POSTED: Monday, March 23, 2009
HopeHealth committed to diversifying income source
By Shireese Bell
Morning News Reporter
Published: March 23, 2009
FLORENCE - HopeHealth, a federally funded community health center,
has been able to stay above water despite the nation's economy
tanking.
CEO Carl M. Humphries said diversifying the center's funding
source, merging or partnering with The CARE House of the Pee Dee
and opening a pharmacy are some of the ways the organization has
been able to stay on top of the downturn in the economy.
Humphries said diversifying the center's income source is a
concept to which its board has been committed. He said the center
is never satisfied with the status quo and is always seeking new
government grants and sources of program income it has never had
before.
Merging with The CARE House of the Pee Dee, a nonprofit
organization that administers care to children who have been
physically or sexually abused, has allowed the agencies to share
resources and eliminate one administrative position but still
retain the management capacity that has made both agencies run
successfully, Humphries said.
"The boards of directors from both organizations saw an
opportunity in a hurting economy to do something unique and
different, he said. By doing that, we've been able to help both
organizations stay healthy and strong financially."
Humphries said the economic climate has hurt the business a little
in terms of fundraising, but not too drastically.
"There's been a little drop off in terms of the amount of money
we've been able to raise in the community," he said. "Thankfully,
most of our funding has come from government grants, which, to this
point, have not been negatively affected."
"Some sources of government funding were affected and cut back
over the past year. In the area of health, particularly community
health centers, there haven't been drastic cutbacks in
funding."
"Even though the government funding has stayed steady," Humphries
said, "the center hasn't seen any increases in government funding.
The number of patients has increased, but that can be attributed to
the center's ability to treat more people after moving to its new
facility, as well as the economy," Humphries said.
"HopeHealth provides medical services to anyone who needs it,"
Humphries said. "HopeHealth is not a free clinic, but offers
affordable health care."
The center charges patients based on a sliding fee scale and it
accepts Medicare, Medicaid and all types of private health
insurance.
"If a patient comes and doesn't have insurance, we charge them
based on a sliding fee scale," Humphries said. "That means we
charge them an affordable amount based on their family size and
total family income."
Humphries said the center's future is bright.
"We're going to definitely expand to meet the need as long as
we're able and we're blessed enough to be able to continue being
successful," he said. "We'll grow as large as we need to to
continue to meet the need."
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POSTED: Monday, March 23, 2009
HopeHealth committed to diversifying income source
By Shireese Bell
Morning News Reporter
Published: March 23, 2009
FLORENCE - HopeHealth, a federally funded community health center,
has been able to stay above water despite the nation's economy
tanking.
CEO Carl M. Humphries said diversifying the center's funding
source, merging or partnering with The CARE House of the Pee Dee
and opening a pharmacy are some of the ways the organization has
been able to stay on top of the downturn in the economy.
Humphries said diversifying the center's income source is a
concept to which its board has been committed. He said the center
is never satisfied with the status quo and is always seeking new
government grants and sources of program income it has never had
before.
Merging with The CARE House of the Pee Dee, a nonprofit
organization that administers care to children who have been
physically or sexually abused, has allowed the agencies to share
resources and eliminate one administrative position but still
retain the management capacity that has made both agencies run
successfully, Humphries said.
"The boards of directors from both organizations saw an
opportunity in a hurting economy to do something unique and
different, he said. By doing that, we've been able to help both
organizations stay healthy and strong financially."
Humphries said the economic climate has hurt the business a little
in terms of fundraising, but not too drastically.
"There's been a little drop off in terms of the amount of money
we've been able to raise in the community," he said. "Thankfully,
most of our funding has come from government grants, which, to this
point, have not been negatively affected."
"Some sources of government funding were affected and cut back
over the past year. In the area of health, particularly community
health centers, there haven't been drastic cutbacks in
funding."
"Even though the government funding has stayed steady," Humphries
said, "the center hasn't seen any increases in government funding.
The number of patients has increased, but that can be attributed to
the center's ability to treat more people after moving to its new
facility, as well as the economy," Humphries said.
"HopeHealth provides medical services to anyone who needs it,"
Humphries said. "HopeHealth is not a free clinic, but offers
affordable health care."
The center charges patients based on a sliding fee scale and it
accepts Medicare, Medicaid and all types of private health
insurance.
"If a patient comes and doesn't have insurance, we charge them
based on a sliding fee scale," Humphries said. "That means we
charge them an affordable amount based on their family size and
total family income."
Humphries said the center's future is bright.
"We're going to definitely expand to meet the need as long as
we're able and we're blessed enough to be able to continue being
successful," he said. "We'll grow as large as we need to to
continue to meet the need."
_______________
View the original article.
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