For The Uninsured

Health Is A Right, Not A Privilege

Privilege Care reaches out to Queens’ immigrants.

By Lee Landor

Healthcare is quickly finding its place among the sundry and colorful population of under-insured and uninsured residents of Elmhurst and the neighboring area with the opening of Privilege Care Medical Center.

Providing care for the poor, elderly and disenfranchised is Privilege Care’s goal, according to the center’s Practice Administrator, Joshua Farkovitz, and those usually include undocumented residents or residents who have the appropriate documentation but who are unaware of their right to obtain healthcare.

To calm the fears and mistrust among community members, Privilege Care, which strives to make all its services affordable, is working to spread awareness of healthcare availability in the community, Farkovitz said.

The center currently has three full-time, bilingual doctors – an internist, pediatrician and family practice physician – and several part-time specialists in varying areas, such as podiatry, cardiology, gynecology and physical therapy. And, Farkovitz said, this multi-ethnic staff is representative of the community.

The 5-month-old facility has maintained its clean appearance, with freshly painted walls and brand new equipment, including x-ray and mammography machines. But that’s no indication of the clinic’s success; seeing an average of 30 patients a day, the center is rapidly gaining recognition in the community and has found that it addresses an urgent need for healthcare, according to Farkovitz.

To further educate and welcome community members, the center is working to create a community facility in which workshops and classes will be offered on an array of issues, from English as a second language to healthcare rights.

Farkovitz said he thinks educating the undocumented and uninsured public on its right to access healthcare is extremely beneficial, and that it will draw more people into actually obtaining the proper medical care.

“Success is not necessarily measured by finances,” he said, “but by providing an affordable and forgiving service for the people who are here trying to improve their lives and their families’ lives.”

Additionally, he said, it will save the City and state money. Often, undocumented and uninsured patients will not seek medical care for illnesses until the problem worsens and the severity forces them to enter a hospital. Without coverage or money, the patients’ care becomes the responsibility of the hospital – as well as that of the taxpayers.

If more of these fearful patients sought healthcare at the start, before their health deteriorated, not only would they be helping themselves, they’d be utilizing a service specifically set in place to accommodate them, according to Farkovitz.

And the center does attempt to assist as best as it can, Farkovitz said, by offering affordable quality healthcare. With a sliding fee schedule and lowered laboratory rates, Privilege Care offers services that the majority of its patients can pay for.

Though it’s still new, Privilege Care’s success in the community thus far has proved that the community’s “massive” need is being addressed, said Farkovitz. And, he hopes that as awareness spreads and the center becomes a more familiar fixture, people will utilize its services and change the state of healthcare in Western Queens.

The center is located at 40-18 76th St. in Elmhurst. For more information call (718) 779-6800.

SinK Or Swim

Navigating Insurance Requires Focus

Discuss your prescription coverage with your pharmacist.

By Matt Hampton

The most difficult proposition when it comes to medical care is not self-administering prescriptions or deciding which doctor is right for you, but navigating often complicated and confusing insurance coverage plans. Selecting the right insurance, knowing just what treatments and medications are covered, and putting insurance to work are difficult propositions for many.

The topic is vast, as numerous authors and experts have published volumes just on the topic of how to make sense of insurance contracts and plans. What follows are just a few helpful hints on how to make sure you don’t get bogged down in the minutia of the average healthcare plan.

Absorb The Information: Most health care plans come with a collection of pamphlets, booklets, and paperwork. While it’s often enough to overwhelm the average person, there is almost always a core set of two or three booklets that outline the exact care that you have, and the resources available to you. Reading these “primary sources” even if they seem alien to you at first, will familiarize you with the terms and conditions of your care, and allow you to ask educated questions.

Keep A File: Paperwork is the lifeblood of insurance plans of all types. As long as you keep records of everything, bills, doctor visits, annual information from the company and payment information, the ball will always be in your court. Health histories for you and your family will not only help you plan your insurance wisely, but will be infinitely valuable when it comes time for vaccinations and other cyclical health measures.

Talk To Your Provider: As simple as it may seem, it’s in an insurance companies own best interest to be honest when it comes to coverage and what to expect when filing a claim. Most insurance providers have a hotline, some of which are available 24-hours a day. While talking on the phone to a representative isn’t always the most efficient method, investing a little time will often yield satisfactory results.

Talk To Your Physician: No one is more familiar than a doctor when it comes to dealing with insurance companies. Secretarial staff in your doctor’s office is another good resource, because insurance companies are a fact of life for every doctor’s office. The staff at each office spends hours daily talking to insurance representatives. They know as well as anyone what the ins and outs of the average medical plan can be.

Plan Ahead: Knowing which hospital is in your area, and knowing that they are can work with your insurance, can reduce confusion when it comes to emergencies or planned hospitalizations. Take some time to look at hospitals in the borough, and know the facts, insurance is a safety net, but a little knowledge is a powerful tool.

Know The Plans: For residents on Medicare or Medicaid plans, learning the difference between each type of federal plan available is crucial. There are subtle differences between many plans, such as the availability of prescription drug coverage, and eligibility is an issue that changes depending on mitigating factors. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has an index of terms, resources, and tips on both Medicare and Medicaid, at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/.

Help for the helpless

State Health Coverage And Eligibility

New York State keeps kids and families healthy. .

By Matt Hampton

Healthcare coverage has been a hot button issue in Queens for the past year, with the announcement of the pending closure of Parkway Hospital, the Queens Borough President’s study of health care, and controversy surrounding the shell game of patients and facilities in the borough.

Even at the federal level, healthcare has become one of the defining issues of the early 21st century. The nature of healthcare coverage on every level is an issue fraught with difficult decisions that often come on unsure footing. When weighing options, it’s easy to overlook simple factors, and easy alternatives that are designed to help New Yorkers make the best decision for their families.

With that in mind, the Queens Tribune is presenting this profile of state health benefits, along with eligibility, to help readers navigate what is often a Byzantine and arduous process.

Healthy NY offers low-cost health care to many New Yorkers, provided they meet a criteria set that includes New York State residency and recent employment. It also offers Child Health Plus and Family Health plus, insurance options designed to cover children no matter what their parents’ financial situation.

Child Health Plus, according to the New York State Dept. of Health Web site, is an insurance plan for children designed to ensure access to health care regardless of parental job status or healthcare coverage. Any family with children under 19, whose monthly income is less than 1.6 times the poverty level, can enlist children in the program for no monthly premium, or a nominal charge for families with higher income. For a family of four, free health coverage is available for people with a monthly household income of $2,739.

Families can enroll their children, provided they are New York State residents, by calling 1-800-698-4KIDS, or visiting the State Department of Health online at www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/chplus.

For coverage that includes the entire family, Family Health Plus is another state subsidized option, a health plan that fills the gaps in coverage for state residents who don’t qualify for Medicaid.

Family Health Plus includes a much more involved approval process, including an interview. The plan is available to New York State residents, and in many cases, immigrants living in the United States can qualify for the plan. For single adults, the max yearly income is around $10,000, with a steadily increasing rate for families of larger size. Members of the plan pay no premium. To enroll in the plan, New Yorkers can call 1-877-9FHPLUS, or long in to the State Department of Health at www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/fhplus/.

Finally, Healthy NY is an insurance option for individuals and small businesses. To qualify for Healthy NY, you must have a job, or have been employed in the past 12 months. Plans as a part of Healthy NY typically cost between $200 and $300 in Queens. To enroll in Healthy NY visit www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny. The Web site will direct visitors to a specific health plan, which will begin an application process.

Healthcare in New York is a constantly changing process, and while this list is currently up to date, policies and rates are constantly shifting. The New York State Department of Health is the best possible resource for any insurance needs that may arise.

FAMILY CARE

New Director Has Big Shoes To Fill

Bob Weitzner has taken over at the Ronald McDonald House. .

By Jennifer Polland

When Bob Weitzner walked into the sunny and cheerful entrance room at Ronald McDonald House—a room filled with oversized stuffed animals, life-size playhouses, hand-made decorative quilts, and sunflowers—he smiled with a newfound sense of pride.

“The mission here sold me,” said Weitzner, the new executive director of the Ronald McDonald House. “The beauty of this particular house is that a lot of kids get better. Every day, there are tears of joy.”

Only two weeks at the helm, Weitzner has settled into his new gig at Ronald McDonald House of Long Island and Queens, a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children. The house functions as a type of stress-free hotel, where families pay $25 per night to be a mere 300 steps from Schneider Children’s Hospital.

Weitzner, 47, is also the mayor of Port Washington North—a part time job that he says he loves. For 22 years he worked in the financial services industry; first as a broker, then as a certified financial planner for Lincoln Financial Group. While most people might not see a link between the financial world and the world of non-profit organizations, Weitzner picked up on a growing trend that landed him his new job as executive director of RMH, beating out 60 other applicants for the position.

As executive director, Weitzner is responsible for running the daily operations of the house and managing nine full-time staff members, seven part-time staff members, and thousands of volunteers. He is also responsible for regulating its $1.4 million annual budget and raising money from private and public donors.

In 2004, Weitzner was elected to be deputy mayor of Port Washington North, and one year later, he was elected as mayor of the village. Over the last three and a half years Weitzner has raised around $2 million, a large portion of which is for a new waterfront park—developing and exhibiting fund-raising skills that would be crucial to any non-profit organization.

“I really love serving as mayor, and I love working for my village,” Weitzner said. “At the same time that I was enjoying the political limelight, I started to get disenchanted with what I was doing as a financial planner. It started to take its toll.”

Looking for an alternative to the financial world, a friend suggested that Weitzner consider a more gratifying profession: non-profit work. The seed was planted. Weitzner went around conducting informational interviews with leaders of non-profit organizations, hoping to get a grasp on the field. The various directors told him that they thought he would be a great non-profit leader, Weitzner said. Not too long later, he sits behind the desk of the executive director at RMH.

“There are parallels between being a mayor and working for a non-profit,” Weitzner said. “It’s all about giving of yourself for the labor of love. I want to make my village better for my kids and for my kids’ kids, and I want to help make Ronald McDonald House better for the families who come here.”

Weitzner is already brewing plans for change. He is looking at ways to make the office and its staff more efficient by improving computer technology and internal communication. He is also looking for new ways to reach out to potential donors, and is concentrating on Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“We have a double-identity crisis,” Weitzner said. “People assume we’re from Queens and a lot of our legislative support is Queens-based. We are not getting a lot of support from Nassau and Suffolk counties, and I think it’s because people see the 718 area code and don’t realize that we are the only house serving all of Queens and Long Island. I want Nassau and Suffolk to know that we are there for them, and Queens to know that we love them, but they shouldn’t have to foot the burden alone.”

Weitzner has high hopes for the future and a type of contagious enthusiasm for his work at the Ronald McDonald House.

“I have never experienced anything like this before,” Weitzner said. “I am finding new ways to reach out, whether it’s finding annuities or other ways to get donors. I just love being a part of this organization and this mission. Within the next 5 to 10 years, I think there will be a mass appeal for leadership in non-profits, and I intend to be the premier non-profit leader.”