Public health dentist starts at clinic Monday

Friday, October 13, 2006

By CIGI ROSS

The Register-Mail

What's going on? Knox County's new public health dentist Dr. Tony McClure will start on Monday. The Knox County Board of Health met Thursday night and decided McClure will see only Medicaid eligible children until the end of this year. After Jan. 1, 2007, he will see families and adults that are under 250 percent of the poverty level.

Clinic update: The Community Health Clinic and the Dental Clinic will have an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Health Department.

Health Administrator Greg Chance also said the clinic received a commitment from the Galesburg Community Health Foundation to provide $25,000 to fund referral services. The board approved negotiating a contract with OSF St. Mary Medical Center for a contract with a physician to work in the clinic eight hours a week. The physician will be paid using a $75,000 rural health grant over five years.

New hours: Because of the upcoming opening of the Community Health Clinic the Knox County Health Department is restricting walk-in hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until the end of this year. Walk-in hours may be further limited in 2007, the board said. The previous hours were 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Income Guidelines

Who's eligible at 250 percent of the poverty level

Based on monthly household income

1 person - $24,500

2 people - $34,885

3 people - $41,500

4 people - $50,000

5 people - $58,500

6 people - $67,000

7 people - $75,500

8 people - $84,000