Special Services

Shawnee's Financial Assistance Program

Through grant funding from the US Public Health Service, Bureau of Primary Health Cared we are able to provide discounts for services provided at our community health centers. This program can be used by people who are uninsured and people with insurance who have deductibles and co-pays and are determined eligible. Individuals and families are encouraged to apply for this assistance.  No individual will be denied essential services due to inabitlity to pay.  This schedule applies only to the Shawnee Community Health Centers.  For Shawnee Alliance for Seniors and the Southern Illinois Respiratory Disease Program please call those locations for more information. 

Key factors about the program are listed below;

• Amount of discount depends on family size and gross income (before taxes and deductions).
• An application form must be completed and requires proof of income.
• Co-pays are due at the time of service.

Discount Schedule for 2010

By Family Size

*BASED ON 2010 FEDERAL POVERTY INCOME GUIDELINES (200% of Poverty)

Pharmaceutical Assistance Program

Effective January 2006, Illinois Cares RX is the new pharmaceutical assistance program, replacing the Circuit Breaker Pharmaceutical Assistance and SeniorCare programs. Illinois Cares Rx helps senior citizens and persons with disabilities pay for prescription drugs. If you are enrolled in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, Illinois Cares Rx will provide supplemental coverage to help fill certain gaps in the costs. Any Illinois resident who is 65 years of age or older, or is a person with a disability, and who has an income below a certain lever is eligible.

Nutrition Counseling

Nutrition services are provided by a Registered and Licensed Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. They counsel and educate patients about nutrition concerns including prenatal nutrition, infant feeding, diabetic diets, weight loss, weight gain, low carbohydrate and other special diets.

Health Disparities Collaborative

This program is designed by the federal government to aid in identifying and decreasing health disparities (differences) among specific patient populations. At Shawnee Health Service we have been participating in the Diabetes Collaborative since 1999 and most recently added the Diabetes Prevention Pilot and the Cardiovascular Collaborative. Our goal is to extend the Collaborative to ALL our centers.

Black Lung Benefits Counseling

To apply for black lung benefits a miner must acquire and complete the Department of Labor application. All requests for black lung compensation must go through the Department of Labor and Shawnee Health Service black lung benefits counselors will assist with this process. Program personnel are very familiar with the application and medical evaluation process to assure that coal miners receive the proper care.

Southern Illinois Respiratory Disease Program

There are over 10,000 former and retired coal miners in Illinois, who are at increased risk for lung and heart disease. Through the Southern Illinois Respiratory Disease Program, we are providing outstanding medical diagnosis, treatment, education, and counseling for coal miners. Our doctors are trained and certified in pulmonary, internal, and critical care medicine. Our nurses, rehabilitation specialists, case managers, and counselors understand the needs of people with chronic lung disease. The Southern Illinois Respiratory Disease Program provides the following:

• Federal Black Lung Application
• Black Lung Widow's Claim
• Case Management
• Medicare Part D and IL Cares Rx application
• Patient Education
• Social Security Disability application
• Community resource referrals
• Home visits on request

Southwestern Indiana Respiratory Disease Program

The Southwestern Indiana Respiratory Disease Program provides specialized pulmonary health care. Our comprehensive health care program can help reduce the symptoms of chronic lung disease and help patients to breathe easier, feel better, and do more for themselves. Teaching patients and their families the basic facts about chronic lung disease is the clinics most important job. The clinics also provide diagnostic testing, medical examination, individualized treatment and pulmonary rehabilitation. Assistance in applying for Federal Black Lung benefits, Social Security Disability, Veteran’s benefits and other occupational disease benefits is available. The Southwestern Indiana Respiratory Disease Program provides the following:

• Federal Black Lung Application
• Black Lung Widow’s Claim
• Case Management
• Medicare Part D and IL Cares Rx application
• Patient Education
• Social Security Disability application
• Community resource referrals
• Home visits on request

 

School Based Health Services

School-based health centers provide convenient, affordable, high quality medical, dental and social services to students, faculty and staff to promote physical and mental health and prevent disease. Some of the expected benefits of school-based health services include:

• Reduced absences and lost school time
• Increased access to services
• Affordability of services
• Convenience for students, parents, faculty and staff
• Promotion of healthy lifestyles
• A safe environment

Psychiatric Care

Shawnee Health Service offers the services of adult, child and adolescent psychiatrists whose primary role is to evaluate and provide medication management for patients with psychological disorders. Due to extensive medical training, the psychiatrist understands the body’s functions and the complex relationship between emotional illness and other medical illnesses. Areas of special interest include depression, psychiatric disorders in women, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychopharmacology, and cultural and spiritual influences in mental health.

Migrant Health Program

The Migrant Health Program provides medical and dental services to migrant and seasonal farm workers in southern Illinois. A bilingual/bicultural outreach team enhances access providing interpretation and transportation to health care appointments.