Health and social service providers and concerned individuals have been working for years to improve access to healthcare for people with no insurance and for those insured through Medicaid.

1991.2002

• PATCH (Planned Approach to Community Health) identifies access to care as a community priority
• Blessing Hospital Community Outreach Clinic formed to provide ongoing care to individuals with chronic illnesses
• Adams County Health Department Dental Clinic formed
• Catholic Charities MedAssist program developed to connect people with prescription drugs

2002

• Concerns about readily-available, on-going access to physician services for these underserved populations continues
• Feasibility analysis to determine the viability of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) was initiated
• Financial analysis demonstrated that the ratio of potential Medicaid clients to uninsured clients meant the FQHC concept was not viable in Adams County

2005

• Adams County Health Department receives a Network Planning Grant from the Federal government
• Assessment of access to care issues conducted and findings outlined in Final Assessment Report
• Strategic planning day was held including participants from health care providers, social service agencies, community organizations, employers and business representatives, as well as elected officials and consumers
• Strategic plan with program priorities and recommendations for developing a structure to support program implementation developed and incorporated into a Final recommendation report.

2006

• Access Health Adams County formed with an identified mission, program strategies and board structure
• Initial program funding secured

2007

• Community Service Link program technology implemented
  Care Management and Network of Providers programs implemented on a limited, pilot basis

2008

• January 2008 Access Health received 3-year grant funding from Marion Gardner Jackson Trust for the Care Management function.
• May 2008 Access Health received 3-year grant funding from Dept. of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration.  This would allow the program to expand the number of individuals it was able to serve.
• The first client was assigned to the Physician Lead Access Network in May 2008.
• Care Management function was fully implemented. 
• A total of 16 agencies had signed participation agreements to participate in the Community Service Link.

2009

• By May 2009, 170 individuals were enrolled in the Physician Lead Access Network - all receiving some degree of Care Management as needed; About 380 Adams County residents had been added to the community service link by participating agencies.