The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Last November, the Wahkiakum Family Practice Advisory Council held public meetings to present findings and request citizen input. One of the key public recommendations made at the Cathlamet meeting was to form a fundraising committee of clinic supporters and patients. An organizing meeting will be held on March 16 at the River Street Meeting Room from 6-7:30 p.m. Those who wish to keep health care in the community are invited.

During the organizing meeting, participants will brainstorm ways to raise funds for the Keep the Clinic Open Fund. The entire purpose of this fund is to pay costs the clinic incurs that are not reimbursed by insurance companies. Right now the clinic receives approximately 65 cents on the dollar of services it bills to all the insurance carriers, Medicare, and Medicaid combined. The portion of the billing that is not reimbursed comes out of the Clinic’s revenue. Also, the Clinic has experienced a great deal of change over the last 15 months, including the departure of two doctors and the arrival of a new one, the addition of a new Physician’s Assistant, and a new Clinic Operations Manager.

Fund raising is an integral part of the Clinic’s budget for 2009. Participants at the Cathlamet public meeting suggested that a Fund Raising Committee be established. This meeting is the call to bring interested parties together to form the Clinic Fund Raising Committee. The meeting will be facilitated by Sandi Benbrook Rieder, a member of the Clinic Advisory Board and the newly formed Clinic Governing Board. She will help the group start their organizational process.

Questions can be emailed to slbenbrook@yahoo.com or by calling 795-3294.