Montgomery Cares

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

The Montgomery Cares program provides health care services to low-income, uninsured adults who reside in Montgomery County, Maryland. Since its initial inception in 2006, the Montgomery Cares program has grown to serve 28,000 County residents per year as a result of a unique partnership that includes local hospitals, paid and volunteer providers, and on-profit safety-net clinics. Through a simple reimbursement strategy plus a sophisticated administrative services contract with a visionary local nonprofit community leader, Montgomery Cares offers patients primary health care, prescription drugs, lab and X-ray services and specialty care referrals. Services are available all over the county through arrangements with eleven community –based nonprofit clinics, which offer services in over 25 locations. Each clinic has its own board of directors and governing principles, and all are supported by an array of local faith-based, cultural and community service groups. Local hospitals offer the clinics assissance, such as free clinic space and access to hospital-based procedures and affiliated providers. The role of the County in Montgomery Cares is to establish and enforce program policy, oversee the budget and administer appropriated funds, and maintain the collaboration among a broad array of community interests.