HealthNet West Grand Opening Celebration: Affordable Care Act Enables New Community Health Center to Open on Indianapolis' Westside
1/14/2013
A community open house will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on January 17, 2013 to celebrate the grand opening of the new HealthNet West Health Center at 6029 W. 10th St. near I-465. The 4,500 sq. ft. health center on the near Westside of Indianapolis will provide primary care to a community that has seen a decrease in providers and has struggled to obtain adequate access to medical care.
Guest speakers at a brief 4:30 p.m. ceremony at Thursday’s open house will include IU Health West President/CEO Matt Bailey; City/County Councillor Marilyn Pfisterer; Speedway Town Manager Barb Lawrence; Chris Worden, District Director for Congressman André Carson’s Office; and HealthNet President/CEO J. Cornelius Brown. In addition to tours, refreshments, prize drawings and giveaways, the Indiana Pacers’ Fan Van and mascot Boomer will be on site for the grand opening celebration.
In addition to adult primary care, pediatrics and OB/GYN services, the center will offer podiatry, optometry, social work and behavioral health services, access to discounted prescriptions as well as nutrition and smoking cessation counseling. The health center is expected to serve 3,000 patients and provide 12,000 visits at capacity. More than 60% of the service area population is low-income, living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
The new health center was designed by Halstead Architects. Phase one, completed by Wurster Construction, included remodeling the old Blockbuster Video building into nine exam rooms, a lab, and office space for behavioral health and other health education programs. Phase II, to be completed when additional funding is available, will include renovation of 2,000 square feet into additional exam room space.
The project is made possible by a $900,000 grant HealthNet was awarded in June 2012 by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. HealthNet was one of only three recipients in Indiana to receive the New Access Point funding made possible by the Affordable Care Act that will help build, expand and improve community health centers nationwide. The grant will cover equipment and initial start-up operating costs for the new health center. HealthNet funded the $312,000 renovation.
The health center’s hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Same-day appointments are available. Medical services are delivered regardless of ability to pay, and the cost of care is based on a sliding fee scale and family income.
To tour the new health center or to schedule an appointment, please call (317) 782-2121.
Since 1968, HealthNet (http://www.indyhealthnet.org) has been a mainstay in the Indianapolis community. Through its network of community-based health centers, an OB/GYN care center, a pediatric and adolescent care center, a maternal-fetal medicine center and five school-based clinics, HealthNet annually serves over 51,500 individuals and families. Many of them are uninsured or underinsured and live below the federal poverty level. HealthNet services include: primary and preventive health care; OB-GYN support and coaching for expectant mothers; Healthy Families and Better Indy Babies; dental services; Homeless Initiative Program; counseling, outreach and social service programs. HealthNet’s health centers include Barrington Health & Dental Center, Eastside Health Center, West Health Center, Martindale-Brightwood Health & Dental Center, People’s Health & Dental Center, Southeast Health & Dental Center, Southwest Health & Dental Center, the Care Center at the Tower, the Pediatric and Adolescent Care Center and the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center. HealthNet is Indiana’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center and is an affiliate of IU Health.