SMA and Flagler Free Clinic Partner to Improve Healthcare Access

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Aug. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Daytona Beach, FL - SMA Behavioral Healthcare and the Flagler County Free Clinic have entered into an agreement to provide services to each other’s patients and to hold a monthly primary care clinic on SMA’s Vince Carter Sanctuary campus for SMA referrals.

The Free Clinic is now offering physical exams and health care services to SMA clients who have been identified by SMA staff as being in need of medical services. These individuals must be indigent or have incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty level with no insurance. In addition to offering these services at the Free Clinic’s office at 703 E. Moody Blvd in Bunnell, the Free Clinic is now providing a clinic one day each month for SMA clients at SMA’s Vince Carter Sanctuary location in Bunnell.

“We are delighted to be able to partner with SMA Behavioral Healthcare to deliver integrated medical and mental health care services to our combined patient populations," said Stephen R. Bickel, MD, Volunteer Physician and Board member of the Flagler County Free Clinic. "This venture helps us accomplish our mission of reaching out to the uninsured patient population in Flagler County and is consistent with the goals of the recently created Flagler County Health Coalition to expand the safety net for health care in our county,” he added.

“We are so appreciative that the Free Clinic is offering this monthly clinic on our campus,” said Jeff White, SMA’s Outpatient Team Coordinator. “At the same time SMA will provide mental health services to Free Clinic patients.”  “This is a positive community partnership and aligns with the goal of moving towards integration of primary care and specialty mental health services,” said SMA CEO Chet Bell.

On February 19, 2005, the Flagler County Free Clinic (FCFC) opened its doors and began providing medical care under the Volunteer Health Care Provider Program, terms and conditions of which are specified under section 766.1115 of the Florida Statutes.  The clinic provides free medical care on the first and third Saturdays of the month, and the first four Thursdays of the month to low income individuals who have no medical insurance. The FCFC is a Florida Not-for-Profit organization, recognized by the IRS as a public charity with 501(c)(3) tax free status.

SMA Behavioral Healthcare has been serving the northeast Florida community with mental health and drug treatment services for over 50 years. SMA provides more than 35 mental health and substance abuse programs, providing prevention, diversion, intervention, and treatment services, delivered to diverse client populations Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. SMA Behavioral Healthcare’s mission is to deliver exceptional and comprehensive behavioral healthcare to individuals and families in our community. SMA’s vision is of a community where addiction and mental illness are treated promptly, comprehensively and with respect for all. Contact SMA at 800-539-4228 or online at  http://www.smabehavioral.org/ or stay connected on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/SMABehavioralHealthServices.