Artists Foundation and the South Boston Community Health Center
(Please note that one needs to be a Massachusetts resident to participate)
Dear Artist/crafts person,
This letter is for those interested in the Artists Foundation's pilot program/ collaboration with South Boston Community Health Center (SBCHC) and this Health Center is affiliated with Boston Medical Center (BMC). Please note that even those who are insured can go to SBCHC. There are presently several existing programs that artists/crafts persons who are uninsured may qualify for: The first is called the Boston HealthNet Plan and it has its own guidelines, the second is the BMC Health Net Plan and it operates under guidelines set by the state Medicare/Medicaid program and the third is sliding fee scale program that is based on the SBCHC guidelines. You might also note that there are other Boston area health centers that have sliding scale fees and are partners in both the Boston HealthNet Plan and the BMC HealthNet Plan. HOWEVER, SBCHC has proven to be very artist friendly and a strong supporter of the arts community (Cambridge and Somerville area has its own plan called Network Health- if you live in that geographic area call -1-888-738-7720). PLEASE note that there are new programs (Commonwealth Care for example) and requirements under the new Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law. Before you contact SBCHC, please see www.healthcareforartists.org to learn more about the law and its new requirements and programs.
Please note SBCHC has developed a special form for those artists who are self-employed or have hard to quanitify income (aka combination income) to fill out. This form is simple and makes it easier for the self employed to verify their income. The form can only be used at South Boston Community Health Center for the Boston HealthNet Plan and sliding fee scale program.
I must stress that those who are uninsured or underinsured, should call to see if they qualify for Boston HealthNet program or the HealthNet Plan and to see if they are eligible for new options under the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law. Call Pat O'Keefe to set up an appointment at 269-7500 (If you need to request the special form for the self-employed/those with combination/hard to quantify income, do so when you call her). If you don't qualify for the Boston HealthNet or the HealthNet Plan, I suggest you go and find out if you qualify for sliding fee scale at SBCHC. You must go in person to fill out the forms and to sign up for a primary care doctor/ general physical/check up. SBCHC will not process the paper work until you have an "doctor's" appointment and that way all your records and medical charts are set up before you get sick!! Remember all the information you give them is confidential and you must be a Massachusetts resident to qualify for the free care and sliding fee scale programs.
SBCHC is located at 409 West Broadway St. South Boston - Phone (617) 269-7500. If you have any problems you can call- Pat O'Keefe or me at the AF. If you contact SBCHC directly, let them know that you are an artist/crafts person and are participating in the Artists Foundation pilot program (please also state this on the question(s) on the form(s) regarding how you found out about SBCHC and/or the Boston HealthNet- it will help us in tracking the pilot program).
Please also call me if you have any suggestions or problems- as this is a pilot program and we want the Artists using SBCHC to have an active role in shaping the program for other artists in greater Boston. If you need more information or have a friend that is interested, please call me. Information can be picked up at the Artists Foundation space in the Distillery (So. Boston). The AF is open on Saturdays 12-5pm (when an exhibition is up) and by appointment. The Artists Foundation number is (617) 464-3559.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Bitetti
Executive Director-Artists Foundation
