Access to Health Care

Hospitals

Hospitals provide a wide range of services which include acute care, rehabilitation, emergency medicine, diagnostic testing services and a variety of prevention/wellness programs. The three hospital organizations in Chautauqua County providing quality care to community residents include:

WCA Hospital 

Westfield Memorial Hospital 

Lake Erie Regional Health System of New York  which includes Brooks Hospital in Dunkirk, New York and Lake Shore Health Care Center in Irving, New York. 

Primary Care

More information coming soon.

Article 28 Clinics

More information coming soon.

The Chautauqua Center (Federally Qualified Health Center)

The latest initiative to expand access to health care is the establishment of The Chautauqua Center (TCC).  TCC is a Federally Qualified Health Center in Dunkirk, New York which is a community based clinic which provides primary care (medical, dental and behavioral) services in medically underserved areas.  TCC is slated to open in January 2013.

Home Care

Following acute care, individuals often need rehabilitation or ongoing nursing care. Click here for a complete listing of Independent Certified Agencies which provide ongoing care.

Skilled Nursing Facilities

There are a number of skilled nursing facilities that provide intensive nursing services as well as continuous inpatient care for Chautauqua County residents. Click here for a complete listing.

Hospice Chautauqua County 

For patients and families facing a terminal illness, Hospice Chautauqua County provides a wide range of services to meet physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Full coverage of Hospice care is covered by most commercial health insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. Most often, Hospice care is provided in the familiar surroundings of the patient's home, however, care is provided where people live, i.e., Home, Nursing Home, Assisted Living Facility or Hospital.

Get Covered! Helpline

The Get Covered! Helpline, a local initiative to improve access to health care coverage for Chautauqua County residents, has been linking residents to information about coverage options since 2006.  The toll-free helpline , staffed locally, offers tips on questions to ask, considerations for plan selection as well as interpretation of product descriptions.  If you do not have health insurance coverage or would like additional information call the Get Covered! Helpline at 1-888-753-7315. The helpline is staffed between 9 am – 4 pm , Monday - Friday. 

Additionally, CCHN has developed the No Health Insurance? series of brochures including:

• Worried about Medical Bills? 
• Worried about Hospital Bills?
• Worried about the Cost of Prescription Medications?

For copies of any of these materials, please call the Get Covered!Helpline or fax your order to 338-9740.

Chamber Benefit Program

The Chautauqua County Chamber Of Commerce offers its members the Bright Choices^® Exchange from Liazon, which is considered a revolution in buying and delivering employee benefits. This program helps businesses to control the ever-rising costs of benefits, particularly health insurance, while offering greater choice and coverage to employees.

Plan Descriptions
Liazon partners with top providers to bring the best selection of benefits. Partners include:

• Univera 
• Consult A Doctor
• MetLife
• Health Equity
• VSP
• EBS-RMSCO
• Wellness by Choice VPI Pet Insurance 

Health Insurance Exchanges - Coming in 2014

Exchanges are new organizations that will be set up to create a more organized and competitive market for buying health insurance. They will offer a choice of different health plans, certifying plans that participate and providing information to help consumers better understand their options. 

CCHN plans to participate in community forums to better educate people regarding what the exchanges are and how people can access coverage. Stay tuned for more information.  

Much has been said and written about health care reform under the Affordable Care Act and the future of health care in America.  This is a complex issue and many Americans only understand bits and pieces of the law.  To better understand the problems with the current health care system, the changes happening now and the big changes coming in 2014, we encourage you to watch this short animated movie developed by The Kaiser Family Foundation entitled “Health Reform Hits Main Street.”

To learn more about how the health reform law will impact the health insurance coverage options for individuals, families and businesses follow this link to "Illustrating Health Reform: How Health Insurance Coverage Will Work."