The Montezuma County Health Department was recently awarded a $185,700 grant from the Colorado Health Foundation, a private entity.
The award, which will be spread over three years, will be used for the countys Smile Makers Dental Clinic. The clinic currently treats some 400 uninsured and underinsured children unger age 18.
The funds will also be used for presumptive care, which enables the county health clinic to treat pregnant women and children before they qualify for Medicaid.
County Health Director Lori Cooper notes it takes up to 45 days for the Montezuma County Department of Social Services to process the required Medicaid paperwork.
The county has been providing dental care for children for at least 10 years, Cooper said. A lot of dentists dont take CHIP, the Childrens Health Insurance Program aka Childrens Medicaid.
Cooper also noted that the county health department also recently reapplied for a $31,752 grant from Caring for Colorado, another private entity.
The county was approved for this grant for the past year, and used it for cardiovascular screening and education for adults.
The private grant replaced nationwide tobacco settlement funds the county previously obtained from the state.
The county is offering pneumonia shots for $65 for high-risk adults or those above age 65, Cooper noted. Flu shots are available for $25. The county health clinic is open Monday mornings for walk-ins and Monday afternoon by appointment.