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Medical Society 6405 Metcalf Avenue, Suite 507
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 What is Wy/JoCare? Wy/Jo Care is a community partnership to improve access to specialty health care for low-income, uninsured residents of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties. Wy/Jo Care combines care provided in primary care safety net clinics with donated specialty care in a coordinated program led by the Medical Society of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties. Wy/Jo Care is designed to enhance the work of existing safety net clinics and other community agencies. Why is Wy/Jo Care needed? Although many residents of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties have health insurance and reliable access to medical care, more than 60,000 do not. Often, those without health insurance are working in one or more low-wage jobs without health benefits, earning too much to qualify for programs like Medicaid, but not earning enough to afford health insurance and still meet other essential needs such as food, clothing, and housing. Many of the low-income, uninsured receive primary care services through safety net clinics located in Johnson and Wyandotte counties. However, there is no organized system in place for referring these patients to specialists. Wy/Jo Care is an opportunity for doctors, hospitals, city and county governments, and other community agencies to help existing safety net clinics and agencies provide needed care in a way that is coordinated, efficient, and more effective than any single entity could provide alone. Why should I support Wy/Jo Care? Wy/Jo Care is a highly visible example of physician leadership in action. At a time when the practice of medicine is becoming increasingly complex and frustrating, Wy/Jo Care is a pleasant contrast: designed by physicians, coordinated by the Medical Society of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, and focused on the fundamental values of our profession. Many physicians already care for uninsured patients; others would gladly help meet this need if the burden was shared fairly and the work was valued. Wy/Jo Care demonstrates the commitment of physicians to patients and our community in a way that is organized, efficient, and properly recognized. How does Wy/Jo Care work? Wy/Jo Care is modeled on similar Project Access programs in other cities including Wichita and Topeka. Components of the Wy/Jo Care system include a central referral office, a broad base of specialist physicians and fair distribution of patients among all physicians. The referring safety net clinic will verify patient eligibility. Access to laboratory and radiology services and medication will be facilitated by safety net clinics. Patients can be referred to Wy/Jo Care by doctors and nurses working in the Safety Net Clinics: Duchesne Clinic, Health Partnership Clinic of Johnson County, Silver City Clinic, Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care Services, Swope Health Quindaro, Swope Health Wyandotte, and Turner House Clinic for Children. What would be my responsibilities as a volunteer specialty physician? First you would be asked to complete the Volunteer Physician Participation form which would tell us how many patients you would like to see each year (10-20 is suggested), your office location, hospital preferences, and age range of patient you wish to see. The patient will present a Wy/Jo Care card to your office staff and you will see the patient just as you see other patients. You will be provided with the name and number of the patient’s provider in their safety net clinic, pertinent clinical information and the results of any routine diagnostic procedures you would like the patient to have prior to the appointment. Your office staff will be instructed to “bill” the contact information listed on the Wy/Jo Care card. Please keep in mind no payment will be forthcoming. We will keep track of the amount of charitable care you provide and supply you with an annual summary of that information for your records. If there are diagnostic services that the patient needs such as laboratory studies, X-rays, or other tests, you may choose to donate these, if you regularly do these in your office. Alternatively, Wy/Jo Care will assist your office staff in arranging for these studies at other participating facilities. There is no precertification or other restriction; you decide what is needed. A letter detailing your assessment and care plan should be sent to Wy/Jo Care. Wy/Jo Care and the safety net clinic will help facilitate subsequent care. What if a patient needs hospitalization? At this time, hospital participation in the Wy/Jo Care program is limited. If hospitalization is needed, please call Wy/Jo Care for a list of participating hospitals. If a patient enters a non-participating hospital, the patient will be responsible for payment. Who can receive this care? Wy/Jo Care patients must have been a Wyandotte or Johnson County resident for the past three months, uninsured and does not qualify for governmental programs like Medicare or Medicaid. Total family income must be 200% or less of federal poverty guidelines (about $40,000 per year for a family of four). What if a patient needs medication? The safety net clinics’ patients have access to low-cost or no-cost medication assistance programs for uninsured patients. While these programs do not cover all medications, many are covered. Simply notify the Wy/Jo Care staff of a medication need, and they will work with the patient’s primary care safety net clinic to provide medication assistance. What is the patient’s responsibility in the program? Patients are responsible for keeping appointments and for making a good-faith effort to work in partnership with their doctors. The safety net clinics will work with the patient to facilitate medical interpreters and transportation. I already care for low-income patients, some of whom who need primary care. Can you help me? Yes, we can. You simply need to notify the Wy/Jo Care office, so we can help your patient find a “home” in one of our safety net clinics. How can I be sure that I will receive only the number of patients that I have agreed to see? Wy/Jo Care maintains a special referral system to assure that only the number of Wy/Jo Care patients that you have agreed to accept will come into your practice. Referrals rotate among the specialists to assure equal distribution of these patients. Wy/Jo CARE will follow your instructions on how to contact your office to set up each patient’s first visit. What about malpractice coverage? The Charitable Health Care Provider Program (CHCPP) provides liability coverage to physicians with a Kansas License who donate care to the medically indigent. Under this program, charitable health care providers who are sued by a recipient of their donated care will be defended by the Attorney General’s office. The Tort Claim Fund will be the payer of first resort, even if other insurance coverage exists. There is no cost for enrolling in this program. Wy/Jo Care will help facilitate your enrollment if you wish to do so. Wy/Jo Care will also complete the Annual Reports required by CHCPP. More detailed information is available from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment – office of Local and Rural Health at http://www.kdheks.gov/olrh.CHP.htm. Where can I find more information on Wy/Jo Care? For more information, please contact the administrative offices of the medical society either via email wyjocare@msjwc.org or phone at 913-403-0544.
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