Access to Care Committee
Description and Activities
This committee's activities include advocating for changes that will affect health care coverage for residents across all ages of the continuum but particularly those less than 65 years old; bringing together initiatives/partners already addressing access issues; and developing community and agency-based strategies to make measurable improvements in access to care for the uninsured and underinsured residents of Durham.
All Access to Care committee meetings are open to the public. Partnership committee meetings have been held virtually using the Zoom platform since May 2020. Visit the Partnership calendar to view committee meeting dates, times and Zoom links.
The Access to Care committee has completed its Access to Care Community Health Improvement Plan. Over the next three years, the committee will work to:
- Increase uninsured and underinsured residents’ awareness about the affordable healthcare, resources, and insurance options available and how to access them
- Improve digital health literacy
- Expand opportunities and sustain funding for Community Health Workers
- Facilitate racial equity training opportunities for patient care teams in Durham County
Leadership and Membership
Current committee chairs are:
- Angel Romero
- Edeia Lynch
Meetings
The Access to Care Committee meets on the second Thursday of each month from 8:30-9:30 am on Zoom. Our meetings generally include learning sessions on access to care issues, advocacy updates, and updates from the various working groups.
Meetings are open to the public. Community members are encouraged to attend. For meeting dates and times, see our calendar.
2025
HEALTH CARE OPTIONS FOR THE UNINSURED & UNDERINSURED
Do you need Health Care? Not sure how to get help?
Medicaid
Medicaid is public health insurance for individuals with low income who can’t pay for health care on their own. Medicaid helps individuals and families pay for services like going to the doctor, staying in the hospital, and getting medicine. It can also help with things like going to the dentist or seeing a therapist.
- Apply for Medicaid in person at Durham County DSS at 414 E. Main St.
- Go online at EPASS.NC.gov
- Call an Enrollment Broker at (833) 870-5500
Health Insurance Marketplace
People without health insurance can enroll at the Health Insurance Marketplace from the Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare). With one application, you can compare free or low-cost programs.
- Go online at NCNavigator.net.
- To make a local appointment call (855) 733-3711
Durham County Department of Public Health • (919) 560-7600 • DCoPublicHealth.org
Nutrition Counseling: (919) 560-7791
A dietitian or nutritionist will help you and your family learn about how food affects your health. They give advice on what to eat or how much to eat to manage a health condition or reach a certain health goal. Helpful for diabetes or high blood pressure.
Women’s Health Clinic: Family Planning: (919) 560-7601 • Prenatal: (919) 560-7882
Healthcare service for women who might want to have a baby. It includes different things that happen before and after the baby is born. Women can get help with family planning. They can learn about different ways to prevent pregnancy, if they don’t want to have a baby right now.
Breast & Cervical Cancer Control: (919) 560-7600
The program helps women who cannot afford to pay for breast and cervical cancer screenings and follow- up services.
Free HIV & STD Testing and Counseling: (919) 560-7601
Free, fast, and private testing for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. They keep your information confidential, which means no one else is told about your test results without your permission.
Early Intervention Clinic: (919) 560-7726
If you or someone you know has HIV/AIDS, you can get medical and social work services help. This means that doctors and other healthcare workers can help you take care of your health, and social workers can help you with things like housing, employment, and other needs. It doesn’t matter what stage of HIV/AIDS you’re in; the clinic can help. The fees for services are based on Lincoln Community Health Center rates, so they are affordable.
Navigating Health Care
DukeWELL Care Management: (919) 660-WELL • DukeWELL.org
DukeWELL is a program that supports patients in managing their health and healthcare needs. We partner with you and your doctor to help you follow your care plan. We can connect with you on the phone or in person to provide support services that improve your chances of achieving your health goals.
Local Access to Coordinated Healthcare (LATCH): (919) 613-6509 • DukeWELL.org/LATCH
Helps uninsured people in Durham County get access to healthcare services. The program offers free bilingual (Spanish/English) health services coordination and education services. This means they can help you find services such as primary care options, behavioral health care, disability assistance and community resources.
Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP): (919) 748-1022
Offers free loans of medical equipment to people who live in Durham County. This equipment includes things like wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, and canes. You can use these items if you need them because of an injury or illness.
Family Planning
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic: (919) 286-2872 • 105 Newsom St., Suite 101
Helps with birth control, emergency contraception, abortion referral, exams to check your body, testing for diseases, and HIV testing. They charge different amounts based on what you can afford.
“Be Smart” Family Planning
- Apply online at ePASS.nc.gov
- Apply in-person at Durham County DSS at 414 E. Main St.
Medicaid program for FREE birth control, STI testing/ treatment, helps prevent unplanned pregnancies, and offers other reproductive health services. To qualify, a person’s income has to be at or below a certain level, which is 195% of the federal poverty level. There are no age restrictions for this program, and it is for both men and women.
Low Cost Medicine
NC MedAssist, Free Pharmacy Program: (866) 331-1348 • MedAssist.org
Statewide free pharmacy program that provides prescription medications to uninsured, low-income patients. Patients must live in North Carolina, have no access to insurance, and meet certain income requirements.
2024 Flu Vaccine Guide
English: English Flu Vaccine Brochure
Spanish: Spanish Flu Vaccine Brochure
Selected Committee Accomplishments
Past accomplishments include:
- Herald-Sun newspaper article series on healthcare reform in 2013 and 2014
- Project Access of Durham County was created by committee members along with other community partners . PADC coordinates with community providers and those at Duke University Health System and the NC Specialty Hospital to bring donated specialty care to uninsured patients at Lincoln Community Health Center.
- Healthcare Reform Summit was held on Tuesday, October 12, 2010. The Summit provided an opportunity the community to learn more about how the new healthcare reform will personally impact them. Pam Silberman will provided an overview of Healthcare Reform and there was a short expert panel on Children, 0 – 25, Uninsured / High Risk Pool, Business, and Medicare / Seniors. The entire event was professionally taped and can be viewed here.
- Cover the Uninsured Community Forum (2009 and 2006) brought together over 100 community members hear from panelists about health care options and coverage possibilities for Durham County residents lacking health ins
Visit www.healthcare.gov for the most up-to-date information on healthcare reform.
Publications and Reports of the Committee
- Strategies for improving transport access to healthcare are described in this report created by the UNC Department of City and Regional Planning.
- Medical options in Durham for uninsured and under-insured residents: Download (English) Download (Español)