Patient Stories

Many of those folks who have been dropped are turning to the few free health clinics in Idaho for their health care and those clinics are feeling the strain.

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Steve Davis, Clinic Director for the Genesis Free and Charitable Clinics in Caldwell and Garden City, and Sherrie Joseph, who directs the Pocatello Clinic joined Idaho Matters to give us an update on the situation.

The Idaho Association of Free and Charitable Clinics is encouraging Idahoans who are losing Medicaid benefits through a process of mass re-evaluations known as Medicaid Unwinding to visit one of 13 free clinics across the state.

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“We know that many of our Idaho friends and neighbors are experiencing medical hardships and can’t get help because of insurance status, financial difficulties, or other system barriers,” said Mindy Hong, IAFCC executive director, said in a news release. “No matter what your situation is, our free clinics will warmly welcome you and provide you with quality services.”

Many Idaho residents are losing Medicaid benefits due to a process of mass re-evaluations known as Medicaid Unwinding. While many deemed ineligible will have access to other insurance options, some Idahoans will not.

This new clinic will give the community dental care, which is something they have not ever had. Dr. Davis says this is going to be a great addition to Lincoln County. “One of the big things is going to be the dental care on a sliding fee schedule, so there will be reduced charges, reduced fees for dental care,” said Dr. Keith Davis. 

Construction is set to begin anytime now, and is expected to take one year. The clinic will be named after Dr. Davis, which was a surprise to him.

“We honestly can’t wait to connect community members with accessible resources that advance the health of our community,” said Emilia Carrillo, health equity intern for United Way of Southeastern Idaho. “And it will be a wonderful event with free delicious food, family-friendly activities and excellent connections.”

Sherrie Joseph is in the middle of expanding the Pocatello Free Clinic to neighboring Power County, where the clinic now serves immigrants in American Falls who haven’t had access to dental care or mental health services before. 

The Rexburg Free Clinic now has a dietitian. Rexburg’s Shannon Haderlie will be working with residents interested in improving their health starting April 27 at the clinic. She will do so every other Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the clinic located at 60 W Main on the first floor of the Madison School District office.

"The money is so important. It pays the bills. As you all know if you've been to the doctor or the dentist recently, care is very expensive and we stretch every dollar here as far as we possibly can. We use a lot of volunteers to make ends meet. We take a lot of donations, but if I don't have dollars, I don't have a clinic," says Sherrie Joseph, Executive Director of Pocatello Free Clinic.

Mindy Hong, the Executive Director of the Idaho Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and Steve Davis, the Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Community Health, joined Idaho Matters to help answer these questions.

“The service we provide is incredibly important,” said Rikki Fix, a BSU student who has been volunteering with Genesis since the beginning of the program. “I can’t imagine how frustrating and scary it must be to be in a room with a doctor who is only a few feet away from you, but whom you are unable to communicate your medical needs with.”

Dr. Georgia Milan, medical director of the Pocatello Free Clinic, was awarded the Joy Morrison Award earlier this month. Dr. Milan said she has been working with the Free Clinic for about three years now. Her specialty is family medicine. In addition to her work with the Free Clinic, she is also heavily involved in humanitarian work.

A full list of organizations that were approved to receive 2022 Impact Grants can be found below, along with a description on what the funding will be used for.

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Snake River Community Clinic -- $96,848

HEALER project lll: Practice and Outreach

Two Rexburg organizations recently received a total of $3,500 in grant funds from the Idaho Community Foundation through its Forever Idaho East program.The Madison Middle School Library and the Rexburg Free Clinic were among 60 organizations, that included schools and senior centers in eastern Idaho, to receive a total of $220,000 in grants via the program.

“Improving the oral health of the community with free restorative dental services helps businesses, improves mental health, decreases emergency room visits, and improves health equity in the Lewis Clark valley and the region,” said Burford-Bell.