Access to Care Committee
Description and Activities
This committee's activities include supporting 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. The committee has both virtual and in-person meetings. Visit the Partnership calendar for updates or join the mailing list by reaching out to Bria Miller, Partnership Coordinator.
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 healthcare and health insurance access
- Advocate for a community health worker (CHW) workforce that has benefits and fair wages
- Improve healthcare and health insurance literacy
Leadership and Membership
Current committee chairs are:
- 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 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.
HEALTH CARE OPTIONS FOR THE UNINSURED & UNDERINSURED
Do you need Health Care? Not sure how to get help?
COVID VACCINE FACT SHEET
Can I still get the vaccines? How can I get the vaccine? And more!
Download the brochure in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
Download the brochure in English.
Resources
Helps individuals 60 and older better manage and pay for their medications, provides tailored community referrals, and Medicare counseling. For any Durham resident– regardless of age or income – to help them navigate their medical and prescription drug coverage options at no charge.
Duke Division of Community Health Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC): (919) 681-7356
The BEC helps people who have Medicare and don’t have a lot of money. They can help you find other programs that can help you, like SNAP (food), Medicaid (additional insurance), Medicare Savings Program (which helps with the cost of Medicare), Assurance Wireless and Safelink (phone services), dental assistance, and food pantries.
1. Herald-Sun newspaper article series on healthcare reform in 2013 and 2014
2. Project Access of Durham County (PADC) 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.
3. 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 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.
4. 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.