Reduced fee medical clinic coming to Cresco Oct. 23

—If there is enough interest, possibly coming monthly
Reduced Fee Medical Clinic Wednesday, Oct. 23 Cresco Public Library Call for appointment 319-855-9602
CRESCO - Current and former agricultural workers and farmers, along with their immediate family members, are eligible for reduced cost or free basic medical care at a clinic being held at the Cresco Public Library on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from noon to 7 p.m.  
Services offered are similar to those at an urgent care clinic, such as annual checkups, diagnosis and treatment of simple conditions and basic lab and monitoring tests.  
Medical personnel are able to distribute certain prescription and over-the-counter medicine at the appointment.  Referrals for more specialized care, along with vision and dental exams, can also be made with a subsidy given to help cover the cost.  
Plantpeddler is bringing the clinic to Cresco after hearing about it from Iowa Workforce Development, which has a department to assist seasonal ag workers.  The medical clinic is one of the services provided through that department.   
Joan Leuenberger, human resources director at Plantpeddler said, “This was initially presented as a once-a-year benefit for our current employees.  When I heard that Postville has a monthly clinic for every ag worker in Allamakee County, I knew we had to open it up to the whole community, too.”  
Owners Mike and Rachel Gooder were enthusiastic about the idea, “If there’s enough demand, we will also be able to hold this clinic monthly.”  
Because this is not a walk-in clinic, patients have to make an appointment just like at a regular doctor’s office.  The number to call is 319-855-9602 or if busy 319-248-0178. 
The medical providers are employed by Proteus, a non-profit agency based in Des Moines.  A grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services covers most of the operating expenses, but patients will be asked for their annual income to determine what will be charged for services.  If income is low enough it could be $10, $5.00 or even free.  
The goal of this program is to improve access to health care in rural areas.  Because many ag workers are seasonal or part-time and therefore don’t qualify for health insurance and self-employed farmers often can’t get reasonably-priced insurance, programs like these are necessary.

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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