Advocacy for Access at Fairview
Fairview Hospital's Advocacy for Access Office is located in the Admitting Department on the Ground Floor at Fairview Hospital. The Advocacy team is committed to help the underinsured and uninsured access health insurance programs that are available.
The staff facilitates the application process for individuals and families of many state and federal programs that can be complex and confusing. Our goal is to make access to health insurance as simple as possible. When an individual or family's circumstances change, the Advocacy staff can assist in updating the appropriate agency to facilitate the process.
Recognized recently by the New England Rural Health Roundtable for its extensive outreach activities, the Advocacy for Access program helps thousands of people each year access insurance and coverage to help meet their healthcare needs.
Contact: Cheryl Thomson, Program Director
(413) 854- 9608 or 854-9607
cthomson@bhs1.org
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Appointments outside business hours available
Appointments are available on both a scheduled and drop in basis.
The Advocacy for Access Office is serves the community with information and access to the following programs and services:
MASSHEALTH (Medicaid Applications):
- For persons under the age of 65
- Families and People with Disabilities
FOR PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 65
- For those in need of secondary insurance or the uncompensated care pool.
PRESCRIPTION ADVANTAGE
- A supplemental prescription assistance program for Mass residents that help with the "donut hole" of coverage through Medicare Part D.
MEDICARE PART D
PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Application to various pharmaceutical companies for access to prescription medications at no cost. This program is used in many cases for medications not covered by state or private insurances
THE "NEW" CONNECTOR PLANS
COMMONWEALTHCARE
- For persons under the age of 65 that full under 300% of the Federal Poverty Level
COMMONCHOICE
- Private insurance offered at a reduced cost through the Connector for persons over 300% of the Federal Poverty Level
THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S HEALTH NETWORK
- Screening for men and women
o For men: cardiovascular and prostate screening
o For women: mammography and cervical screening
The Advocacy for Access team also facilitates referrals to state, federal and local service programs including food stamps, WIC, Tobacco Treatment, Diabetes Education, Link to Life, Homecare through Elder Services or local visiting nurse associations, transportation, social security, federally qualified health care centers and access to emergency housing.
The Advocacy staff accommodates the individual needs of each client as well as acting as a resource for area physicians and health care providers to better serve our patients.
The staff also serves as the most-up-to-date resource on state and federal programs. The landscape of healthcare reform is always changing and Fairview's Advocacy team is regularly featured in the local media as a knowledgeable source of information.
