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Slrmlhmm the Ties that Bint. s part of our focus on building healthy families, Houston Healthcare Boswell, who is specially trained to lead the Covey seminar, said the author's Complex again is sponsoring a Family Fair on Friday, August 27. from noon to family program stems from his popular book, "The Seven Habits 5 p.m. at the Galleria Mall in Centerville. m, <>» Highly Effective People," From that initial research. Covey Set up much like a traditional health fair, the family fete will feature booths, f ft discovered that what works in building strong leaders also can wellness checks and information on "anything to do with having a ft • help to strengthen tamilies. successful family." said Beth Jones, RNC, Director f t ft * # “Stephen Covey examined the 200-year history of of Community Education at Houston Healthcare ft * . c. (\ America to look at what really made people effective and Complex yOA-' what made leaders effective,” said Boswell, who works "We'll have churches and ft ® V with military personnel who are leaving the armed organizations come and offer ft® Q A K \ ' service t 0 P ursue other careers - as weil as those who m programs, and we'll have information on (£ \ ~ relocating to other Air Force bases, activities that promote family well being.” C . I r w, " What ,w °- hour presentation does is show Jones said. "We ll have blood pressure. A . ' \V (£? how families can use this material to strengthen cholesterol and blood sugar checks and \ \ .(fV A U relationships.” he said. “For parents, it shows how a pediatrician will be there with general pA a C (>' A\° to shape a productive member of society by the information on wellness for kids." ,/rsi , time the child is 18. In conjunction with the Health Fair. Houston q\ r Seating is limited and pre-registration is Healthcare Complex and Robins Air Force Base Af required to attend the lecture. The first 100 also are teaming up to present a special program i \ pre-registered tamilies attending the on "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective 1 \V4 program will receive a free copy of Families,” taken from the best-selling book by ✓ / OPO , \Jp ( ove y s book. Stephen R.Covey. \ For more information about the The free lecture is scheduled for Thursday, August Aon 1 P . Health Fair, or to register for the lecture 26, at 7 p.m. at the Robins Air Force Base Museum T call Health Source at 923-9771 Century of Flight Theatre. Leading the two-hour lecture will be Wayne Boswell, a transition assistant specialist at the Robins Air Force Base Family Support Center. Help n a perfect world, no one would lui\e to li\e without needed medications because they could not afford to pay high prescription prices. But thanks to a new collaborative assistance program, the world has become brighter and healthier for some underinsured patients in Houston County. Since Januarv. the Medical Assistance Program has helped underinsured residents suffering w ith certain diseases acquire the medications they need at little cost to them. Participants in the joint project include Houston Healthcare Complex, the Houston County Department of Family and Children Services il)l \CSi. the Houston County Health Department and participating doctors and pharmacists in the area. "These groups have come together and created a way by which the underinsured population in Houston County can receive prescription assistance." said Alicia Gilmore, the Medical Assistance Program coordinator for Houston County. " The program promotes wellness, decreases the number ol emergency room visits by the underinsured, and has a case management component that monitors and manages the patients who. lor whatever reason, would not have been able to receive management of illness otherwise because ol lack of money." she said. At present, the Medical Assistance Program targets four diseases: hypertension, diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Officials currently are collecting data to determine what impact the program hits had on the community and to decide what other diseases might be covered in the future. Gilmore said. The program covers prescription services only. The cost ol pharmaceutical supplies, such as syringes, is not included. Between January I and May 31 ol this year. 32b people have applied to the Medical Assistance Program. Of that number. 210 were approved and 63 for the Underinsured... have been assigned to case management which is handled through the Houston County Health Department. Referrals to the program are made through local emergency rooms. Houston Medical Center. Perry Hospital, the Houston County Health Department, local physicians. DI ALS, community agencies and by the patients themselves. To he eligible for the program, patients must live in Houston County, be ineligible for Medicaid, have no medical insurance with a prescription component and meet strict income guidelines. Although many program participants receive Medicare, the federal insurance program does not cover the cost ol medications, she said. Because many participants do not have transportation, eligibility screenings are performed at Houston Medical Center. Perry Hospital, the health department offices in Perry and Warner Robins and I )FA( S Approved patients are referred to the Health Department, which assigns MAP cards and a specific pharmacy where prescriptions may be filled. The cost to patients is a S 3 co-payment per prescription. Pharmacies are assigned to patients on a rotating basis so that individual businesses won't be bombarded. "We re making certain that all patients are allocated on an equal basis." Gilmore said. Currently, seven pharmacies in Houston County participate in the program, including the Kroger Pharmacy and Akin Drug Company in Perry Participating pharmacies in Warner Robins are located in Kroger. W inn Dixie. W'alMart and Publix and The Medicine Shoppe. Gilmore said 23 doctors also have agreed to participate in the joint venture. "This is a collaborative program in the truest sense ol the word.’ she said, adding that the project would not be possible without the combined efforts of all involved. For more information about the program, contact Gilmore at 322-4803. Her office hours are Monday through Friday. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.