FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
- If people have private insurance or Medicaid, do they still pay at time of service?
- What is the range someone without insurance would have to pay?
- Will the Emergency Department still see patients who don’t have insurance?
- Will the Community Cares Clinic do X-rays and other diagnostic tests?
- What is the hospital’s financial assistance and charity care policy?
- Will the clinic provide obstetrics care, mental health or counseling services?
- Who is providing care at the clinic?
- What kinds of services are available at the clinic?
- What are the hours and location of the clinic?
- What happens if a Community Cares Clinic patients needs to be hospitalized or has an after-hours emergency?
- What if a patient cannot afford their medication?
- What if a patient does not have transportation to the clinic?
- Are there ways community organizations and individuals can help the clinic?
Q. If people have private insurance or Medicaid, do they still pay at time of service?
A. They pay any applicable co-pays and are billed any remaining balance insurance does not cover.
Q. What is the range someone without insurance would have to pay?
A. $20-$75 for an office visit based on 2009 federal poverty guidelines. Vaccines for those without insurance or with Medicaid are $10 regardless of income. Labs and procedures are also available on a sliding fee scale and start at $5.
Q: Will the Emergency Department still see patients who don’t have insurance?
A Absolutely. We will not turn anyone away from the Emergency Department. The Community Cares Clinic now gives us a place to refer Emergency Department patients for follow-up care. That has been a problem in the past. Patients are seen and treated in the Emergency Department but need follow-up care by a physician. With very few physicians accepting new Medicaid patients or self-pay patients, finding follow-up care has been a problem.
In time, we hope the word will spread that the Community Cares Clinic is a more convenient place to be treated for minor ailments, especially during weekday hours. Every patient is triaged at the Emergency Department based on urgency of their medical need; we must take care of the most serious first. That may mean that a baby with an ear infection may not get seen by an Emergency Department doctor for several hours.
Q. Will the Community Cares Clinic do X-rays and other diagnostic tests?
A. Community Cares Clinic is able to provide influenza and strep testing, pregnancy and STD testing, and a broad spectrum of laboratory testing. However, if a patient needs an X-ray or other tests not provided by the clinic, they can come to the hospital or go elsewhere. Patients with no insurance who come to the hospital will be covered by the hospital’s financial assistance and charity care policy.
Q. What is the hospital’s financial assistance and charity care policy?
A. The hospital has an obligation to provide emergency and/or trauma services to the best of its ability before determining the source of payment for such services. Medically necessary care is provided to uninsured, low-income and medically indigent patients based on federal poverty level categories.
Financial counselors share the policy with patients and their families and work with them to determine responsibility and payment of hospital bills. The policy is also posted on the hospital website at http://www.kishhospital.org/about_us/financial_assistance/index.html
A patient may be eligible for assistance based on family size, financial obligations, family living expenses, employment status, future and current ability to pay, amount and frequency of medical bills, catastrophic medical costs and other factors.
Q. Will the clinic provide obstetrics care, mental health or counseling services?
A. Neither is provided now, but the clinic board will be exploring adding those services in the future. In the meantime, the clinic will refer patients to appropriate community resources.
Q. Who is providing care at the clinic?
A. David Wester is a Physician Assistant with 10 years of previous family practice experience with Kishwaukee Medical Associates and is providing full-time care at the clinic. NIU faculty member, Traci Costigan, is a Nurse Practitioner providing adult care one day each week. The clinic will soon have full-time physician staffing as well.
Q. What kinds of services are available at the clinic?
A. Community Cares Clinic is a family practice clinic that provides non-emergent services. In addition to providing school, sports and wellness physicals for infants, children and adults, the clinic can also treats illnesses, minor injuries, and ongoing health problems such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol problems. STD evaluation and treatment are done through a partnership with the state lab. CCC does not offer OB/GYN services at this time. Bilingual staff is available for Spanish-speaking patients.
Q. What are the hours and location of the clinic?
A. Community Cares Clinic is located within the NIU Family, Health, Wellness and Literacy Center (the former Monsanto/DeKalb Ag building), 3100 Sycamore Road, DeKalb, with access from the south parking lot. Park within the designated CCC slots which are located in the row of parking closest to the building. Initial hours of operation are from 8:30am – 5pm, Monday through Friday. Demand for services will likely require some evening and Saturday hours as well.
Q. What happens if a Community Cares Clinic patients needs to be hospitalized or has an after-hours emergency?
A. Drs. Gonnella, Shah, and Allen oversee the medical care of all clinic patients, will admit patients to the hospital and follow their care while hospitalized. They also are on call 24/7 for emergencies. They can direct patients to the Emergency Department, and admit them if necessary.
Q. What if a patient cannot afford their medication?
A. The clinic will direct patients to pharmacies in the community that provide low cost prescription medications. Other resources are available through the drug companies themselves and through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. www.pparx.org.
Q. What if a patient does not have transportation to the clinic?
A. The clinic is a stop on Huskies Bus Line 7 and Voluntary Action Center’s Sycamore Blue Line. In addition, TransVAC and MedVAC can provide pre-arranged transportation directly from a patient’s home. This requires pre-registration by calling 815.758.3932. Registration forms also are available at the clinic.
Q. Are there ways community organizations and individuals can help the clinic?
A. Sustaining the Community Cares Clinic requires community support. The clinic accepts financial donations and is exploring ways to use volunteers.