Speaker: Katherine Gaulke
Katherine is the Founder / executive of Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (WAFCC)
In today's presentation, Katherine shared how the non-profit Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (WAFCC), formed in 2014, is working in response to the continuing gaps in the changing healthcare "landscape"
Throughout the state, there are numerous Free and Charitable Clinics available to assist individuals / families. In essence, they are safety-net health care organizations that utilize a volunteer / staff model providing a large range of health, dental, vision, and pharmacy care. They also assist people in conquering hurdles regarding health care.
Katherine Gaulke also highlighted some of the important guidelines / laws to the Affordable Care Act (ACA/Obamacare). For example, all individuals / families must have minimum essential health coverage or pay a penalty. Coverage must include – ambulatory, emergency care, hospitalization, lab services, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse services, pediatric services, prescription drug services, rehab/ habilitation and wellness and disease management. Vision or Dental care is not included under minimum essential health coverage. Presently there is a critical shortage of dental and mental health providers in our state. Healthcare.gov is where you go if your employer is not offering affordable healthcare coverage – which must be below 9.56% of your AGI. How to find an insurance agent for your work / family? Go to the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of insurance Website or
The WAFCC is optimistic that for 2016, 12.7 million people have been ensured which is an increase from last year. Educating people how to navigate the marketplace or Badger Care for coverage is critical. Many things people need to be taught in order for a program like this to be successful. Literacy includes: requesting lower tier medications or knowing which doctors are "in network". Poor health knowledge and inability to navigate the insurance Marketplace results in increased hospital use, increased emergency room use - and soon individuals being uninsured due to high levels of frustration.
