Free Health Care Services We Provide Our Patients

HOW WE WORK

The Oneonta Community Health Center (OCHC) is open Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:00 pm.

Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, please call 607.433.0300.

Through its volunteer licensed medical professionals, OCHC provides primary and preventive care to eligible patients. OCHC also helps eligible patients enroll in county, state or federal health insurance programs and obtain needed medications and advanced care. Future services will be announced, as they are available.

SERVICES NOT PROVIDED INCLUDE:

  • HIV and STD screening
  • Drug testing
  • Paternity testing
  • Obstetrics
  • Fertility testing
  • Pediatric care
  • Routine immunization
  • Travel medicine or inoculations
  • Substance abuse treatment
  • Green card physicals
  • Emergency or major trauma services
  • Chronic pain management
  • Onsite lab testing

CANCELLATIONS

  • If you will not be able to make your appointment, please call us by 9:00 AM on the Monday before so we can then schedule someone waiting for an appointment.
  • Patients who miss 2 follow-up appointments without canceling may jeopardize their eligibility.
  • Patients who miss an appointment with a specialist arranged by an OCHC doctor without canceling will lose their eligibility for one year.

YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

  • Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to complete forms
  • You will first meet with our Navigator to review your information
  • You will need to provide your contact and employer information (if employed)
  • You will need to provide proof of income (W2s, paystubs)
  • If you have any form of health insurance, please bring your identification card from the provider and information about your coverage
  • Bring a list of prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications and vitamins/herbal supplements and the dosage and frequency you are taking each
  • Be able to provide a list of any medications to which you are allergic
  • Bring a list of any surgeries you have had and the dates

SERVICES WE PROVIDE

  • Acute, regular and preventative health care
  • Management of some chronic and long-term medical conditions such as diabetes, COPD, asthma, high blood pressure

  • Health maintenance through return visits and education

  • Transgender Health Services
  • Referrals to specialists
  • Dental care referrals
  • CDC physicals
  • Vison referrals
  • Nutrition and dietary counseling
  • Mental Health counseling
  • Help obtaining free or affordable medications

ELIGIBILITY

Currently, there is no residency requirement. To be eligible you must meet the following criteria:

  • Household incomes may not exceed 300% of the 2022 poverty level established by the Federal Poverty Guidelines. https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines 
  • The income of all household members will be considered in establishing eligibility. Please bring financial documents including but not limited to:
    • paystub
    • W2
    • unemployment records
    • alimony or child support records
    • SSI, VA, pension, TANF, food stamps, housing benefits
    • tax returns
    • health insurance policy, with premiums and deductibles stated
  • The patient must not be eligible for private, county, New York State or Federal insurance programs, such as, HealthyNY, the NYS Essential Plan, Family Health Plus, Medicaid or Medicare. Patients will be guided by our patient navigator to existing insurance programs if the income and employment status indicates possible eligibility.
  • We will not duplicate services; if a patient qualifies for other programs, we will assist in the referral.
  • We are willing to see underinsured patients such as those with high deductible insurance plans.

Please note: Financial eligibility is reviewed every 90 days.

COSTS

There is no cost for patients to receive health care services from our physicians. The health center is not able to pay for medications. We help with applications to Prescription Assistance Programs offered by some pharmaceutical companies. We have a list of medications local pharmacies offer. We also have Good Rx cards and "Retail me not" RX coupons online we can print out for you.

PRIVACY PLEDGE

The Board and Staff of the Oneonta Community Health Center are dedicated to maintaining the privacy of the patients served by the Health Center. Medical information is not released nor sought without the expressed consent of the patient.

HOW WE WORK

The Oneonta Community Health Center (OCHC) is open Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:00 pm.

Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, please call 607.433.0300.

Through its volunteer licensed medical professionals, OCHC provides primary and preventive care to eligible patients. OCHC also helps eligible patients enroll in county, state or federal health insurance programs and obtain needed medications and advanced care. Future services will be announced, as they are available.

SERVICES WE PROVIDE

  • Acute, regular and preventative health care
  • Management of some chronic and long-term medical conditions such as diabetes, COPD, asthma, high blood pressure

  • Health maintenance through return visits and education

  • Referrals to specialists
  • Dental care referrals
  • CDC physicals
  • Life Issues counseling such as for smoking cessation
  • Nutrition and dietary counseling
  • Mental Health counseling
  • Help obtaining free or affordable drugs

SERVICES NOT PROVIDED INCLUDE:

  • HIV and STD screening
  • Drug testing
  • Paternity testing
  • Obstetrics
  • Fertility testing
  • Pediatric care
  • Routine immunization
  • Travel medicine or inoculations
  • Substance abuse treatment
  • Green card physicals
  • Emergency or major trauma services
  • Chronic pain management
  • Onsite lab testing

ELIGIBILITY

Currently, there is no residency requirement. To be eligible you must meet the following criteria:

  • Household incomes may not exceed 300% of the 2019 poverty level established by the Federal Poverty Guidelines. https://aspe.hhs.gov/2019-poverty-guidelines
  • The income of all household members will be considered in establishing eligibility. Please bring financial documents including but not limited to:
    • paystub
    • W2
    • unemployment records
    • alimony or child support records
    • SSI, VA, pension, TANF, food stamps, housing benefits
    • tax returns
    • health insurance policy, with premiums and deductibles stated
  • The patient must not be eligible for private, county, New York State or Federal insurance programs, such as, HealthyNY, the NYS Essential Plan, Family Health Plus, Medicaid or Medicare. Patients will be guided by our patient navigator to existing insurance programs if the income and employment status indicates possible eligibility.
  • We will not duplicate services; if a patient qualifies for other programs, we will assist in the referral.
  • We are willing to see underinsured patients such as those with high deductible insurance plans.

Please note: Financial eligibility is reviewed every 90 days.

CANCELLATIONS

  • If you will not be able to make your appointment, please call us by 9:00 AM on the Monday before so we can then schedule someone waiting for an appointment.
  • Patients who miss 2 follow-up appointments without canceling may jeopardize their eligibility.
  • Patients who miss an appointment with a specialist arranged by an OCHC doctor without canceling will lose their eligibility for one year.

COSTS

There is no cost for patients to receive health care services from our physicians. The health center is not able to pay for medications. We help with applications to Prescription Assistance Programs offered by some pharmaceutical companies. We have a list of medications local pharmacies offer. We also have Good Rx cards and "Retail me not" RX coupons online we can print out for you.

YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

  • Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to complete forms
  • You will first meet with our Navigator to review your information
  • You will need to provide your contact and employer information (if employed)
  • You will need to provide proof of income (W2s, paystubs)
  • If you have any form of health insurance, please bring your identification card from the provider and information about your coverage
  • Bring a list of prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications and vitamins/herbal supplements and the dosage and frequency you are taking each
  • Be able to provide a list of any medications to which you are allergic
  • Bring a list of any surgeries you have had and the dates

PRIVACY PLEDGE

The Board and Staff of the Oneonta Community Health Center are dedicated to maintaining the privacy of the patients served by the Health Center. Medical information is not released nor sought without the expressed consent of the patient.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Appointments are often available within two weeks.

We usually can schedule patients to see the same provider for monthly visits.

We do not give shots in the office. We provide vouchers for shots at Rite Aid Pharmacy.

Yes, children are permitted but cannot be left unattended.

No, dental referrals are limited to current health center patients.

Yes, cleaning and x-rays are part of the services provided.

Calls are mainly returned on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday.

The health center is not able to not pay for medications. We help with applications to Prescription Assistance Programs offered by some pharmaceutical companies. We have a list of medications local pharmacies offer. We also have Good Rx cards and "Retail me not" RX coupons on line we can print out for you.

Yes, we have a specially trained "Navigator” available during clinic hours, every Tuesday evening.

We can do medical (not specialty) follow up appointments after an Emergency room visit.

The patient is responsible for the bill; however, Fox and Bassett do have a Financial Assistance Program to cover the cost for patients with no insurance. Our health center staff will assist you in completing the application.

The smoking cessation program is only for our patients.

The Board and Staff of the OCHC are dedicated to maintaining the privacy of our patients and to providing at the highest levels of confidentiality. Medical information is not released nor sought without the expressed consent of the patient.

RESOURCES

Chenango Health Network:

Chenango Health Network (CHN) Advocates help individuals and families to resolve their health insurance problems regardless of whether they are privately insured, publicly insured, or uninsured. Advocates also answer questions, provide information and offer support on a variety of health-related issues so that individuals and families get the health care they need. CHN also works in the counties surrounding Chenango.

Opportunities for Otsego (607) 433-8000

The Agency focuses its attention on specific problems affecting the community, mobilizes resources, and creates solutions to unlock opportunities for low-income individuals and disenfranchised families. Opportunities for Otsego helps alleviate poverty and fosters self-sufficiency through comprehensive and holistic client-centered services.

Catholic Charities of Delaware and Otsego Counties (607) 432-0061

Catholic Charities of Delaware, Otsego, and Schoharie Counties, an agency of the Diocese of Albany, provides quality essential human services to assist individuals and families to achieve personal and social growth. We value the oneness of all people and welcome the richness of race, color, religion, age, capacity and economic status. We work with individuals, families and communities to help meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate barriers and build a just and compassionate society.

Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT) (844) 732-6228

MCAT provides help during a crisis to children and adults in Oneida, Herkimer, Schoharie, Otsego, Delaware and Chenango Counties.