In three Pennsylvania counties, the Greater Susquehanna Valley Dental Clinic is “the end of the line” for a number of people in need of care, according to Dr. Sylvia Noteware, the clinic’s director, in a recent interview with TheDailyItem.com

According to the story:

“After a similar operation closed in the same building, the 501(c)3 nonprofit clinic opened in 2009 with more than $85,000 from private donors to cover startup costs. The practice is funded through reimbursement rates from the government, grant applications, grants from the Degenstein Foundation and the Susquehanna Area Community Foundation and private donors. …

The clinic accepts patients who have qualifying managed health care for low-income families or the federal Medicare Assistance program, ACCESS. Others may qualify for dental health services at the clinic based on federal poverty standards, household income and uninsured status. Accepted programs include ACCESS, Aetna Better Care, Geisinger Health Plan Family and AmeriHealth.

The services include general dentistry, covered by ACCESS Plus including Preventive/Hygiene and Restorative. Fees include ACCESS Plus co-pays where applicable. Patients pay a flat rate fee of $100.”

The clinic opened in 2009 with six exam rooms, and then  renovated another floor  in January to add four more exam rooms. Two years ago, all records were changed to electronic forms and a panorex, an X-ray that provides a full view of the upper and lower jaws, teeth, temporomandibular joints and sinuses, was installed.

The majority of equipment and furniture has been donated from various sources, including Benco Dental, the dental hygiene program at Luzerne County Community College, retired Dr. Reynold Crane and landlord Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way.

Hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Read more about the clinic and hear from patients and members of the staff :  https://www.dailyitem.com/news/local_news/dental-clinic-aids-low-income-uninsured-in-three-counties/article_79f7cd74-c4d9-5a78-953e-c64ca386bfd0.html