For more than 45 years, Federally Funded Community Health Centers have delivered comprehensive, high-quality, preventive, and primary health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. During that time, the 1200 health centers, with over 9000 sites have become the essential primary care medical home for over 21 million Americans, including some of the nation's most vulnerable populations. With a proven track record of success, health centers will continue to play a key role in implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Fortunately, our community has NorthShore Community Health Centers (NorthShore), a 501c3, not-for-profit, all-encompassing, health center, which receives federal funding (only 10% of our budget), and has centers in Portage, Lake Station, Merrillville, and Hammond. There are also school based centers in Portage, Lake Station, and Merrillville. The centers provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care: family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric and behavioral health, and dental care, in addition to ancillary services, such as, mammography, x-ray, ultrasound, bone density, and laboratory.
NorthShore opened as a student health center in 1995, in Portage High School and due to the needs of the community, was opened to all in September 1997. Since that time, locations and services have been added, but the Mission of NorthShore has not changed: To ensure that each citizen has a medical home, and access to the highest quality medical care, regardless of age, sex, social or cultural standing , and or ability to pay. This means NorthShore has a sliding fee based on income for those who do not qualify for the insurance exchanges, or the Indiana Health Insurance Program (HIP). Indiana is one of the states that opted out of the federal Medicaid expansion program. No other health care provider in Northwest Indiana provides medical care for a sliding fee, with the exception of the health centers.
NorthShore is requesting a $200 (or more) donation from businesses in the community, in order that NorthShore can continue to provide health services to the citizens of our community. Since only 10% of NorthShore's budget comes from Federal support it is essential that we make money from services, and also that we raise funds through community donations. If every small business, which cannot afford to provide health insurance to their employees, were to donate $200 dollars, it would only take 500 businesses to raise $100,000.
You may have an employee, relative, or neighbor that has very little insurance coverage or possibly no insurance coverage at all. The mission of NorthShore Health Centers is to address the needs of these people. With your generous contribution, NorthShore can continue its mission to provide services to the growing number of uninsured people in need of services.
Below you can click the link to find one of NorthShore's brochures, which describes services and programs provided at our conveniently located health centers as well as a donation form for your convenience. If you would like more information please feel free to contact me at 219-764-6052.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. With your donations, NorthShore Health Centers has the resources in our communities to provide medical care to the uninsured and under-insured.
Click here to get the donation form.
Click here to read more about what we do at Northshore Health Centers!
