ROCKLAND — Knox County Health Clinic will receive $2.1 million in federal aid to establish a Federally Qualified Health Center.
The money will support the renovation of the existing space and the construction of new medical and dental surgeries.
Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree of North Haven made the announcement on Friday, July 1. The $2.1 million is part of more than $31.6 million for Maine’s first district in fiscal year 2023.
“After more than a decade, Congress last year finally restored the authority to directly fund the needs of our constituents. The millions of dollars coming back to Maine in Fiscal Year 2022 are already making a difference in our communities, and I’m thrilled that we were able to build on that success this year,” said Congresswoman Pingree, a longtime member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee. for Home Affairs, Environment and Related Agencies. “These projects will enrich our communities and create a better, more resilient Maine for generations to come.”
Knox County Health Clinic Executive Director Meredith Batley said most areas depend on skilled health centers for low-cost care. Knox County is the only county in Maine without an accessible center, Batley said, and the only one in Knox County is at Vinalhaven, which is an hour’s ferry ride away.
“We are very excited about the potential. While our services are essential, our current capacity is only a ‘band-aid,’ which does not meet the needs of the region,” Batley said. “Our current population is primarily uninsured, served by a small team of staff and volunteers. The FQHC center will provide everyone medical, dental, mental health and wellness care. Will need private insurance, Medicare, MaineCare and will have a sliding scale if you have a high deductible or pay out of pocket.”
The clinic’s CEO said the clinic is in promising preliminary discussions with the city of Thomaston to put up a brand new building there, which would allow for “logarithmic expansion of our staff and services and make it very well positioned to serve the communities on the peninsula as well as the surrounding region.”
“While we are delighted with the announcement from Pingree representatives, this is by no means a done deal. We don’t have an exact timeline, as there are many more steps to be done in the next year, including feasibility studies, site evaluations, architectural and engineering analyses, community approval and federal approval of the health center application,” Batley said.
In May, Knox County Commissioners and the Knox County Budget Board voted to provide the clinic with $1.2 million from the US County Rescue Plan.
“We understand that health is not just the absence of disease. Our vision defines overall health as a positive state, an aspirational goal that all individuals can achieve using a fully integrated approach to compassionate, equitable and affordable care,” she said.
Federal funding won’t be available until next year.
“We are still completely dependent on the generosity of our local neighbors to provide our ongoing operating budget and essential services. Their support means everything to us”, she concluded.
Knox County Health Clinic, located on White St. 22, founded in June 1999 by dr. Paul and Jeannie Klainer. With significant community support, the clinic provides primary medical care to Knox County employees who cannot afford their own health insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid, Medicare or other programs, according to the clinic’s website.
A dental program was added in April 2001 that serves both uninsured and Medicaid patients because there are no dentists in the region who accept Medicaid. In 2003, the clinic began helping patients get free medications through the Prescription Assistance Program. In 2008, the clinic expanded its services to include mental health and wellness services.
More than 100 volunteers provide approximately 700 dental visits, 750 mental health and wellness visits, 800 medical visits and $1.8 million worth of free medication to the community each year.
“After more than years of operation, we have grown, but not changed who we are: a community-supported network of over 100 volunteers,” the Clinic’s website states.
“Volunteers have helped diabetic patients regain control of their lives, brought smiles back to people who hid them out of shame, and provided basic care and vaccines to students who now work as nurses and dentists in our community.” For every success story there is a person who is now able to live a healthy and productive life, and the ripple effect this has in our community is immeasurable and extremely valuable,” the Clinic states on its website.
