Project Access is a community-based program that coordinates donated medical care and services provided by physicians, hospitals, pharmacies and others for uninsured, low-income people living in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Our program is based on the Buncombe County Project Access model in Asheville, NC. To date, more than 65 percent of our local physicians (members of the Medical Society of Sedgwick County) have agreed to provide donated care for 10-20 patients each year. All area hospitals are treating Project Access patients, and 80 pharmacies fill prescriptions at 15 percent below average wholesale price. The Wichita City Council and the Sedgwick County Commission have committed $500,000 for prescriptions annually.

The goal of Project Access is to coordinate patient enrollment and referrals that make a broader range of donated services available for uninsured people. This also frees the physicians and their office staffs from tracking down additional donated services, allowing them more time to provide patient care.

Patient health care needs cover a broad range, beyond physician and hospital services. We continually recruit additional providers including physical therapy, diagnostic tests (lab work, x-rays, interpretation of test results, etc.), durable medical equipment, medical supplies, home-based care and other ancillary services.