Md. Free Clinic Fears Cutbacks

GAITHERSBURG, Md. - The volunteers and managers at the busy Mercy Health Clinic in Gaithersburg are worried about possible cutbacks in funding from Montgomery County.

In this recession, patient growth has been phenomenal. Patient visits in 2008 were up 31 percent compared to the year earlier. The waiting room is often packed, with some patients being given directions to other low-cost or free clinics.

At the same time, the county budget squeeze may harm the clinic's operating funds in the fiscal year that begins July 1. Virtually all local cities and counties are experience a significant decline in tax revenues. And, County Executive Isiah Leggett is proposing a decrease of $165,000 in spending on pharmacy costs.

"Well, actually, what the proposal is, is to send (our patients) to Wal-Mart, Target, and Safeway for their generic drug programs (which charge... them very small amounts)," the clinic's executive director, Dick Pavlin, told FOX 5. "But for many of our patients, even that small amount -- as well as getting to those locations -- is a difficulty."

Clinic managers estimate that will translate into an $80,000 cut for the Mercy Health Clinic, which currently does not charge for medication or for office visits.

The clinic is the only source of insulin for 51-year-old Annette Shepherd. "If you're a part time worker, you get no (health) insurance," says Shepherd.

Some medications have no generic equivalent. Unemployed carpenter Jose Ayala estimated his insulin alone would cost him about $400 a month.

Clinic volunteers and managers are openly lobbying members of the Montgomery County Council to preserve the pharmaceutical funding.

County Councilmembers are expected to make their tough budget decisions by mid-May.