SHARE will reopen with new fee plan

After closing for about two weeks due to lack of funding, the SHARE Clinic in Sparta will reopen for two days this Thursday and Friday, then close for a week, and then will reopen permanently on Aug. 12.

The clinic on North Main Street sees patients who are uninsured or underinsured and have trouble affording health care.

The clinic expects to get funding restored, said Dr. Georgia Latham, but for a little while, it must charge patients.

So instead of a sliding fee scale, patients (except those with Medicaid) will find a minimum charge of $40 for a doctor visit. Patients who only see a nurse, say for blood pressure checks or injections, will get $20 back.

"This will enable the clinic to get back on its feet and keep the doors open while waiting for grant funding and payments from Medicare, Medicaid and insurance companies," she said.

"As soon as we have funding again from the state, we'll reinstate the sliding fee scale," Dr. Latham said.

It's possible people could receive credits on their accounts for what they pay in the meantime, she said.

The opening Thursday and Friday is to "catch anybody needing urgent care, although truthfully we have been seeing people who need urgent care," Dr. Latham said.

Volunteers are also available at the clinic daily from 10 a.m. to noon to help patients get medicine.

On Thursday (Aug. 2), hours will be noon to 8 p.m. And on Friday (Aug. 3), hours will be noon to 5 p.m.

On Aug. 12 the clinic will resume normal hours, which are Monday and Thursday from noon to 8, and Tuesday and Friday from noon to 5.

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