancaster General is one of four county hospitals joining several community organizations to provide everyone with access to primary healthcare and specialty physician services they need through Project Access of Lancaster County (PALCO).
The goal is to promote a healthier community and catch potential problems before they require a trip to the emergency department. Lancaster General is donating numerous medical services that patients need, including laboratory and diagnostic services, and hospitalization.
“Everybody is working together to provide this service to the community,” says Lisa Riffanacht, Executive Director of PALCO. She says the hospitals have also pledged money for PALCO administrative costs, and many pharmacies are offering medications at cost.
“We want to improve healthcare outcomes in this area,” Lisa says. “People who can’t afford a doctor visit will likely not schedule an appointment, and if their condition worsens it can become a more serious problem. If there is preventive care from the beginning, health outcomes are much better.”
Many uninsured residents will use the emergency room as their primary healthcare provider. PALCO helps patients develop a relationship with a physician or a practice to provide better continuity of care. “We help them find a medical home,” she says.
In order to qualify for PALCO, a patient must:
- reside in Lancaster County
- have no access to medical insurance
- not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare
- have an income less than 200% of the federal poverty level (in Lancaster County, a family of four would earn $41,000 or less to qualify)
Patients are referred to PALCO by one of the participating community clinics or private physicians.
Patients also sign a responsibility agreement, Lisa says. They must promise to:
- keep their appointments or cancel at least 24 hours in advance
- agree not to use the emergency department except in an emergency
- schedule appointments with physicians who are volunteering with PALCO
- be courteous to the physicians and medical staff.
PALCO is designed to be a temporary helping hand. “We call it a healthcare bridge, to help someone get over a rough patch until they get back on their feet, find a job and get health insurance.”
There is no limit to how long a person can be enrolled in PALCO. The average enrollment is six months, and patients are re-evaluated for eligibility every six months. Half of the patients become insured within a year after enrolling.
If a patient that applies for PALCO is eligible for other aid, “we will help them apply to get it,” Lisa says. “Our goal is always to make sure that they are getting the best coverage possible.”
The Lancaster County program was created after looking at similar Project Access programs in other parts of the country. “One thing we found is that emergency room usage for non-emergency needs drops in these areas,” she says. As a result, patients also require fewer visits to specialists, a reduction in medication needs, and enjoy an overall improvement in health.
“Lancaster General has been great about helping this program become a reality,” Lisa says. “And the doctors have been the driving force, even helping to recruit other doctors for the program. The response has been phenomenal.”
For more information about PALCO, call 392-1595.