September 22nd, 2008

A recent article by David Wenner, of the Associated Press and the Patriot-News, discusses the role of free clinics in Pennsylvania by highlighting one clinic in particular, and describing how some lawmakers are looking to make them a more integral part of our healthcare system.

Looking at a day’s worth of patients at a health clinic in Altoona dispells the myth that clinics are for unemployed poor people.  All of the patients the clinic treats, says its founder Dr. Zane Gates, have jobs, or worked when they could, before health issues rendered them unemployable.

While most will agree that health clinics are extremely beneficial to many and great for the healthcare industry, PA Democrat and Republican legislators are disagreeing over their future role in PA.

Republican legislators say that the Democrats’ plan for an expanded state-subsidized health insurance program that would cover about 273,000 more people is too pricey.  Instead, they recommend instituting more free clinics across the state, that would depend on volunteer work by doctors and nurses to provide care.

Democrats, however, while in agreement about the need for more free clinics, say that clinics alone won’t solve the healthcare problem– that doctors and nurses won’t be able to put in the free time needed to make healthcare available to those who need it.

For more details, visit the Patriot-News’ website.