Regence gives $10,000 to Snake River Community Clinic

Regence BlueShield of Idaho President (left) holds up the check presented Thursday to the Snake River Community Clinic.

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Story Published: Mar 18, 2008 at 6:53 PM PDT

Story Updated: Mar 18, 2008 at 6:53 PM PDT

By Stephanie Smith

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LEWISTON - It was a big check for the little clinic that could.

On Thursday Regence BlueShield of Idaho handed over a check for $10,000 to the Snake River Community Clinic.

"This clinic provides medical care to the medically under-served in our community," said John Stellmon, president of Regence BlueShield of Idaho. "It has for many years. It's innovative and expansive in its scope and in its acceptance of patients. It's totally volunteer-based, it provides not only medical care but education for people to take charge of their own health care needs and we think that's an important component of our medical system."

Being one of only two free clinic's in the state of Idaho, the clinic keeps busy, seeing around 30 patients at each of their sessions.

"The next closest one is in Shoshone County," said Charlotte Ash, director of the clinic. "So we are the only free clinic in this region and it's quite a large region."

Being a free clinic, the money is certainly needed.

" We need money to take care of the over 4,000 patients we've taken care of over the last 8 years, who are uninsured and medically needy and don't have any way to get basic medical care anywhere," said Ash.

On top of the $10,000 donation, Regence announced the creation of the Regence Foundation.

"The foundation was put together for three main reasons," said Stellmon. "One: to reward innovation and access. Two: it rewards quality driven medical care. And three: we are trying to reward those people who are transformative in their thinking about the medical community."

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