Big Springs Medical expanding services

By Jim Obert

Business Today

ELLINGTON -- Big Springs Medical Association is one of 33 local health centers in 27 states and Puerto Rico to receive part of $14.6 million in grants recently awarded by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.

Big Springs will receive a $429,375 grant to expand access to health care for medically underserved citizens in its service area.

Joyce Clingan, director of Big Springs Medical Association, said the association has clinics in Ellington, Van Buren, Eminence and Annapolis and services between 25,000 and 30,000 people.

"We expect the grant to arrive soon," said Clingan. "The money will go to helping patients in Reynolds, Carter, Shannon and Iron counties, and patients from some other nearby counties."

Clingan said Big Springs recently received a $200,000 dental grant.

"So we will be extremely busy around here," she said.

The federal grants will help local health centers expand health care access to about 270,000 people. Many of the grants target farm workers, people who are homeless, and other vulnerable populations.

Health centers serve all people regardless of their ability to pay and target their services in areas where people face barriers to accessing high-quality, culturally competent care.

About 41 percent of health center patients have no health insurance. Through extensive partnerships with local providers, hospitals, education and housing agencies, and managed care organizations, health centers build local systems of care that increase residents' access to health services.

President Bush has asked Congress for $1.3 billion to support HHS' Consolidated Health Centers program in fiscal year 2002 -- $124 million more than in this year's appropriation. The increase is part of the president's five-year plan to add 1,200 new health center sites and to double the number of people who are served by the centers.

The grants are the third round of New Start/Expansion grants issued this year. A total of $35 million has been awarded this year to 87 centers.