Central Ozarks Medical Center: June 2019

Friday, June 28, 2019

The Sliding Fee Discount Program at COMC

Affording health insurance can sometimes be one of the hardest things to. Premiums can be outrageously expensive and if you have a job where health insurance isn't offered, buying it on your own can be really challenging. Our Lake of the Ozarks health clinics understands this. That is part of the reason why our Mid-Missouri health clinics accept patients with and without insurance and offer a sliding fee scale based on income and family size. Keep reading to learn more about this sliding fee discount program at Central Ozarks Medical Center.

The Sliding Fee Discount Program at COMC

Q: What exactly is the Sliding Fee Discount Program?

A: Central Ozarks Medical Center offers a discounted fee to patients based on their household size and household income. The Sliding Fee Program includes fees for medical, dental and behavioral health services.

Q: How do you qualify for this program?

A: To determine eligibility, COMC will need to ask you to bring in personal financial information. Any information we ask you for will be strictly confidential. None of your personal information, financial or medical, can be released without your written consent. The information we are asking for is used solely to determine household size and household income. Applications are effective for a one-year period. Sliding Fee Discount Program participants must complete an application annually Discount Program applications must be completed, signed and approved prior to services being provided. All participants are asked to notify COMC of income changes as soon as possible after the change occurs.

Q: What are some of the things I should be aware of before trying to apply for the Sliding Fee Discount Program?

A: As we said earlier, the information we are asking for is used solely to determine the household size and household income.

All patients under 19 years of age must have a Medicaid denial letter to be eligible for the Discount Program.

Household Size:

Household size includes all people living in your home EXCEPT for those you are not financially responsible for.
Marital Status is not a factor when determining household size.

Household Income

Household income includes ALL INCOME earned by ALL INDIVIDUALS COUNTED IN HOUSEHOLD SIZE.

Acceptable Forms of Proof of Income

Prior year’s tax return
Paycheck Stubs
W-2 or 1099 from prior year
Letter from employer showing Year-to-Date wages and dates of employment
Letter from Social Security, Veteran’s Affairs, Employment Office, etc.
Other proof of income may be accepted and will be determined on an individual basis

If you would like to learn more about the Sliding Fee Discount Program at Central Ozarks Medical Center, please do not hesitate to give us a call. All of our phone numbers and clinic locations can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org. We hope you found this information helpful and we look forward to your call.

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

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For Appointments Call
573.765.5141 -- Richland
573.302.7490 -- Osage Beach
573.346.4446 -- Camdenton
573.765.2510 -- Dental

Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Thursday, June 20, 2019

3 Tips for Staying Healthy at Work

We can all get stressed at work sometimes and that can absolutely affect your health. We can also get into bad habits such as eating poorly at our desks and not getting enough exercise each day. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few tips for staying healthy at work. If you are feeling sick and are in need of a new doctor at the Lake of the Ozarks, consider Central Ozarks Medical Center. All of our phone numbers and locations can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.

3 Tips for Staying Healthy at Work

1. Be mindful of what you are eating for lunch at work.
While in the middle of a very busy workday, it can be so tempting to just have a pizza delivered or run to the nearest fast food restaurant for a quick bite, but you could just be looking for the most convenient option because you are in a rush. A nice healthy alternative to this could be to meal plan. At the beginning of each week, plan your meal for the week, you could make a delicious salad or a nice sandwich for yourself and have it ready to go for your work lunch versus eating something less healthy. This could end up saving you time and money and calories.

2. Check your posture throughout the day.
If you work at a desk all day, you could be straining your back and neck by leaning forward too much. Don't be afraid to get up and walk around or do some light stretching throughout the day. This could end up saving you from having unwanted neck and back pain. Take care of yourself.

3. Manage your work-related stress in healthy ways.
Many people might say they "stress eat" and work can be that cause of said stress, but there are healthier ways of dealing with work-related stress, such as:

Go for a walk around the building.
Journal your negative feelings and vent in a healthy way.
Exercise on a regular basis throughout the week and enjoy the endorphins.
Schedule some "you time" each week whether you either take some time to read a good book, go to a spa, etc.

Need to Make An Appointment?

We understand that work can be stressful and at the end of the day your health is very important. If you are feeling sick and are in need of new Lake of the Ozarks doctor, check out Central Ozarks Medical Center. All of our phone numbers and locations can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org. Our goal is to lead the way the healthier communities and we have several health clinics throughout the Lake of the Ozarks area.

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Things You Can Ask About When Trying to Find a New OB

Struggling to find the right OB or OB-GYN, as they are also referred to as can be really difficult. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few things to ask about when trying to find a new OB. If you are in the process of looking for an OB at the Lake of the Ozarks, consider Central Ozarks Medical Center. You can learn more about our practice and providers on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org. If you have any questions, please give us a call.

Things You Can Ask About When Trying to Find a New OB

Flexibility with Appointment Scheduling
Ask about how long you have to book an appointment ahead of time and what their hours of operation are. Are they open on Saturdays ever or no weekends at all?

Whether or Not They Take Your Insurance
Here at Central Ozarks Medical Center, we accept patients with and without insurance and offer a sliding fee scale based on income and family size.

Availability of the Doctor and How Often or When You Can Call With Questions
When you are pregnant, it is likely that you will have many questions along the way, especially if this is your first pregnancy. You may not always think to ask these questions during your appointments so ask if the doctor is available for phone calls and how often that may be.

The Experience Level of the Doctor
There are doctors with a high level of experience and there are doctors with little experience who may just be starting their careers. Then, there are doctors who are somewhere in the middle. This is important to know. This person is supposed to your guide throughout your entire pregnancy, so don't be afraid to ask about it when searching for a new OB.

OB Providers at the Lake of the Ozarks

Here at our Mid-Missouri health clinics, we say knowledge and preparation can be key to enjoying your pregnancy. Our Lake of the Ozarks OB providers know that every birth is special and we are always privileged when chosen to guide a woman during their pregnancy and prenatal care. The ultimate goal the OB providers at Central Ozarks Medical Center is for your continued good health and the delivery of a healthy newborn. Our providers as well as their amazing staff of nurses will work to keep you informed and answer all of your questions from pregnancy confirmation to your post-partum check-up. We aim to lead the way to healthier communities and we would like for you to feel comfortable and at ease each and every time you interact with an OB at Central Ozarks Medical Center. To take a look at all of the OB providers at COMC, please visit our website at www.CentralOzarks.org and if you have any questions or would like to book an appointment, please give us a call, all our numbers and locations can be found on our site.

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Friday, June 7, 2019

Superstitions About Pregnancy - Are They True or Not?

Congratulations! You just got the BIG news that you are pregnant! There must be SO many things going through your mind right now. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks encourage you to find an OB you can trust as soon as possible. The Lake of the Ozarks OB providers at Central Ozarks Medical Center want you to know that we understand how alone you can feel if you are pregnant and unable to find the RIGHT OB. We have experienced OBs who will work to keep you informed every step of the way through your pregnancy. There are a lot of superstitions out there about pregnancy and our Lake of the Ozarks health clinics are here to set the record straight in this week's blog.

Question: Does the shape and height of your belly have anything to do with determining the baby's sex?
Answer: People have been known to say, if an expecting mother is carrying high, then the baby will be a girl if they are carrying low than it will be a boy. This is not true. The shape and height of your stomach are justified by your muscle tone, uterine tone, weight gained, and the position the baby is in. The best way to tell the gender of your baby is to talk to your doctor about an ultrasound. Don't rely on superstition.

Question: Can the fullness of a pregnant woman's face determine the baby's gender?
Answer: Yes, every expectant mother gains weight during pregnancy, but every pregnancy is different. Some people may tell you your face is round, so you're having a girl. They may be correct, but it's just as likely they're incorrect.

Question: Does having heartburn mean you will have a hairy baby?
Answer: CNN also shows that in the second trimester of pregnancy, babies develop a coat of fine hair all over their bodies, called lanugo. Sometimes, in the third trimester, they shed it and eat it. A baby's first feces, in fact, can be digested remains of their own body hair.

Question: Can avoiding eating bananas increase your chances of having a girl?
Answer: CNN shows, in 2008 a study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society Basked 740 women who were pregnant for the first time to describe their diets leading up to conception. The women in the top third of the study, calorie wise, had boys 56% of the time, among the third that consumed the fewest calories, 55% had girls.

Want to learn more about a healthy pregnancy and meet some of the Lake of the Ozarks OB Providers at COMC? Make an appointment today and see all the phone numbers and clinic locations we have for you to choose from at www.CentralOzarks.org. Once again, if you just found out you are pregnant, congratulations!

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties