According to the Texas Medical Association, only 31% of Texas doctors said they were accepting new patients who rely on Medicaid. In 2000, that number was 67%. As a result, more patients are turning to nonprofits, like Neighborhood Centers Inc., for preventive care and services when their federallyfunded health insurance plans are not accepted. Throughout July and August, Neighborhood Centers Inc. and Wal-Mart will host a series of back-to-school health fairs, to reach those who would not otherwise receive care. Last year more than 22,000 patients attended the health fairs.
“Many of our clients use this opportunity as their annual wellness check-up,” said Tamara Duncan, Neighborhood Centers Family Health & Wellness Program Developer and Project Director. “The entire family, from grandparents to grandchildren, can really hit all of the preventive care that they need at this event.”
Neighborhood Centers and Wal-Mart partnered with major health care providers including Texas Children’s Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Walgreens and CVS, as well as community clinics to provide patients with access to care assistance. Participants will be able to receive physician consultation, immunizations and glucose, cholesterol, vision, dental and body-mass index screenings. Healthy cooking demonstrations will also be shown through out the fairs, and representatives from Medicaid and CHIP, Children’s Medicaid, will be on site to assist with enrollment.
Neighborhood Centers’ health fairs will be held at the following times:
• July 28 – Ripley House (4410 Navigation Boulevard, Houston), 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• August 11 – Independence Heights (205 W. Crosstimbers, Houston), 8 a.m. to
11 a.m.
• August 14 – Baker-Ripley (6500 Rookin Street, Houston) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• August 18 – Cleveland-Ripley / LaPorte (720 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena), 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
