Family First Health

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Media Contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155
c: 203-731-7228

Family First Health invites public to free Affordable Care Act enrollment sessions

WHAT:
Family First Health is offering free group enrollment sessions during the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period, which runs through Feb. 15, 2015.

Individuals who are currently employed, filing taxes in 2015, without health insurance, a resident of Pennsylvania and are not offered employer-based health insurance may be eligible for low-cost health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Those without coverage in 2015 face an increased financial penalty of $325 per adult and $162.50 per child OR 2 percent of household income, whichever is higher.

Family First Health’s Certified Application Counselors will be available at each enrollment session to assist with navigation of the marketplace.

WHEN/WHERE:
Thursday, Dec. 4 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., George Street Center, 116 S. George St., York PA
Thursday, Dec. 18 – Noon to 7 p.m., George Street Center, 116 S. George St., York PA
Thursday, Jan. 8 – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Place, Hanover, PA
Thursday, Jan. 15 – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Adams County Library, 140 Baltimore St., Gettysburg, PA
Thursday, Jan. 22 – Noon to 7 p.m., George Street Center, 116 S. George St., York PA
Thursday, Jan. 29 – 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.,  Hanover Hospital Wellness & Education Center, 400 York St., Hanover, PA
Thursday, Feb. 12 – Noon to 7 p.m., George Street Center, 116 S. George St., York PA

BACKGROUND:
Registration is required for some sessions; find full dates and details at www.familyfirsthealth.org/fees-insurance/enrollment.

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About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the Web site at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contacts
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155
c: 203-731-7228

Family First Health kicks off “Give the Gift of Good Health” fundraising campaign by participating in York’s #GivingTuesday

WHEN:
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014

WHAT:
This year, Family First Health launches its Give the Gift of Good Health campaign as part of the community initiative #GivingTuesdayYork. Join us at Central Market House for this coordinated day of giving and pose in our #UNSelfie photo booth before you make your donation. Or, donate online through our secure form at familyfirsthealth.org. Each donation helps Family First Health provide affordable, high-quality medical and dental care and support services to members of our community. With your gift this season, our dental program could provide:

• $200 – One well-child check-up
• $100 – One panoramic x-ray of a child’s mouth
• $75 – One comprehensive oral exam
• $50 – One dental cleaning

WHERE:
Central Market House
34 W. Philadelphia St.
York, PA 17401

ON-SITE CONTACT:
Jess Ensminger, Executive Communications Coordinator
[email protected]

BACKGROUND:
#GivingTuesday was founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. Together, with a team of influencers and founding partners, a global movement that has engaged more 10,000 organizations worldwide was launched.  On Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

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About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the Web site at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155
c: 203-731-7228

 Family First Health to participate in Extraordinary Give fundraising campaign Nov. 21

Central Pa. – Family First Health is pleased to announce its participation in the Extraordinary Give, a 24-hour, online giving marathon where every dollar donated will be stretched by a $250,000 contribution from the Lancaster County Community Foundation.

Beginning at midnight Friday, Nov. 21, donors are invited to visit www.ExtraGive.org from a computer, smartphone or other device and select Family First Health from the list of community benefit organizations. Your online donation (minimum of $25) is fully tax-deductible.

As part of the day’s celebrations, Family First Health and Leg Up Farm will be at the Elizabethtown Public Library, 10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The public is welcome to come out and learn more about the organizations and meet Chester, one of Leg Up Farm’s many special animals.

The ExtraGive giving marathon provides a way for anyone to make an impact and strengthen the nonprofit sector of our community and go the extra mile for those who rely on Family First Health to provide affordable, high-quality medical and dental care and social services. This year’s goal is $6,000 in donations.

Every donation received by Family First Health through www.ExtraGive.org makes the community health center eligible for a percentage of the stretch pool. So, if Family First Health raises 5 percent of the donations throughout the day, they receive 5 percent of the $250,000 contribution. Also up for grabs is $50,000 in prizes and incentives that could further benefit Family First Health.

Find more information at www.ExtraGive.org.

# # # 

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155
c: 203-731-7228

American Academy of Family Physicians selects Family First Health physician Dr. Wanda Filer as president-elect

York, Pa. (Oct. 22, 2014) – Family First Health is pleased to announce that family physician Dr. Wanda Filer has been selected by the American Academy of Family Physicians as its president-elect. Dr. Filer was elected into her position as part of the 2014 meeting of The Congress of Delegates, the Academy’s policy-making body, held over two-and-a-half days in Washington, D.C., Oct. 20-22. She will assume her role of president of AAFP in fall 2015.

A part-time family physician with Family First Health, Dr. Filer joined the federally qualified health center in 2012 and works at the George Street Center in York and the Hanover Center. She also founded the Strategic Health Institute and is involved on the local and national levels with health improvement and advocacy development.

Dr. Filer served as Pennsylvania’s first Physician General and has worked extensively with the media, including 18 years as a health correspondent for WGAL News 8 in Lancaster.

She earned her doctorate from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia and completed her residency in family medicine at Underwood Memorial Hospital in Woodbury, N.J., where she also served as chief resident. She completed her MBA in 2009 at Pennsylvania State University Executive MBA Program.

Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 115,900 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.

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About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

The public can visit www.startswithapples.com for more information on becoming health literate and working with their health care team, and employers can download a free, digital “Get Healthy At Work” kit including posters, a health pledge and a templated award for employees committed to their health.

Signers of the pledge, which asks workers to get active over their lunch break, are encouraged to snap a photo of themselves with their pledge and share it on the Family First Health Facebook page or on Twitter with the hashtag #startswithapples. And, follow Family First Health on Facebook and Twitter for tips on being an informed patient all month long.

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About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. As a FQHC, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information, please visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155

 

Family First Health welcomes York City’s only native Spanish-speaking  primary care physician, Dr. Luis Garcia 

Central Pa. (Sept. 3, 2014) – Family First Health is pleased welcome Dr. Luis Garcia, York City’s only native Spanish-speaking primary care physician. Dr. Garcia joined the team at Family First Health’s George Street Center, 116 S. George St., York, on Aug. 11 and is now accepting appointments.

Specializing in family medicine, Dr. Garcia will provide comprehensive health services to patients seeking accessible and affordable quality care, including York’s growing Spanish-speaking population.

“I made a promise to myself that if I became a doctor, I would use my skill as a native Spanish speaker to serve the underserved Spanish-speaking community in the U.S.,” he said. “Family First Health has provided me with that opportunity and I am happy to begin serving the Spanish-speaking population of York.”

Dr. Garcia earned his doctorate at Temple University of Medicine and completed his residency at York Hospital. His interest in medicine began during a mission trip to the Dominican Republic as a teenager.

“I learned that despite poverty, many people were living happy lives — except for when they were sick and injured,” Dr. Garcia said. “I realized that health and good, quality health care should not be a luxury available to select few, but should be available to all.”

Engaged and involved with community outreach during his time with York Hospital, Dr. Garcia plans to continue his volunteer work and seek opportunities outside the office as a means to impact others and serve as a positive example for the community.

Interested patients can schedule an appointment with Dr. Garcia by calling Family First Health’s George Street Center at 717-845-8617.

 # # #

 About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155
c: 203-731-7228 

Family First Health receives $15,000 grant from Highmark Blue Shield  in support of Kids Against Cavities

  

Central Pa. – Family First Health is pleased to announce it has received a $15,000 grant from Highmark Blue Shield in support of Kids Against Cavities, which aims to increase access to coordinated, cost-effective and high-quality oral health care for children in York and Adams counties.

Kids Against Cavities is a comprehensive pediatric oral health care system based on the Hub and Spoke Model, which was created in 2007 by the Kansas Association for Medically Underserved (KAMU).

As an initiative of Family First Health, Kids Against Cavities uses the federally qualified health center’s five established sites in York and Adams counties as dental “hubs,” with satellite locations, services and partnerships as “spokes” to provide expanded treatment options.

This model allows providers to directly deliver services to underserved children and reserve fixed-site services for high-intensity treatment. This takes a proactive approach in strengthening the community’s oral health by decreasing geographic barriers to care. In addition, the expansion of the portable dentistry approach contributes to the financial viability of the “hub” by providing reimbursable services off-site to a target population.

The $15,000 grant is designated specifically for equipment that will allow Family First Health to expand its Kids Against Cavities program to 500 to 700 children enrolled in Head Start locations and school-based sites and implement technology that will enable expanded treatment options regardless of venue of care.

# # # 

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155
c: 203-731-7228

Family First Health celebrates National Health Center Week with Rep. Scott Perry

Central PA (August 10, 2013) — Family First Health is participating this week in National Health Center Week (NHCW) from Aug. 10-16, 2014, to showcase the multitude of ways in which America’s community health centers are actively changing, improving and innovating the health of their communities. This year’s theme is “America’s Health Centers — Local Engines for Healthier Communities.” 

As part of the week, Family First Health welcomed Representative Scott Perry (R-PA), York County Commissioner Doug Hoke and members of the community to its Hanover Center, 1230 High St., Hanover, for an open house Wednesday, Aug. 13. Dental and medical providers were also on hand to meet with the community.

“Health centers deliver high quality, cost-effective, accessible care while serving as critical economic engines helping to power local economies,” said Jenny Englerth, CEO of Family First Health. “Despite providing a broader array of services and serving more at-risk patients, health centers’ average cost runs less per patient per day compared to all physician settings.”

According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, health centers serve as the medical and health care home for more than 22 million people nationally — a number that is quickly growing. Currently, there are more than 9,000 locations across the country.

Learn more about National Health Center Week at www.healthcenterweek.org. 

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About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. As a federally qualified health center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155
c: 203-731-7228

  

Family First Health receives $50,000 grant from The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation in support of Kids Against Cavities

 

Central Pa. – Family First Health is pleased to announce it has received a $50,000 grant from The Stabler Foundation in support of Kids Against Cavities, which aims to increase access to coordinated, cost-effective and high-quality oral health care for children in York and Adams counties.

Kids Against Cavities is a comprehensive pediatric oral health care system based on the Hub and Spoke Model, which was created in 2007 by the Kansas Association for Medically Underserved (KAMU).

As an initiative of Family First Health, Kids Against Cavities uses the federally qualified health center’s five established sites in York and Adams counties as dental “hubs,” with satellite locations, services and partnerships as “spokes” to provide expanded treatment options.

This model allows providers to directly deliver services to underserved children and reserve fixed-site services for high-intensity treatment. This takes a proactive approach in strengthening the community’s oral health by decreasing geographic barriers to care. In addition, the expansion of the portable dentistry approach contributes to the financial viability of the “hub” by providing reimbursable services off-site to a target population.

The $50,000 grant, awarded by The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation on June 23, 2014, will support Kids Against Cavities as it enhances its services, including:

• Expanding mobile service to 500 children enrolled in 18 Early Head Start and Head Start of York County locations
• Increasing operating room capacity for treatment of children with special needs
• Further developing partnerships with local dental residency programs
• Implementing technology to enable expanded treatment options
• Tracking oral health outcomes

# # # 

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.