A free resource describing numerous no-cost or low-cost health care options available to Pennsylvania residents has been updated and published by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health and Penn State Extension.
The fourth edition of the "Resource Guide to Healthcare Options in Pennsylvania" identifies specific programs and services available to Pennsylvania residents in need of health services. The information includes a description of each program available and the benefits it provides; eligibility and income requirements for each program; a listing of counties where each program is offered; and telephone numbers, addresses, and links to websites where individuals can obtain information and apply for services.
Extensive appendices provide county-by-county listings of state agencies, primary care clinics such as federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics, migrant health services, agencies that serve special populations, State Health Centers, and Penn State Extension offices. County listings of patient navigator services also are provided to assist consumers in obtaining health insurance through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace, established through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
According to data from the Pennsylvania State Data Center, more than 1.2 million or 9.7 percent of the Commonwealth’s population was uninsured from 2008-12. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that as of March 30, 2014, 318,077 adults had selected a health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace; more than 42,000 adults and children were determined or assessed to be eligible for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or for Medical Assistance, the state’s Medicaid program. Based on those data, approximately 800,000 in the state remain uninsured. While many programs are available to help those individuals and families, finding information on the various health insurance programs that are available and establishing eligibility for those programs can be challenging.
“'The Resource Guide to Healthcare Options in Pennsylvania' was developed to help anyone in Pennsylvania who needs, but may not be able to afford, high quality services to access the care that they need,” commented Lisa Davis, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health. “Locating appropriate healthcare services and programs is important to every individual and family,” added Marilyn Corbin, state program leader with Penn State Extension. “The resource guide is a very well organized, easy-to-read references that will help people see the choices available to them.”
A free copy of the resource guide is available on the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health’s website (www.porh.psu.edu) under the link to “Publications."
For additional information, please contact Lisa Davis, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (814-863-8214; lad3@psu.edu.