Volunteers In Medicine is a primary care medical clinic for low-income, underserved adults and their households in Lane County who can't afford health care coverage. Even with the Affordable Care Act, many individuals lack the financial means to pay for high deductibles, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Services include primary health care, women's health care, behavioral health care, diabetes management, onsite pharmacy and physical therapy. Our organization is funded by generous donations and relies on many volunteers every day. Learn more about us and volunteer or donate to help our patients change their lives for the better.
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Services Offered
Behavioral Health Services
We provide access to mental health care for low-income adults including diagnostic services, counseling, and medication. Volunteer counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists support the Behavioral Health program by donating their time onsite. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that nearly one in five people suffer from mental illness. Mental health disorders can be exacerbated by stress and studies show that low income individuals are more likely to have higher stress levels. Mental illnesses can include addiction, depression, anxiety and more.
Fees and Payment
Patients are deemed eligible to receive VIM services if they fall within our financial eligibility guide lines. Please call our office to talk to a Screener about eligibility. The Screener will conduct a short Pre-Screening interview on the phone and schedule an eligibility screening appointment if appropriate. Eligibility is based on an individual's GROSS household monthly income and their liquid resources.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono Medicare Medicaid
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.