DETROIT – The Detroit Wayne County Health Authority has established a fund to help offset the cost of providing primary care for the uninsured in community health centers, announced Chris Allen, Executive Director and CEO. Health centers will submit vouchers to the Health Authority valued at $20 to help offset the cost of a patient’s initial primary care visit.

The fund is formally known as “Access for all…Health Care Fund” and will be part of the Health Authority’s Primary Care Development Corporation, Allen said.

“I’m pleased to announce that today we are initiating a pilot voucher program that will help pay for the initial patient visit to a community health center,” he said. “We hope that we’re able to grow this fund one day to ensure that all of the uninsured have access to care in a community health center.”

The pilot program was established by the Health Authority with a $25,000 grant. Philanthropic organizations and other donors will be asked to help build the fund to eventually provide a major source of financing that will allow more uninsured people to receive care in community health centers.

The Detroit Wayne County Health Authority is a public body corporate, established in 2004 by the State of Michigan , City of Detroit and Wayne County .  Its mission is to coordinate efforts to meet the health needs of the uninsured and underinsured residents in the City of Detroit and Wayne County by assuring access and improving the health status of all people.