Our
Work

WHAT WE DO

Right care, right time.

Our primary focus is to connect uninsured patients with providers for primary care and specialty care through our signature program, Project Access. Ensuring access to the right care at the right time is not only what is best for the individual in need, but it helps alleviate the over-utilization of hospitals and emergency departments for minor health issues. We also convene with the uninsured community we serve to better understand the barriers they face so we can implement change and advocate for better resources. Finally, we collaborate with numerous safety net clinics, nonprofits, and government agencies through formal committees or task forces and informal conversations to build stronger, healthier communities.

connect

convene

collaborate

Who we serve.

Since 2000, RightCare has served the uninsured and underinsured residents of Wake and surrounding counties. We have provided programs over the years focused on different initiatives all with the same purpose – to improve the healthcare of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our communities.

We strive to gain our clients’ trust and put them at ease by providing support in alignment with their experiences and backgrounds. RightCare serves clients through culturally competent service delivery and bi-lingual staff with access to translator services if needed, especially for the Hispanic community who represent our largest client demographic.

The need.

The one common denominator with those we serve is the lack of access to affordable private health insurance or that they do not qualify for Medicaid/Medicare, etc. based on household income criteria.

Per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “inadequate health insurance coverage is one of the largest barriers to health care access, and the unequal distribution of coverage contributes to disparities in health. Out-of-pocket medical care costs may lead individuals to delay or forgo needed care…and medical debt is common among both insured and uninsured individuals. People with lower incomes are often uninsured, and minority groups account for over half of the uninsured population. Uninsured adults are less likely to receive preventive services for chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Similarly, children without health insurance coverage are less likely to receive appropriate treatment for conditions like asthma or critical preventive services such as dental care, immunizations, and well-child visits that track developmental milestones. Many health care resources are more prevalent in communities where residents are well-insured, but the type of insurance individuals have may matter as well. Medicaid patients, for instance, experience access issues when living in areas where few physicians accept Medicaid due to its reduced reimbursement rate.”

Through our signature program, Project Access, we partner with hospital case management teams, health clinics, nonprofits, and other community-based organizations to create access to care and services for those most in need. We do this by building relationships with primary and specialty care providers who donate in-kind medical care for low-income, uninsured men, women, and children. RightCare acts as a care navigator, connecting people to the care they need the most while also alleviating the over-utilization of emergency departments.

Project Access of Wake County is a physician referral program, which means qualified enrollees can only be referred into the program due to medical necessity as ordered by an attending physician. Project Access enrollees are screened to meet eligibility requirements including:

L

At or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level

L

Do not have access to affordable health insurance

L

Are ineligible for Medicaid, Medicare or other funded healthcare programs[?]Applicants must have completed a Medicaid application within one year of application or have been screened and confirmed ineligible.

Community
collaboration.

Our staff and board serve on a variety of committees and task forces in the community to advocate for practices and policies that ensure a thriving community where everyone can access healthcare, including the most vulnerable. We share knowledge about our first-hand experiences of working with the uninsured community to demonstrate the barriers this population faces, and we work together with our partners to develop effective solutions. Ultimately, we act as a catalyst to ignite the power of healthcare and connections to build stronger communities.
Wake County Community Health Needs Assessment Advisory Team
A collaborative team made up of represents from all three Wake County health systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Wake County Health and Human Services, and two community-based organizations who make decisions and steer the assessment methods, data interpretation, and prioritization of an every three-year, county-wide needs assessment. RightCare is the longest-participating one of the two community-based organizations on the team.
LiveWellWake; Access to Healthcare Committee
Live Well Wake aims to make Wake County the healthiest community in the nation for all residents – regardless of background, neighborhood, or circumstance – to be able to not just live but flourish. Built on the premise that everyone has a right to live well, Live Well Wake is a community-led initiative bringing people together across sectors to find innovative solutions for our county’s biggest challenges. Formed out of the Community Health Needs Assessment and Population Health Task Force initiatives, Live Well Wake is a collaborative effort that relies on our community at large to build partnerships and design strategic initiatives to meet our goals.
HealthLit4Wake Health Equity Coalition
A collaborative aimed to increase confidence and trust in local health service providers while establishing a stronger link between historically marginalized communities and government agencies in Wake County. This work occurs through the bidirectional engagement of all partners.