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Myth: Teche
Action Clinic is a free clinic. The only people that can come to the clinic
are the low-income individuals and the uninsured.
Fact: Teche Action Clinic is not
a free clinic. We provide services to Medicare, Medicaid and Private
insurance patients. Uninsured or self-pay patients who provide proof of
income pay established minimum fees that are based on income according to the
sliding fee scale. These fees range from 10% to 100% of total charges. Only
about 40% of our total budget comes from the federal 330 Grant the remaining
60% must be earned from program generated income or other sources.
Myth: Teche Action Clinic is a public or state clinic.
Fact: Teche Action Clinic is a private non-profit 501(c) federally
qualified center. We have established a good working relationship with the
Office of Public Health, Department of Health and Hospitals, other hospitals,
and private physicians in order to provide the best services to the
community.
Myth: Teche Action Clinic does not have real doctors.
Fact: All TAB providers are board certified or board eligible.
Many of our doctors have been practicing medicine for many years and are
widely recognized and respected in the medical community. TAB is the family
doctor and medical home for over 8,000 clinic users. Health centers have been
recognized as models for screening, diagnosing, and managing chronic
conditions. TAB has providers who work the emergency room at the local
hospital.
Fact: Tab currently participates
in The Diabetes Collaborative, The Bureau of Primary Care Health Disparities
Collaborative and the Preventive Collaborative.
Myth: All FQHC such as TAC waste
federal funds.
Fact: TAB is required to submit an annual audit to the federal
government, monthly financial statements to the board of directors, Uniformed
Data System (UDS) report to the federal government, Medicaid & Medicare
cost reports, WIC audits, Family planning audits and is JACHO accredited.
These monitoring entities help ensure fiscal accountable.
Fact: The cost of providing care at TAB reduces the need for more
expensive hospital in-patient and specialty care for the uninsured, producing
significant savings for taxpayers. Increased usage of health centers and
reduced utilization in emergency room care at Louisiana hospitals could save $140.4
million annually.
Fact: Several studies have found that health centers save Medicaid
program more than 30% in annual spending per beneficiary due to reduced
specialty care referrals and fewer hospital admissions.
Fact: TAB Pharmacy is able to purchase medication at 340B discount
prices and pass on these discounts to our patients. By having an in-house
FQHC Pharmacy, TAB has been able to offer its patients Pfizer medication at
no cost or for a filing fee only. This year TAB will distribute over
$1,000,000 in Pfizer medications alone.
Fact: Louisiana
ranked 4th among drug cost burden. Drug cost burden is the average share of
income used for prescription drugs (by patients and private or public
insurance) divided by income. TAB and other health centers can help reduce
this burden by taking advantage of 340B discounts.
Fact: TAB currently employs 65 employees in St. Mary, Terrebonne,
and St. John Parishes. TAB has an economic impact on the communities it
serves.
Fact: TAB staff volunteers for various events at churches, fairs,
schools, and other local organizations.
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