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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2012)
Health Care continued from page 1 hook up human beings with patients $45 a month. For healthcare resources, and this, she offers up to seven not just healthcare, but well- no-pay visits in the first ness care.” year, four in the second Just seven months old, year, and five every follow- PPCPdx is up and running ing year. Why those with 30 health care numbers? providers and 80 members. “It covers most needs for On the providers list, so far, most people,” Carr says. are two medical doctors and “For most adults, a physical two family nurse practition- and four sick visits a year ers, along with should be sufficient to meet chiropractors and naturo- their needs. Even my pathic doctors, patients with diabetes or acupuncturists and massage heart problems, I see about therapists. once every three months.” Pastor Andrew Watkins Carr says most doctors Carr’s practice is based at haven’t yet heard about the the Multnomah Family Care Clinic in West Portland. The Co-op does co-op; word is just beginning to spread in have a few providers in most areas of the medical circles. She was keen to sign up as city, with six on the Eastside. North Port- a provider because she already sees many land-based family nurse practitioner Shelda patients who have no insurance and pay Holmes is a provider. (Holmes’ husband, Sen. Chip Shields, and her clinic manager, is the state representa- tive for North and Northeast Portland. He recently was named Rogue of the Week by Willamette Week for using his legislative email to ask questions about Oregon’s health care proposals that appeared to relate to both his political and personal work. ) The highest provider fee is $77 a month, with most falling around $40. “We’re not here to make money,” says Butler, who worked for the homeless non- cash for services. “It made a lot of sense to me to sign up profit Transition Projects for 12 years before landing at PPCPdx. “We’re here to with this plan,” she says. “It’s a pretty rea- sonable model of care. When I was starting out I thought a lot about how I wanted to practice, and this fits nicely with giving providers work and giving patients a good opportunity for access to health care.” Former health industry executive Don McCormick launched Patient Physicians Cooperatives in Houston, Texas, 8 years ago. After working with physicians groups for 40 years, he agreed to help a clinic reor- Morgan Butler and Tony McCormick ganize, and came up with the idea of a co-op. The tor,” he says. Houston co-op now offers services from 49 Size matters, however, when it comes to diverse doctors. And in Hickory, N.C., the what the co-ops can offer. The Houston co- Apollo Healthcare Cooperative, opened in op has partnered with hospitals, an imaging 2009, has grown to 600 members and offers center and specialists, as well as with indi- vidual doctors. It also offers a low cost insurance that covers hospital care. Portland’s co-op needs to add members so it can offer these kinds of valuable extra benefits, Butler says. Low-cost legal services are available now, and other optional extras can be added, as the number of members grows. “I’d like to have 300 members signed up, because at that point we can do a whole lot more,” he said. “We have a lot more buying power and people will start coming to us.” a seven-day a week urgent care clinic. Butler says he gets a lot of questions Andrew Watkins, Ph.D. senior pastor at about how co-ops work, when people get a New Directions Christian Fellowship Min- serious illness such as cancer. istries of Houston, Texas, said his family “If you do get cancer, we will advocate finds the coverage works for its needs. for you to get Medicare rates for your treat- Knowing the cost in advance and not having ment,” he says. “We can help you apply to to pay deductibles or co-pays means fami- state of the art cancer centers, like the lies seek care earlier, he said. Anderson Clinic in Houston. And if you are “I love it: I’m an advocate for it,” Watkins signed up with a primary care provider, you told The Skanner in a telephone interview. will have a far more personal care experi- “It allows people to go see a doctor even if ence.” they don’t have insurance, and not fear the Jenny McCormick, daughter of co-op cost. It allows you to focus on getting founder Don McCormick, co-ordinates well.” between the three cities. She is also a breast Watkins says many members of his cancer survivor. She started out with insur- church are working but still can’t afford ance through her job, she says, but had to insurance. He gave the example of a family switch to her husband’s insurance when she with five children who joined the co-op and was unable to work. were able to take care of their medical “We still ended up with big bills. That’s needs. how people spend all their life savings and “Nine out of 10 things can be taken care of right there in the doctor’s office, and the kids get to see the same primary care doc- See CARE on page 14 Just seven months old, PPCPdx is up and running with 30 health care providers and 80 members. Social and Economic Justice Event Meet Brandon Evans February 12th at 6:00 PM Augustana Lutheran Church on 15th and Knott, Portland Brandon is on staff at the International Trade Bureau, part of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Chicago Illinois. The International Trade Bureau works to achieve parity in the American economy by building working mutually beneficial relationships between commerce and citizens on the downside of power. An informal Question and Answer Reception to follow after the Service. For more info call (503) 810-4354 Page 12 The Portland Skanner February 8, 2012
