Madison County seeks to continue partnership with Midtown Health
MADISON – The Madison County Board of Commissioners this week reviewed the services provided by the Midtown Health Center, which helps the county serve the underprivileged population.
Kathy Nordby, director of the Midtown Health Center, shared examples of the center’s past work and latest plans with the commissioners during their meeting on Tuesday.
Madison County contracts with the Norfolk-based center to determine general care and needs.
Nordby, who has served as director since 2011, said she believes the county has helped fund Midtown since about 2007, providing annual funds of about $90,000.
“You got us out of a really bad situation and said it’s quite important to serve this population,” Nordby said.
The health center also received federal funding in 2007. It primarily serves those who have no health insurance at all.
One of the ways Midtown helps the county is by providing burials for the indigent. The county also has the right to pursue expenses from the deceased’s estate.
Midtown Health Center has grown significantly in the number of people it serves, Nordby said. This year, it expects to serve approximately 8,200 people, with approximately 28,000 meetings of various types.
It has grown from serving about 4,000 people in 2011. At the time, about 1,900 were uninsured.
With the Affordable Care Act and other efforts, it appears that only about 2,200 people were uninsured last year who were served, Nordby said.
Midtown Health Center also offers services in other communities, including Madison and West Point, as well as 14 schools, including all schools in Norfolk.
Troy Uhlir, chairman of the county board, said he appreciates the work Nordby and his staff have done, providing help to both those without insurance and those who need it.
“I’m very frugal by nature,” Nordby said.
Midtown Health Center also purchased the former Courtesy Ford building in downtown Norfolk. Plans now include an integrated service model with partner agencies that also serve a similar population.
Commissioner Ron Schmidt asked if there are many illegal immigrants being served.
Nordby said there is a stable undocumented population, and the center offers documentation services.
“We would encourage that (documentation),” he said.
There hasn’t been a large increase in the Latino population. The general population usually consists of about 10% to 12% minorities, with about 40% of the population served being minorities. Patients who spoke six languages were served last year, Nordby said.
Commissioner Eric Stinson said he knows the center provides quality care, including people who come to the center just because they like a doctor or the care they receive.
And having previously worked as a mortician, Stinson said he appreciates the general assistance provided with county burials for the indigent.
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