Milan Puskar Health Right, originally Morgantown Health Right, was founded in 1984 on the premise, "Every person has a right to health care regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay."[1][2] For its first few months Health Right operated out of a Baptist church until a retiring physician offered his Spruce Street office rent-free.[3] With its first capital campaign, Health Right purchased a small building with three examination rooms at 154 Pleasant Street, which it outgrew within months.[3] The clinic moved to its current location in May 2003.[1] It was renamed in 2004 to honor Milan Puskar a businessman and philanthropist who generously supported the clinic since its inception.[1][4] In 2008 the clinic went paperless adopting the HEALTHeWV electronic medical records system.[5] The Marg M. Carney award for excellence in volunteerism was established by the clinic in 2013. The inaugural recipient was Bill McCutcheon, a dentist.[6]
Milan Puskar Health Right is located at 341 Spruce Street in Morgantown, West Virginia, and has satellite clinics[quantify] in Marion and Preston counties.[1][3] Health Right provides health care, dental care, medications, case management, mental health, and social services.[7] Nearly 4,000 patients make over 22,000 visits to Health Right a year.[8][9] The clinic dispenses and fills about 62,000 prescriptions each year.[8] Health Right's main clinic is open over 400 hours a month.[8]
Health Right clients must be uninsured and have income no more than 150% of the federal poverty level.[16] As of 2014[update] the poverty rate in West Virginia is almost 18% and 19% in Monongalia County.[17] As of 2006[update] West Virginia was the state where it was most likely uninsured adults would go without healthcare and as of 2003[update] 22% of adult West Virginians did not have health insurance.[16] Many of the clinic's clients are people who work but do not make enough to pay for health care.[16] Some work for employers who do not offer health insurance, some work part-time and do not qualify for benefits and others cannot afford the insurance offered by their employer.[16] In 2009 there was a waiting list of 200 to 300.[18]
Executive Director Laura Jones sees an important continuing role in providing education and access to health care for Health Right and free clinics despite the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).[22] She states, "We don't expect a drop in need" and, "Even with the passage of the health care bill, our work is needed as much as ever".[23][24] In 2013 Health Right received a mini-grant to help with enrollment in health insurance options available under the ACA.[25]
^ abcdefgWard, Sandi (10 April 2005). "Health Right reflects the community it serves". 100 Most Influential. The Dominion Post. Morgantown, WV. p. J17.
^ abcBurnside, Mary Wade (1 March 2009). "Health Right 'going wonderful' in county: Organization ready to celebrate 25th anniversary". Times West Virginian. Fairmont.
^"WVHII: Home". West Virginia Health Improvement Institute (WVHII). Archived from the original on 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
^ abcdeBurnside, Mary Wade (8 October 2006). "'I had no way to buy medicine' Many without health insurance are low income people who work". Times West Virginian. Fairmont.
^Conley, Ben (20 April 2014). "Mon poverty rate 19%: Nonprofit official: Stereotypes aren't always accurate". The Dominion Post. Morgantown, WV. p. A1.
^"W.Va. free clinics see demand grow". The Herald-Dispatch. Huntington, WV. 25 October 2009.