For those people fortunate enough to receive a college education, health care might be easy to take for granted. Many people in the Lansing area, however, don't have adequate health insurance, or even worse, have none at all. Health care should not be a privilege of the fortunate but a universal right. In reality, this is not the case, but places such as the Gateway Community Services medical clinic bring this ideal closer to existence.
Gateway, which accepts noninsured and underinsured patients, is an absolute necessity to the area. Unfortunately, it is currently facing a $70,000 budget shortfall due to cuts in funding. The closing of this clinic would greatly harm the community.
When a patient lacks insurance, this causes several problems. Often, urgent care is needed, which can easily run a person into debt if they lack a method of payment at the emergency room. Health problems that are chronic or require long-term care can aggravate this problem because they might necessitate multiple trips to the hospital.
Furthermore, people without insurance are less likely to seek medical attention when they have a problem. In this situation, illnesses that might have been treated more easily at an early stage go untreated, making them worse. Cancer is one of these illnesses.
There are alternatives to buying insurance from a major carrier. For example, the Ingham Health Plan helps uninsured patients pay for certain types of medical care, but it isn't comprehensive, nor is it available to all. To participate, a patient must have an income below a certain threshold and must be a resident of Ingham County. Gateway, however, serves patients whether or not they have any form of insurance.
Gateway must stay open if the health-care situation in the Lansing area is to improve. Without this clinic, there will be more pressure on emergency rooms and other clinics serving underinsured people, such as the Cristo Rey Family Health Clinic in Lansing. This puts strain on places that already have their jobs cut out for them.
On June 17, Gateway is holding a fundraiser to celebrate its 35th anniversary and to try to forestall its deficit problem. We strongly encourage community members to attend this event and to donate generously. Many of Gateway's programs have already been cut entirely, such as its sexual assault recovery program and elementary intervention program. In addition to the medical clinic, Gateway runs Crossroads, a shelter for homeless teens, and Higher Ground, a youth crisis intervention center. These programs are vital to the Lansing area. It's difficult to see East Lansing as a "Cool City" if it doesn't provide services to care for its disadvantaged residents.
These services are helpful to Lansing as well, where many of Gateway's patients live. Lansing, however, doesn't fund the clinic, and this situation should change. Some monetary contribution should be made for the valuable services provided.
Gateway should also be one of the city of East Lansing's top priorities. The city recently cut funding for the program from $83,000 to a projected $51,000. Although there have been widespread cuts in the city's budget, the City Council should not forget the value of this clinic.
East Lansing community members should evaluate their priorities in terms of indispensable services. Without a doubt, it is to everyone's advantage when the community is healthier. Therefore, Gateway should be supported.
