December 13, 2004
Community Health Services Benefit from Medco Settlement Grant
Spokane, Wash. – The Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing has been awarded a $10,000 grant for prescription medications used for academic health services outreach efforts.
The one-time grant, awarded by the Consumer Protection Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, will be used for prescription medications for patients of People’s Clinic and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile who are at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level and have no other coverage such as Medicaid or Basic Health, or who are elderly or disabled. The funds must be used before June 30, 2005.
The College of Nursing, along with 49 agencies statewide received grants from a recent settlement with Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
No programs in Spokane currently provide necessary prescription medications to the low-income or uninsured clients that frequent the People’s Clinic system or the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. The Care Mobile travels to the most underserved neighborhoods to provide care where the most need exists. The percentage of uninsured/underinsured continues to grow. Spokane shares the national problem of providing health care to this segment of the population. Downtown Spokane, the geographic location of the main People’s Clinic location in the YWCA, is the poorest legislative district in the State of Washington.
“This grant will provide much-needed medications for the Clinic system’s low-income patients who have no medication coverage and are not able to pay for their prescribed medications,” said Margaret Bruya, assistant dean for academic health services, nurse practitioner and co-founder of People’s Clinic at the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing. “We anticipate more than 750 clients will receive essential prescription medications due to this funding.”
The People’s Clinic, established in 1998, provides a full spectrum of primary health care services including general health services, immunizations, school sports physicals, women’s health, well child exams, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, dental services via local provider contract and referrals to specialty services such as obstetrical and surgical services. All services are provided by faculty of the college and nurse practitioners.
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, established in 2001, is a unique health care facility on wheels that reaches out to children and youth where they live and attend school. The program offers, without charge, primary care and dental services including diagnosis, treatment, referral and follow-up.
The WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Established in 1968, the college is celebrating 36 years of world class nursing education. The college is the nation's oldest and most comprehensive nursing education consortium offering baccalaureate, graduate and professional development course work to nursing students enrolled through its four consortium partners, Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, WSU and Whitworth College and in five communities across the state. Each year the college educates more than 700 graduate and upper-division undergraduate students and prepares more entry-level nurses than any other state educational institution. For more information about the College of Nursing visit the Web site at nursing.wsu.edu.