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The Chesaning clinic will benefit from a $40,000 grant received by Healthy Community Partners, which offers two free Healthy Futures clinics per month in Chesaning. Healthy Community Partners, in partnership with St. Mary's, used last year's grant to purchase equipment for an adult dental clinic in Chesaning's Rehmann Health Center, one of seven free clinics in the county that HCP runs.

This year's grant money will support clinic administration to develop and manage a volunteer specialist. It will also help develop a dental provider pool and assist in patient education to increase care volume by 25 percent and reduce emergency room visits by the uninsured by 15 percent.

"To date we have served more than 7,500 patients, prevented 475 inappropriate emergency room visits, enrolled more than 1,700 in a qualified health care plan and created a pool of more than 140 volunteer physicians, specialists, nurse practitioners, nurses and health profession students who provide free care," said Lisa Hadden, HCP president and CEO. "This funding will allow us to expand care to the free dental clinic opening this summer in Chesaning." The clinic sees an average 165 patients per month, and expects to add up to 50 more per month.

Rehmann Health Center Manager Lori LaRue has been busy updating the room that will serve as the center's dental operatory. She said many local contractors and merchants have stepped up to donate time and supplies to the project.

"Everyone has been very generous in helping us get set up for the adult dental clinic. It's a beautiful room with top-of-the-line equipment," she said. "We will even be able to develop our x-rays on site, which is very exciting."

LaRue said the adult dental service schedule will be announced soon, and she anticipates that two clinics will offered per month. Two local dentists have already signed on to provide professional services, and she is hopeful that other area practitioners will come on board.

Rehmann Health Center currently provides children's dental services once or twice a month through the Saginaw County Department of Public Health, but this is the first time adults will have access to free dental care.

Watch upcoming editions of the Tri-County Citizen for dental clinic schedules and eligibility requirements.

This most recent round of grant awards brings the total financial support the Michigan Blues have provided to free clinics to $3 million since 2005. Four new free clinics have opened in the state since 2005, thanks in part to grant dollars. Grant dollars have helped clinics sustain operations and meet urgent needs, from purchasing medications to expanding services, from obtaining software to schedule patient visits to buying basic office supplies. Some dollars have been dedicated to help support clinics providing dental services.

For more information on the Healthy Futures free clinics or other Rehmann Health Center services, call (989) 845-3911. Rehmann Health Center is located at 147 South Saginaw Street, Chesaning.