THE DANDELION CONNECTION
Ellicott Square Building., 295 Main Street Room 495, Buffalo, New York 14203
(716) 847-0655 ext. 402   dandelion@nls.org    www.nls.org
Volume 8 Issue 5                                                                             September/October 2000
Copyright 2000, Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.

in this issue..
Doctors Visits
Dental Care
Prescriptions
Transitional medicaid
Maggie’s corner
Homeownership
Child care
Student Loan Clinic

        For adults who do not qualify for Medicaid, obtaining low-cost health care can be difficult. Many adults don’t get the medical care they need because they are uninsured, or because they have very limited insurance plans that do not cover all the services they need. Others have trouble taking time off from work for different appointments, or have trouble using public transportation to get to medical appointments. Don’t be intimidated by limited time or money when it comes to taking care of your health! Use the guide below creatively to keep yourself healthy.

        The following sites provide various health care services to low-income clients without insurance. If you do qualify for Medicaid but have not yet applied, most of these programs will require you to do so. If you do not qualify for Medicaid and do not have other coverage, you may be charged a sliding scale fee. This means you will pay a percentage of your actual bill based on your income. You may also be able to arrange payment plans, so that you can pay for medical services over a period of time. Remember that failure to make payments on a payment plan for medical services will make it difficult to get non-emergency care from a site.

Bring proof of your income and proof you have been denied Medicaid (if possible) to initial appointments at all of these sites.

***Dr. Glick at the Jericho Road Family Practice (881-6191) is located at 184 Barton St.

Hours- Monday and Friday 8:30- 5:00, Tuesday 12:30-6:00, Wednesday 8:00-12:00, Thursday 1:00-5:00.

Do they offer sliding scale fees? Yes.

Are payment plans available? Yes.

How do I make an appointment? Call the number listed above.

Notes and Tips-Medical services may be provided at up to a 75% discount. Visits may be as low as $7. -No dental on site

***Reduced Fee for Care Program at ECMC (Erie County Medical Center, 898-3000) is located at 462 Grider St.

Clinic Sites: There are six; two are within ECMC hospital. The Eggertsville Family Clinic (446-1041) is at 4000 Bailey Ave. The Bailey Family Medicine Center (893-4625) is at 2589 Bailey Ave. The Cleve Hill Clinic (831-8892) is at 1461 Kensington Ave., and the Matt Gajewski Clinic (891-7711) is at 1500 Broadway.

What are the hours? The hours of the financial counselor who will make your payment arrangements are: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30-12:00, and from 1:00-2:30. The various clinics have different hours.

Do they offer sliding scale fees? Yes

Do they have Payment Plans? Yes

Are there any program time limits? Yes. 6 months

How do I make an appointment? Call the general number listed above and tell them the nature of your health problem, or which services you are looking for. They will refer you to the appropriate clinic. When you speak to the clinic, tell them you do not have coverage and are interested in the Reduced Fee for Care Program.

Notes and Tips-Once you qualify, you may receive assistance from the program for 6 months. If you have unpaid ECMC bills when you apply for this program, tell your financial counselor when you apply. You may receive up to 3 months of retroactive coverage to help you with these bills.
-This program accepts all ages, but bases income eligibility for those under 21 on their parent’s income.
-Dental is available on-site at some locations.

***Community Care Program through Buffalo General Hospital (Buffalo General is located at 100 High St. The number is 859-5600.)

Where are the Clinic Sites: There is one clinic site located in Buffalo General Hospital, and three outside locations: the Deaconess Family Medicine Center at 1001 Humboldt (887-8200), the Upper West Side Family Health Center at 135 Grant St. (882-8993), and the North Buffalo Medical Park Clinic at 900 Hertel Ave. (871-1571)

Do they offer Sliding Scale Fees? Yes. Between 25-100% of your bill will be covered if you qualify for the program.

Do they have Payment Plans? Yes.

How do I make an appointment? Call the clinic closest to you. You may pick up an application for the Community Care program at the clinic or call 859-7200 or 859-7901 (Buffalo General Financial Services). You must have a written Medicaid denial to be eligible for this program, and you must have been denied because of excess income. You can receive medical services and THEN apply for the program, but you must do so immediately.

Are there any Program time limits? Yes. 1 year. You may only use this program once.

***Compensated Care Program through Sisters Hospital (Sisters Hospital is located at 2157 Main St. The general number is 862-1000.)

Clinic sites: There are several clinics throughout the city. One is the Delaware Brighton Clinic at 3849 Delaware. The number is 877-3007. Another is the Lovejoy St. Vincent Healthcare Center at 1595 Bailey, and the number is 893-8550. There is also a clinic located on the first floor of the hospital itself, and the number is 862-1984.

What are the Hours? The hours are different at each clinic, call them for more information.

Do they offer sliding scale fees? Yes. Fees are based on family size and gross income.

Do they offer Payment Plans? Yes.

How do I make an appointment? If you have an emergency and have been denied Medicaid, you may utilize any Sisters health care site and then apply for the program. If you are eligible, the coverage will be backdated. If you do not have an emergency, first call Mrs. Conte at 862-1971 for an application. Then contact a clinic for an appointment.

The listings below are guides to specialized  counseling, dental, OBGYN, prescription and substance abuse services in Erie County. Some of these programs require insurance, but most do not. Check first with the general care sites listed above to see if they offer a type of care- it is usually more convenient to receive treatment at the same location, and you may not have to re-submit income information to establish eligibility.

***Horizon Health Services offers a wide variety of mental health services. There are 9 clinic sites. They do individual and group counseling sessions that address everything from HIV/AIDS specific-issues to sexual abuse issues. They also specialize in substance abuse programs. They have in-patient and out-patient facilities. You can access all of these services even if you have no insurance! Begin by calling 831-1800, the Central Intake number. Tell them the type of problem you are having and what your insurance situation is. If you are not Medicaid eligible and have no insurance, there is a sliding scale fee program. A typical visit may be as low as $10. They also accept Medicaid and most types of insurance. Horizon will also help you coordinate transportation to their clinics.

If you have Medicaid coverage but need help locating a dentist who will accept your Medicaid, call the Department of Social Services Managed Care Office at 858-8666.

If you don’t have dental coverage, the following sites may accept Medicaid but provide reduced-fee dental services to low-income clients.

***ECMC Reduced Fee for Care Sites (addresses listed above)

- ECMC (898-3189) will refer you to an outside location that accepts your program coverage if you need basic work or cleaning, and will see you in the hospital for more serious dental work.
- Matt Gajewski Clinic (891-7711)

***Buffalo General Community Care Plan Sites (addresses listed above)

- Millard Fillmore Hospital’s dental clinic (887-4654)
- Deaconess Clinic (887-8200)

***Sisters Hospital Compensated Care Program Sites
-Sisters Hospital Oral Medicine clinic (862-1835)

*** State University of New York at Buffalo Dental Clinic (829-2720) and
the Erie Community College Dental Clinic (851-1336) offer dental services for about a third of usual office prices. You will be seen by a dental student supervised by a dentist at these sites. These sites may offer more orthodontic options (braces, etc.) than the above clinics.

Most of the clinic sites listed above provide a variety of women’s health services. In addition, you can contact Planned Parenthood. They have a generous sliding scale fee program regardless of whether or not you are Medicaid eligible. Planned Parenthood has two clinic sites: the Buffalo site is located at 2697 Main St. and the number is 831-2200. The West Seneca site is located at 240 Center Rd. and the number is 675-1012. They provide a variety of services including birth control, family planning counseling, pregnancy and AIDS testing, sexuality counseling services, OBGYN exams, abortion referrals, and much more.

Planned Parenthood offers “walk-in” hours when you can be seen without having an appointment. They are: Tuesdays from 9-11 and Fridays from 9-2 at the Main St. clinic, and Thursdays from 12-3 at the West Seneca clinic. They also have evening hours available at both clinics. Call for a complete listing of hours.

Whether you are uninsured or your insurance does not cover a medication, have your doctor contact the Patient’s Assistance Program at 1-800-257-3273. Most drug companies will supply doctors with prescriptions for patients who cannot afford them. You may be able to get free drugs for several months.

The Medicine Program helps you get medications free of charge if you cannot afford them. You must not have any insurance coverage for outpatient prescription drugs or be Medicaid eligible, and show that it is a financial hardship for you to purchase the medication at retail price. If you are approved for the program, your medication will be sent to your doctor, and she will dispense it to you. To apply for the program, you must write a letter including the following information: 1. Your name, address and telephone number, the name of your medication and the name of the doctor who prescribes this medication. You must also include a $5.00 processing fee. You can request that this be returned to you if you do not qualify for the program. Mail your letter to The Medicine Program, P.O. Box 515, Doniphan, Mo 63935-0515. The program will then contact your doctor and do an income assessment. If you have questions about this program, call 1-573-996-7300. Application forms may also be found at www.themedicineprogram.com. Patients with incomes up to $30,000 have been approved for free medicine.

Tips- You may also want to ask your doctor about generic drugs. Also, make it clear that the price of medicine is important to you- your doctor may be able to order a less expensive medication. Finally, different pharmacies may charge different prices for the same drugs. Shop around.

You may be eligible for Medicaid transportation services if you have a physical or mental health problem that makes it difficult for you to take public transportation, or if you cannot afford regular public transportation for medical trips. Begin by getting something in writing from your doctor about why you need Medicaid transportation services. Submit this information to your Medicaid worker. If you feel you are unfairly denied, call our hotline.

Save time when making appointments. Coordinate as many services as possible for each trip you make to a health care site. Many of the clinics listed above will try to coordinate services for you and your family on the same day if possible. This way, time missed from work is minimized and so are transportation costs.

Am I Medicaid eligible even though I am no longer on public assistance?

Transitional Medicaid is for families transitioning off of Public Assistance. If your family has lost LIF (Low-Income Family Medicaid) due to increased income or increased child support, you may be eligible. You must also have had Medicaid under LIF for three out of the past six months.

*If the increased income is from child support, you will get a four-month extension of your Medicaid.

*If the increased income is from wages, you will get between 6 and 12 months of Transitional Medicaid. The first six months of coverage will be guaranteed, but there are income limits for the second 6 months.

No child should be uninsured. For uninsured children, there is a program called Child Health Plus. It is available for children up to age 19, and includes a wide variety of services including eye, dental care, shots, physical therapy, home care and much more in addition to regular doctor’s visits. Teenagers can apply for themselves. Children may also be eligible for the program if their insurance does not cover services offered by Child Health Plus.

There are no co-pays for this program. Depending on your family size and income, you may pay a small yearly fee. For example, a family of five with gross income of up to $43,335 would pay $9.00 per child per month. You will be given a list of health care providers to take your child to once you are accepted into the program. Call one of the following numbers for application information: Buffalo Community Health at 1-800-683-3781, Department of Health Growing Up Healthy Hotline at 1-800-698-KIDS, or Blue Cross/Blue Shield of W.N.Y. at 1-800-888-5407.

Maggie’s Corner

Erie County Department of Social Services has a program that a lot of people may still be unaware of. This relatively new service is called the Self Sufficiency/Welfare Diversion Program. As more people are leaving welfare and seeking employment, they are finding different issues and barriers facing them. This unit offers individual help in assisting clients with unusual circumstances that are keeping them from beginning employment or staying employed. Some of the areas they may be able to help with are: child care, uniforms, licenses, tools and more. The goal is to help clients who might need some help in achieving self-sufficiency. Referrals to this unit are generally made at the Front Door orientation, or by asking at the information counter.

Homeownership

        The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) has great opportunities for new home buyers! The nonprofit community advocacy and housing assistance organization helps renters become home owners.

        NACA believes that a less than perfect credit history should not prevent a person from owning a home. NACA has been successful in getting lenders to understand that lack of savings and minor credit problems are unreasonable roadblocks that should not reflect on a person’s ability to purchase a home.

        NACA provides information on how prospective home buyers can obtain a mortgage with no down payment, closing costs, or application fees. Its services are free. You must attend a 3 hour workshop. For information or to register for a workshop call 834-6222 or (888) 302-NACA.

Child Care

What does it mean for a child care provider to be licensed, registered or informal?

Considering whether your provider is licensed, registered or unregulated (informal) is very important in determining the most appropriate type of care for your children.

Certain facilities (such as centers or Head Starts) are required to be licensed by New York State. Licensed providers are usually formal businesses, and must be in compliance with many state regulations regarding health and safety, facility-space requirements, and employment laws.

Child care providers that provide in-home care such as Family child care providers must be registered by NYS. Being registered means that the home you are bringing your children to has been inspected, and has met all of the health and safety guidelines of the state. It also means that your provider has been approved by NYS through a formal application process, and that the provider is in compliance with certain training requirements.

Informal providers, or legally exempt providers (such as babysitters, or in-home providers who watch one or two children at a time) are not registered, or regulated by the state formally. It is important to know that there are no formal inspections or requirements for informal providers.

Informal providers who receive payments through the Department of Social Services (DSS) for children that they watch must be approved. This eligibility is now determined by a 9 page form that both parents and providers must complete and return to DSS. This form asks basic questions about the care being given and about the home itself. This form is also an attestation of safety and health guidelines. This means that an informal provider must attest - or sign their name - to say that they are in compliance with health and safety guidelines. Informal providers do not have to have an inspection of their homes. Parents must attest that they have complied with, or have a legitimate exemption from, all immunization requirements under the law, and that they have given their provider a record of this.

The new forms must be returned to DSS within 15 days of receiving them. These forms are quite lengthy, and may cause parents and providers confusion. If an informal provider does not return the forms they will not be approved as a provider that is eligible for payment by DSS. It is very important for parents who use informal care through DSS to follow-up with their providers regarding these forms! If an informal provider is not approved for payment by DSS - the parent will lose their child care benefits until a new, approved provider is found.

Both the Child Care Coalition of the Niagara Frontier, and Neighborhood Legal Services can help providers with these forms, or with questions that providers or parents have about different types of child care. Contact the Child Care Coalition at 877-6666, or Mindy Marranca at NLS at 847-0650, extension 226.

The next issue of Child Care Corner will cover the specific things to consider when choosing quality child care, and will introduce how the Child Care Coalition of the Niagara Frontier can help both parents and child care providers!

Income eligible clients can get free advice and assistance. Call Project Dandelion to register for one of our free clinics. Clinics are held the first Wednesday of the month. Register today for the September 6, 2000 or October 4, 2000 clinic today. We meet at 2:00 p.m. Call 847-0650 x402 for more information. See you there!

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