MRHC plans health coverage for community
SUPERIOR – In order to bring better medical coverage to people in the community, Mineral Regional Health Center will hold a health coverage fair in Superior on Saturday, February 1.
According to Kristi Scott, outreach and enrollment specialist at MRHC, the health center is working with the Department of Health, Missoula Planned Parenthood as well as other groups to encourage people to look into health coverage. She said the goal was to help families recognize the importance of setting up a coverage plan.
Scott said this would be different from a health fair and would offer different options. She explained how a health fair typically offered immunizations, blood pressure checks and other services, while this fair would be more informational.
“We’ll be able to help people with Medicare, Medicaid, Healthy Montana Kids…and things like that,” said Scott. “Things that are going to encourage them to go for preventative and wellness checks…instead of just waiting until things get really bad and then running to the emergency room.”
She described the event as similar to a miniature health fair. This event would provide information and enrollment opportunities for medical insurance plans through the health center.
Scott said the insurance marketplace would include plans on general health services as well as dental plans. She said MRHC hoped to offer a broader selection of services to their patients.
The fair will provide lunch and games for kids. Scott said this was an event centered around family and she wanted people to be comfortable with bringing their kids. There will also be a drawing for a $50 gas card.
Scott said the Department of Health would manage the games and projects for kids. She believed there would be craft booths and some small games where children could be kept occupied while parents talked about health plans. If the weather is nice, outdoor activities may also be available.
“I’m hoping it will help the parents realize this is a family oriented thing where you can bring your kids and we’ll still be able to help you out,” said Scott.
One hope for the event is to bring in people from the Alberton community to take advantage of MRHC’s enrollment programs. With the organization recently established as a Federally Qualified Health Center, more services have been brought to the table for the public. Scott said this would act as a test run of community interest in future events.
According to Scott, Federally Qualified Health Centers work with the federal government to help provide a greater focus on preventative care to patients.
To this end, the centers receive grants under the Public Health Service Act and must offer certain services to their patients.
Scott felt the outlook for the event was promising, as the community had responded well to the health center’s new approaches to health care. She said she had high hopes for the turnout of the fair.
“I have good expectations,” said Scott. “I really think the community is responding well to the new approach we’re taking to patient care.”
The fair will be on Saturday at the Superior Ambulance Facility from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. While the hope is for people from Alberton to attend and take advantage of the services, everyone is encouraged to attend.