Heinz Family Philanthropies, PhRMA, the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement and the WV Primary Care Association launched the "Every Child Matters" pilot health care project through 15 of the WVPCA's member community-based 330 health centers in September of 2007.   The program is designed to provide access to affordable health care for uninsured children in the state.  The project is designed to offer parents and children an affordable solution for basic prevention and primary care services, which are essential to keeping West Virginia's children healthy and strong.

The program is available to all WV Children who meet the following criteria:

• 18 years of age or younger
• uninsured
• don't qualify for Medicaid or WV CHIP coverage
• have no established medical home
• have family income above 220%  to 300% of the federal poverty level

The program will offer regular children's health services for a nominal fee per visit (fee may vary by site).  Whatever portion of the fee the patient's family cannot afford, the remaining amount will be covered by a West Virginia fund established by Heinz, PhRMA and the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement.  The goal of the program is to offer children (and their parents), an affordable medical home focused on the care and well being of uninsured children. 

Families who wish to participate will first be screened at the health centers to identify those that would qualify for Medicaid, WV CHIP or other programs that may be available.  Those children who are verified as not being eligible for any other program will be able to receive care and the parents will be asked to pay the fee up front.  If a child qualifies for public or private insurance coverage for the preventative or basic primary care service, the child is to be enrolled in that program and that specific program will be charged for the medical care provided, not the family.

Services covered include preventative well-child care and pediatric outpatient medical office visits (routine and walk-in scheduled appointments).  Lab, x-ray, medications and medical supplies are not covered, but the participating FQHC (federally qualified health center) organizations will assist families in getting the services their children need.  The health centers can offer reduced costs on the medications needed by children who are patients at their centers through the 340B pharmacy program. 

An ongoing evaluation of the program will be conducted by consultants for the Heinz Family Philanthropies.  Participating health centers will provide data to the WVPCA/Heinz on a monthly basis for this evaluation.

WVPCA Member Health Centers participating in this project are:

Belington Community Medical Services
Bluestone Health Center
Cabin Creek Health Center
Camden-On-Gauley Medical Center
FamilyCare
Family Medical Care (Change, Inc.)
Monongahela Valley Association of Health Centers
Monroe County Health Center
New River Health Association
Northern Greenbrier Health Clinic
Preston-Taylor Community Health Centers
Ritchie County Primary Care Association
Shenandoah Valley Medical System
Tug River Health Association
Wirt County Health Services Association

If you would like to find out if a community health center close to you is participating in this project, feel free to take a look at your county on our Member Centers map page by clicking here. You may also call the WVPCA office at (304) 346-0032 for more information.