Staff Reports
The Jefferson City Council held a town hall on Tuesday to learn more about a health program brought up last month.
“MD Health Pathways is a pioneering healthcare solution dedicated to providing simplified access to quality healthcare,” their material reads.
The program, in their seventh year, offers residents access to emergency room doctors, without having to travel. It utilizes cellphone text messaging, video or phone calls to help diagnose non-urgent care issues, and take care of everyday healthcare needs. They do not take insurance, but are paid through a $9 charge on water bills. The $9 covers up to 10 people.
The system is an “opt-out” program so residents are not required to participate.
“We want to take away the barriers into quality healthcare for rural communities,” said Parker Dale. “This service is turnkey. There’s no co-pays, we don’t ask about insurance.”
Dr. Dirk Parrot, founder of MD Health Pathways, said all the physicians are Texas doctors who specialize in emergency room care. Those doctors work from home, so they can respond within 60 seconds, and start providing care.
MD Health Pathways currently partners with Henderson, Ferris, and the state of South Carolina.
“When I started it was 70% emergency and 30% non-emergency in ER’s,” Parrot said. “Today its the reverse.”
He said the idea came from him hearing about families being charged $1,200 for a 10 minute visit and a $20 prescription, and he wanted to change that.
“We can make a diagnosis and call in a prescription to your local pharmacy, all for that $9 a month for your whole family,” Parrot said. “Add that most pharmacies have $4 prescription plans.”
MD Health Pathways partners with the City to add the service to water bills to reach the most people and keep costs low for participants. Residents can choose to not participate in the service.
Council encouraged residents to look at their website and provide input to Aldermen on whether the City provides the service.
MD Health Pathways website is https://www.mdhealthpathways.com
The full town hall can be watched on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szZJy2EPZ6Q
The City will consider the service at a future City Council meeting.