Sliding Scale Healthcare
Definition
Medical services priced based on patients’ ability to pay, with low-income patients paying reduced fees and the very poor receiving free care. Sliding scale clinics calculate fees based on household income and size using federal poverty guidelines. This model enables access to primary care, dental care, mental health services, and medications for uninsured and underinsured residents who can’t afford standard healthcare prices.
Louisville Context
Louisville has several Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) offering sliding scale services: Family Health Centers, Americana Community Center, and others. However, capacity is limited and wait times for appointments can stretch weeks or months. Dental and mental health services have particularly long waits. Many uninsured Louisville residents don’t know sliding scale clinics exist or how to access them.
Why It Matters
Sliding scale healthcare provides essential safety net for the uninsured and underinsured, preventing conditions from becoming emergencies and reducing reliance on expensive emergency room care. However, insufficient capacity means many who need sliding scale services can’t access them in reasonable timeframes, leading to delayed care and worse outcomes.
Dave’s Proposal
Dave’s Community Wellness Centers will connect uninsured residents to existing sliding scale providers and help navigate applications for charity care at Louisville hospitals. He’ll work with FQHCs to expand capacity through facility partnerships and coordination. Community Wellness Centers may partner with health systems to host sliding scale specialty clinics, funded within $1.025 billion budget.