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Health Ministries Clinic serves uninsured, underinsured

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Tina Payne, executive director of Health Ministries Clinic (HMC), Newton, gave a presentation Friday at the bimonthly meeting of Marion County Interagency at The Hub in Peabody.

According to Payne, Health Ministries Clinic is a non-profit, faith-based health care clinic that has existed for 16 years.

It originally focused on providing care for the uninsured but has expanded its services to include the under-insured or those who, due to special circumstances, are unable to access private health care.

Basic services include regular doctor's visits, counseling, and dental services, provided to a four-county region including Marion County.

Payne said the number of under-insured people coming to the clinic is increasing. So far this year, it has served an average of 100 new patients a month. By the end of July, it had served more people than in all of 2006.

Payne said most of the patients come from Harvey County, but the second-highest percentage come from Marion County.

Patients pay for their care on a sliding scale, depending on their income. In general, 15 percent of the cost is covered by patients, and the remainder is covered through community donations and volunteer work by doctors, dentists, social workers, and nurses.

Payne said Newton Medical Center donates hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of diagnostic services to the clinic each year.

Practitioners at HMC with connections to Marion County include Dr. Lynne Fruechting, a pediatrician who lives in Newton, Dr. Robert Hague, a dentist, and Laurie Methvin, an orthopedic surgeon, both of Peabody.

Payne said HMC is urging people to bring their children to the clinic for dental care. She said dentists spend a lot of time pulling teeth in adults who failed to get adequate care as children.

"The work is very tiring," Payne said. "But it is very rewarding and well worth it."

The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. It is closed the fourth Wednesday of each month for staff meeting and training.

Appointments may be made by calling 316-283-6103.

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