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Family First Health to Open Primary Care Health Office at William Penn Senior High School

New full-service office brings accessible, affordable, quality medical and behavioral health care to more than 1,600 students

For Immediate Release

YORK, PA – Family First Health (FFH) is pleased to announce it is expanding its health care relationship with the School District of the City of York by opening a student-based health center at William Penn Senior High School in York City.

The new, full-service primary care office will be available to each of the more than 1,600 students who attend the high school daily. The expansion of the existing health office will provide students access to medical and integrated behavioral health care without leaving campus, offering a vital resource to students who might not otherwise have access to the services.

“This is an exciting effort for us which is based on our partnership in learning from and collaborating with the school district at our school-based health center at Hannah Penn,” said Jenny Englerth, Family First Health President and CEO. “We know accessible healthcare provides greater opportunity for students. When they can access the health care they need, students learn better, attendance rates improve, and graduation rates increase.”

Family First Health currently operates York County’s only school-based health center at the Hannah Penn Pre-K-8 school. The new high school facility allows the school district to expand medical services to students through grade 12.

“For almost 30 years we have had a longstanding relationship with Family First Health and our students have benefitted,” says Dr. Andrea Berry-Brown, Superintendent of the School District of the City of York. “We are excited because this new center at William Penn Senior High School allows us to give students access to seamless medical and behavioral health care services pre-K through 12th grade. We will reach more students and continue to show that when the community works together, it’s better for our students.”

Family First Health’s School-Based Health Center at Hannah Penn Pre-K-8 offers primary care, integrated behavioral health care, health and wellness coaching as well as mobile school dentistry, insurance enrollment, and more.

To support the new Family First Health at William Penn Senior High School, donations and pledges are being accepted through Family First Health’s website. The fundraising goal is $1.2 million.

For more information about Family First Health at William Penn Senior High School, please visit Family First Health’s website.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality health care at 8 convenient locations in Adams, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. Family First Health strives to improve the health of all members of the communities we serve through primary medical and dental care and a wide range of community health programs. Our uniquely qualified team of health care professionals creates an environment that is patient-centered, helping patients to live happier, healthier lives. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla Español.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Amy Chamberlin | 717-801-4808 | achamberlin@familyfirsthealth.org

PennLive: Federally funded health center to set up shopat low-income central Pa. high school

York City’s high school is about to get a school-based health center.

On Friday, Family First Health, a federally qualified health center, announced it plans to open a student-based health center at William Penn Senior High School.

The full-service primary care office will serve the school’s 1,600 students, expanding on the existing health office with student access to medical and integrated behavioral healthcare.

The health center already operates a school-based health center at Hannah Penn, a K-8 school. The new center will offer similar services found at the Hannah Penn center, including primary care, integrated behavioral health care, health and wellness coaching and mobile school dentistry.

“We know accessible healthcare provides greater opportunity for students,” said Jenny Englerth, Family First Health president and CEO. “When they can access the health care they need, students learn better, attendance rates improve, and graduation rates increase.”

Lancaster and Chambersburg also have school-based health centers.

Studies show that students who have access to school-based health centers do better in school, have higher high school graduation rates, and decreased school disciplinary issues, according to the School-Based Health Alliance.

Teenagers who are reluctant to see a doctor are more likely to get help for health issues like depression and anxiety, if they have access to a school-based health center, according to a report by KidsHealth.

“For almost 30 years we have had a longstanding relationship with Family First Health and our students have benefitted,” said Dr. Andrea Berry-Brown, Superintendent of the School District of the City of York. “We are excited because this new center at William Penn Senior High School allows us to give students access to seamless medical and behavioral health care services pre-K through 12th grade. We will reach more students and continue to show that when the community works together, it’s better for our students.”

William Penn Senior High School is ranked in the bottom 50% of all schools in Pennsylvania for overall test scores, according to US News & World Report. The school ranks 100% of its students as economically disadvantaged. It is the only high school in York.

There are about 2,500 school-based health clinics across the country.

Donations and pledges are being accepted through Family First Health to support the center at William Penn with a fundraising goal of $1.2 million.

ABC27: Health center in York County makes push for early cancer screening in clients

(WHTM) — Patients at federal-qualified health centers — clinics that tend to serve those in need and those patients — don’t tend to get screened for cancer as much as other people.

But Family First Health in York says it has begun to close the gap. Family First is making a big push to make sure its clients get screened for breast cancer -cervical cancer -and colorectal cancer.

“For breast cancer and cervical cancer, we have outdone ourselves for, state of Pennsylvania average,” Clinical Quality Director Dr. Hetal Patel said. “And then the national federally qualified health center average for colorectal cancer, we did well above state average, but not the national average. And the goal is to continue on that journey.”

In 2023, Family First’s breast and cervical screening rates topped 50%. Although, the screening rate for the overall U.S. population is more like 80%.

Watch the video here.

LiveStrong: What Is a Sliding Scale, and How Can It Help You Get More Affordable Health Care?

What’s in a person’s wallet or bank account shouldn’t affect the quality or quantity of health care they receive. And yet anyone who has ever debated between ponying up a $50 copay or paying for groceries, rent or other necessities knows that’s not the case. Sometimes, health care is out of reach financially.

Sliding fee scales aim to introduce equity to health care decisions, by offering a discounted rate. “The advantage of using a sliding fee scale is that health care becomes a lot more affordable because how much you need to pay for each procedure becomes relative to your income,” says David Chen, DDS, a dentist in Long Island City, New York.

Here’s what you need to know about the sliding fee scale and how it might help you.

What Is a Sliding Fee Scale?

Sliding fee scales are typically determined by income. They aim to cut the cost of health care services for people who meet certain income requirements, explains Christa Holmes, the practice manager at Cornerstone Care Community Health Center of Washington.

Essentially, it allows health care providers to “reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for your services, based upon your household’s income,” Holmes says.

Sliding fee scales are required at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), which get federal funding and provide health care to underserved areas or populations, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

But FQHCs aren’t the only health institutions to offer a sliding scale — other clinics, hospitals and private practices may offer sliding fee scales as well. (More on that in a moment.)

How Sliding Fee Scales Work

Eligibility

Your eligibility for the sliding fee scale at a FQHC is determined by two things: the size of your family and your income level. To qualify, your income needs to be at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, Holmes explains.

For D.C. and all states aside from Hawai’i and Alaska, the poverty guideline for an individual in 2024 is $15,060, according to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). For a family of four, the income level is $31,200, per ASPE. So, 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for a single person is $30,120, and for a family of four, it’s $62,400.

Clinics typically request proof of income, Holmes says. “That can be in the form of a pay stub, most recent income tax return or W-2 or proof of any form of income not reportable on a tax return,” she says. You’ll need to include information for yourself and anyone else in your household, because the guidelines vary accordingly.

You can ask the health care organization or provider for a list of documents required for proof of income.

Do You Need Health Insurance?

Put simply: No, not at a FQHC.

“The sliding fee scale can be offered to patients regardless of their insurance status,” says Elizabeth Workinger, controller for Family First Health, a FQHC in Pennsylvania. “If you qualify for the program and have insurance, there is a possibility it can help with out-of-pocket costs,” she says.

Outside of FQHCs, health insurance requirements may vary.

Fees Vary From One Clinic to Another

If you’re going to a FQHC, it must follow the Federal Poverty Guidelines to determine if you’re qualified for a sliding fee scale, Workinger says. But, “each health center can establish their own fees,” she notes. Consider comparing the fees at multiple health care providers to find the best deal.

Are Sliding Fee Scales Available Elsewhere?

It’s not only FQHCs that offer sliding fees. Other health clinics, hospitals and private practitioners may offer them as well.

For instance, the Chicago Women’s Health Clinic (CWHC), which offers service to women, transgender individuals and youth, has a sliding scale based on income and household size, and it doesn’t require any documentation or proof of income to access the sliding scale.

At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), there’s a financial assistance program available “for people with household incomes up to 5 times the federal poverty level who cannot pay for their medical care.” If you’re eligible for this program, it can lead to lowered fees (like a sliding scale) or the balance being paid after you pay the amount you can afford, per MSKCC.

There’s a sliding fee program available at Northwell Health solely for uninsured patients. And at Cedars-Sinai, you can receive medical care without any charge if your income is at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level, or get a discounted rate if your income is between 401 and 600 percent of the federal poverty level.

And some — but not all — private practices may offer a sliding fee scale.

As the owner and founder of Nutrethos, a nutrition counseling practice, Carlos Fragoso, RD, CDN, doesn’t accept insurance, explaining “as a single-member private practice it is extremely difficult to become in-network with insurance companies” and noting that “navigating the world of insurance billing is like learning a new language.”

Instead, his clients pay out of pocket. Insured patients with out-of-network benefits sometimes are reimbursed for these payments by their insurance.

“For those clients who do not have out-of-network benefits and may not have the financial means to pay weekly to see me, I offer a sliding scale which is approximately a 10 to 35 percent discount off my usual rate, depending on their needs,” Fragoso says.

Needs are determined based on income and financial obligations, and through “an open and honest discussion,” he says. “I do not ask to see financial statements, I think that is too invasive.”

For therapists, a sliding fee scale is quite common, but not required, says Stephanie Barca, LMSW, of Benjamin Holmes Counseling, in Nashville, Tennessee. That means “there is no uniform process,” she says. “Some therapists choose to have prospective clients fill out a form asking for specific financials. Others may ask what the individual is comfortable paying and discuss how they got to that amount.”

Offering a discounted rate can be easier for private practitioners, Barca says, echoing Fragoso. But not all practices offer this. Dr. Chen doesn’t offer a sliding fee schedule at his dental office. Some private practices can be reluctant to do so, he believes, because it can require requesting pay stubs or tax returns. “Dentistry is pretty personal, but that’s a little too personal in my opinion,” Dr. Chen says.

Setting up a sliding fee scale is a challenging task. You either take people at their word (as Fragoso does) or require paperwork, which means an administrative burden.

There’s another reason private practitioners may hold off on establishing a sliding scale: They need to cover their costs and earn a living. “I usually reserve 20 percent of my spots for clients who require a sliding scale,” Fragoso says. He operates with a sense of how much he needs to take home each month. “If I take on more clients one month, I can offer more sliding scale spots,” he says.

Tips for Using a Sliding Scale

Find a Provider

One smart starting place: Look for a FQHC located near you, Workinger says. Visit findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov to find locations, she suggests.

You can search online for providers or clinics using keywords like “sliding scale” or “financial assistance” and the type of doctor or health care you need. You can also search major hospitals located nearby.

For therapists, Psychology Today and Good Therapy offer directories with a filter for therapists offering a sliding scale, Barca says. Keep in mind that not all therapists will advertise their negotiating ability.

Be Prepared for Paperwork and Conversations

Expect that many health care offices will want you to fill out some paperwork, and bring along some proof of income. (Again, it won’t be required by all health care providers, but FQHCs will need documentation.)

It can help to call before your appointment, so you can be clear on if you’re covered, and what fee you’ll owe prior to receiving care. You can also check on the clinic’s website to understand what information you’ll need to provide and review the application.

For practitioners who aren’t part of a FQHC, there are a lot of ways to handle the sliding fee scale. Some, like Fragoso, may reserve a set amount of appointments for patients. “Some therapists choose to have prospective clients fill out a form asking for specific financials. Others may ask what the individual is comfortable paying and discuss how they got to that amount,” Barca says.

You Can Always Ask

That classic saying is true: If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

“The best way to ask a provider about a sliding scale fee is to just be straightforward with them,” Fragoso says. You can tell the health care provider that you’d love to work with them, but aren’t able to pay their standard rate, he says. “And then simply ask: ‘Do you offer a sliding scale?'” he suggests.

It can help to have a sense of what you can afford beforehand, Barca says. “Be ready to share information honestly and authentically,” she says. “That feels vulnerable, but know that it is vulnerable for the therapist to engage in the discussion, too. Our practice is our livelihood,” Barca notes.

It’s possible the health care provider will say a sliding fee scale is not an option. “While this may seem like a rejection, it is not personal. It is a business decision often based on factors out of both parties’ control,” Barca says.

Consider a few potential follow-up ideas if a sliding fee scale isn’t possible:

  • ‌Inquire about a waitlist:‌ Some providers may only reserve a few slots for patients who need a sliding scale, Fragoso says. If that’s the case, ask if there’s a waitlist you can join.
  • ‌Ask for a referral:‌ Whether you’re looking to see an MD, RD, PhD or any other specialist, you can feel confident that the health care practitioner — or the front desk or financial department — may have more connections than you in the field. They might be able to offer some suggestions for where you can receive lower-cost care or access a sliding scale. “If a provider isn’t able to offer a sliding scale, ask if they can refer you to another provider who can,” Fragoso says.
  • ‌See them less frequently:‌ In some cases, it may be an option to see the provider every other week to ease the burden of the cost, Fragoso says. You could also ask about financing options or if the provider has any suggestions for other ways to lower the fee.

ABC27: Mommy Minute: Space story educates kids about vaccines

No kid likes to get shots.

That’s something Dr. Hetal Petal has seen firsthand; from her patients and her own daughter.

“She always says ‘mommy, we can go to the doctor, but no shots,” Patel said.

That’s why Family First Health came up with a new way to teach kids about vaccines and why those shots are necessary. It’s a book called Little Heroes: Attack of the Galactic Grime. It’s an out-of-this-world story with an important earthly message.

“It’s a journey that we start – and it’s a long journey – and the book does that with all the stations,” Patel said. “We start in infancy and go all the way to 12.”

“They see these characters get these shots and realize ‘oh, they’re protected, so maybe it’s not so bad for me to get my shots and I’ll be protected, too,” said Lori Garman, manager of clinical services.

Garman and her daughter, Greta, were the creative forces behind the story.

Family First says routine vaccine visits waned during the pandemic and many are still not caught up yet. The book addresses the different types of shots, boosters and even the concept of herd immunity.

“It’s sort of like, ‘yes, we should do this so I am healthy, but I should also do this to protect everyone around me,” Patel said. “The book does a really good job of pointing that out.”

The book is available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.

“We felt it was pertinent to have it in all three languages,” Garman said.

You can pick up a free copy of the book at any Family First Health location. They also have an online version, which is interactive.

You can find the online version of the book here.

You can find more vaccine resources by clicking here.

Watch the video here.

York Dispatch: This is how Family First Health is removing the barrier to dental care in York’s school

Bright and early Thursday morning, as students filed into Hannah Penn K-8 for another day of learning, a small team transformed the school’s library into a mobile dentist clinic.

The initiative is part of Family First Health’s school dentist program, offering in-school dental care for all ages and grade levels. LaJuan Mountain, the vice president of dental services for Family First Health, said the clinic helps provide better accessibility to both students and parents who would otherwise be unable to visit the dentist.

“There was a barrier with parents not being able to get off work to get their kids into the office,” Mountain said. “So seeing them in a school setting prevents the parent from losing a day at work, and it prevents the child from missing a day at school.”

In addition to closing the divide for access, Family First Health is working to change the overall dental culture in the York community.

Oftentimes, Mountain said, individuals might only see a dentist when something is wrong. The same goes for kids, too, when it’s often too late.

These routine screenings provide essential care to ensuring a child’s teeth are healthy and strong, she added.

Family First Health’s dental unit partners with a number of schools in York, Adams and Lancaster counties. On Thursday at Hannah Penn, the team had 176 scheduled services with students.

Nicole Tome, the school-based health center manager at Family First Health’s Hannah Penn Center, said the program is a wonderful way to provide essential care while missing little class time.

“Attendance is a nationwide issue for schools — and it’s no different here in York,” Tome said. “But when we have students here, we want them to be in class and learning. So mobile school dentistry events really cut down significantly on the time that students are away from their seats.”

The entire process takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes and includes dental screenings, cleanings, X-rays and a fluoride rinse. Health professionals will then use the data collected during exams to determine how often they should return to school.

If a student requires additional care — filling cavities for instance — Family First Health will schedule those appointments, too.

The cost of care is covered by the parent’s insurance. In instances where a family might not have insurance, though, Family First Health will work to get them insured.

This could mean being covered by state-funded insurance, for example, Mountain said.

Though being called down to get dental care at school might be an embarrassing situation for children, Tome said the kids often come out of appointments feeling confident and empowered.

“I think they’re more proud of the moment and they feel good about themselves,” Tome said. “I think it’s helping to boost their self-esteem and they leave with smiles on their faces because they know that they now know a little bit more about how to take care of their bodies.”

You can learn more about Family First Health and its programs at www.familyfirsthealth.org.

Watch the video here.

New Partnership with York Tech

We are proud to announce that we’ve partnered with York Tech to provide additional resources for their students. Sandra Frecon, one of our community health workers, will be available once a week in the high school office to provide the following health-related services:

  • Medical/dental enrollment and coordination of appointments

  • Insurance eligibility assessments

  • Food insecurity assistance

  • Housing insecurity assistance

  • Scholarship program for medical assistants (MA)

  • Family First Health employment opportunities

Students who wish to take advantage of these services should visit Ms. Frecon in the high school office on Mondays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Alternatively, parents and caregivers of current students may contact her at sfrecon@ytech.edu.

York Dispatch: Pa. officials praise school-based health center at Hannah Penn

State officials recognized the work of Family First Health Center in coordinating school-based health services as an outreach for students who may not otherwise be able to access dental, medical and vision care.

“Family First Health’s school-based health center is working to reduce barriers for families by providing critically needed services directly in school so that all young people, no matter their zip code, have equal opportunity to learn and grow,” said Val Arkoosh, secretary of the state Department of Human Services, in a news release after a visit to York City’s Hannah Penn K-8 School last week.

Hannah Penn K-8 is the location of a satellite office that provides students with a variety of services. Health officials pointed to the partnership that helped create the center as a potential model for increasing health care access.

“As a pediatrician, I’ve seen first-hand how school-based health clinics help children who otherwise may have gaps in their healthcare get the medical, behavioral, dental and vision services they need,” said Debra Bogen, the state’s acting health secretary, in the news release.

The Family First Health Center is open Monday through Friday with varying hours and offers health services to students. Adult and pediatric care are available as well as health exams, immunizations, preventative care and more, according to the center’s website.

This health center has Spanish interpreters on staff and trained staff members that assess eligibility for insurance assistance programs, in addition to various on-call staff to deal with emergencies 24/7.

In 2020, the health center received $2 million in grant funding from the United Health Foundation that allowed Family First Health to “significantly expand” its offerings, according to the state officials. The health center first opened in 1997 with help from the city, the school district and WellSpan Health.

The 2020 grant also funds health navigators who get families connected to more social services and home visits.

ABC27: Representatives discuss improving healthcare access for underserved communities

YORK, Pa. (WHTM) – Representatives from Hannah Penn School, Family First Health, and the United Health Foundation were joined by Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) Acting Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen Wednesday to discuss improving health care access for underserved communities through school-based health centers.

Services provided by school-based health centers include:

  • Medical
  • Behavioral
  • Dental
  • Vision

Such healthcare centers are places where Medicaid has higher rates in the community.

The health centers that are embedded in schools are used to ease barriers to care and achieve health equity among children.

“As a physician, I worked with families whose health was negatively impacted by the lack of access to health care and other essential services. This is a complex issue, and I am thrilled to be here with partners in health care, government, and education to be a part of the solution,” Secretary Arkoosh said. “Family First Health’s school-based health center is working to reduce barriers for families by providing critically needed services directly in school so that all young people, no matter their zip code, have equal opportunity to learn and grow.”

“As a pediatrician, I’ve seen first-hand how school-based health clinics help children who otherwise may have gaps in their healthcare get the medical, behavioral, dental, and vision services they need,” Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen said. “During National Health Center week, it is important to showcase how clinics such as Family First Health work to bridge the health equity divide and create a healthier Pennsylvania for all.”

In 2020, Family First Health’s school-based health center received $2 million in grant funding from the United Health Foundation.

This grant helped expand primary care that includes behavioral health care and wellness services.

The school-based center can be used by students, their families, and the York community.

Health navigators who connect families to social services and provide home visits where needed were funded by the grant as well.

“The United Health Foundation and Family First Health partnership has created incredible community impact across York,” said Blair Boroch, CEO, of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Pennsylvania. “Nearly 2,000 families have been engaged in wellness programs at Hannah Penn’s school-based health center, and students now have expanded access to primary care and behavioral health screenings. Community health workers are also providing in-home support to families, helping individuals manage chronic conditions, and screening and providing referrals to social supports.”

“The team at FFH is so pleased to welcome Secretaries Arkoosh and Bogen to our health center location at Hannah Penn K-8 School. In a school-based location, we are uniquely able to deliver on our mission of improving lives by addressing the root causes of health disparities. With partners like UnitedHealth Foundation, we have been able to expand our programs and services at the school to provide much-needed care for our community. National Health Center Week is the ideal time to highlight the impact of this model. We believe there is no more important time to work closely with schools and families to improve health and are grateful for the opportunity to share our work.”

Watch the video here.