Health center gets federal stimulus money

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead City-County Health Department is receiving $1.3 million in federal stimulus money to operate its Community Health Center in fiscal 2009-10.

The center is operating this fiscal year - which ends June 30 - under a $1.29 million state grant.

"The timing is great," health department Director Joe Russell said.

The 15-month-old center currently occupies part of the first floor of the Earl Bennett Building, with its dental practice located in a van parked outside.

Construction workers are putting the finishing touches on a new third floor for the Earl Bennett Building.

In a few weeks, the Community Health Center is expected to occupy the entire third floor.

It currently employes the equivalent of 10.4 full-time employees. It will add at least two more employees in the next fiscal year, Russell said.

The clinic's purpose is to serve Flathead County residents, mainly the poor, who have difficulty getting primary care elsewhere.

The clinic operates the same as a private family practice.

But it offers discounts to patients who earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which varies according to family size. The minimum fee for an office visit is $10.

A significant segment of Flathead County's population falls below that threshold.

The clinic also serves patients who earn above the 200 percent threshold, but they pay full price for services. The clinic accepts medical insurance.

It accepts both walk-in patients and those who schedule appointments.

Its hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.