A new community health clinic has opened in Scituate. Organizers hope it will pave the way for greater access to health care in the area. The new Scituate Neighborhood Health Station models itself on a similar clinic in Central Falls.
The Health Station is the brainchild of former state Health Department Director Doctor Michael Fine, who recently cut the ribbon on a Neighborhood Health Station in Central Falls. The clinics provide sliding-scale fees for health care and reach out to residents in the community.
Nonprofit health organization WellOne helped finance and will operate the Scituate health station. WellOne President and CEO Peter Bancroft says Scituate has been lacking access to care, especially mental health services.
“Over the past few years the number of options for Scituate residents locally has been shrinking,” said Bancroft. “So now we’re bringing back in primary medical care, dental, and behavioral health.”
Bancroft says the health station will accept patients with or without health insurance. Funding comes from WellOne, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration and private foundations.
Bancroft says he’s not concerned about possible changes to the Affordable Care Act under President-Elect Donald Trump. He says community health clinics have always had bipartisan support:
“Because it’s common sense. Primary care, locally affordable, accessible, with a focus on keeping people healthy and out of the emergency room and out of the hospital. SO, I think the rules may change but the need for the types of things that we do I think will persevere regardless of the political climate.”
