COUNTY OF DUKES COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
VINEYARD HEALTH CARE ACCESS PROGRAM
ANNUAL REPORT: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
FY 2003: July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003
The VHCAP experienced exciting changes in FY 2003. We were offered the opportunity to occupy the former County Extension building on the County’s New York Avenue property, as long as we could complete the extensive improvements needed to make the building habitable. We completed the initial renovations in time to move in on June 1. We added a new perinatal outreach program with funding from the March of Dimes and increased other sources of grant funding. Our core services remain health care program enrollment and assistance; the operation of our sliding-fee scale program for uninsured adults and information, referral, assistance and advocacy related to health care.
New Location: The County Engineer was instrumental in coordinating the renovation project at 114 New York Avenue. The building required a new heating system and new electric and water hook ups. Volunteers and local businesses contributed major improvements including a new heating system, new plumbing supplies and electric hook ups, as well as the vast majority of the labor and materials for the carpentry, painting, flooring and other repairs. The remarkable generosity of the Island community was evident in this grass-roots undertaking.
Outreach: The Martha’s Vineyard Perinatal Outreach Project is based at the VHCAP and is a collaboration with Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, and women’s health care providers. The project’s goals are to 1) connect non-English speaking women with prenatal health care and health programs; 2) provide childbirth education in Portuguese and 3) provide medical interpreting for perinatal health care.
Ongoing outreach continued via public service announcements; distributing fliers, brochures and cards throughout the community; school mailings; presenting to English as a Second Language classes; and networking with health and human service agencies. VHCAP staff regularly conducts outreach to clients of the Dukes County House of Corrections and the Community Corrections Program and the Island Counseling Center. We also work with the Councils on Aging and enroll seniors in the Prescription Advantage program and MassHealth.
Client Services and Education: The VHCAP’s core service continues to be activities focused on connecting the Island’s uninsured residents with health care. These activities include health care program enrollment assistance, information and referral and advocacy; referrals to primary care, specialty care and complementary care; managing the Reduced Fee Plan; and creating access to services like vision care and prescription medication assistance. We forged a new partnership with the Rotary Club of Martha’s Vineyard this year. The Rotary Club made a generous contribution in order to fund our Prescription Medication Assistance Fund. This is a service for uninsured adults who cannot afford prescribed medications; all of the local pharmacies discount their prices [for this program]. Vision care is
made possible by an arrangement with the Lions Club. Low-cost exams and free glasses are provided to RFP members and the Lions Club underwrites the cost of this service.
The VHCAP has accepted the role of liaison to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) for the Island since the local DTA office closed. We assist Islanders with DTA business including applications for Food Stamps and emergency assistance.
Local and Regional Initiatives: VHCAP employees have been involved in a number of health care initiatives including the Dukes County Health Council’s Primary Care Working Group, the Oral Health Working Group and the Chronic Illness Network; the Massachusetts Sliding-Fee Scale Forum; and planning with the Lighthouse Health Access Alliance for the expansion of the Reduced Fee Plan to Cape Cod and Nantucket.
Funding: FY2003 funding sources included the County of Dukes County, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources Services Administration via the Lighthouse Health Access Alliance, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, March of Dimes and local donors including the Rotary Club and the Dukes County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
In FY 2003, we had 2,993 total client contacts; we enrolled 462 people in MassHealth and the Children’s Medical Security Plan; assisted in enrolling over 150 people/families in the Free Care program; enrolled 150 people in the Reduced Fee Plan; provided prescription assistance to 36 people and provided information, referral, advocacy and assistance services 1,245 times.
Program and Staff Information:
Telephone: (508) 696-0020
Fax: (508) 696-7352
Mailing Address: Vineyard Health Care Access Program
P.O. Box 1298
West Tisbury, MA 02575
Office Location: 114 New York Avenue, Oak Bluffs
Staff:
Board of Directors:
Patricia Begley, RN
Sarah Isenberg, BSN, MA
Beth MacDonald, MD
Else Mulder-Membreno, MD
Kathleen Rose, RN, MHSA
| 
