Welcome to Harbor Health Services, Inc.
Harbor Health Services, Inc.is a nonprofit, public health agency committed to providing quality, comprehensive health care in urban Boston neighborhoods, the South Shore and Cape Cod communities. We provide a wide network of healthcare services to meet the needs of our patients.
Harbor Health owns and operates four community health centers: Geiger Gibson Community Health Center, Harbor Community Health Center-Hyannis, Harbor Community Health Center-Plymouth and Neponset Health Center. These health centers are Health Center Program grantees under 42 U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n). In addition, Harbor Health administers the Elder Service Plan, a program providing care to frail elders in their place of residence, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program of Dorchester South and the Ellen Jones Community Dental Center.
Combined, Harbor Health’s community health centers are the Medical Home for more than 26,000 patients and the “family dentist” to an additional 10,000 patients. The Elder Service Plan cares for more than 300 members and Women Infant Children Nutrition Program serves more than 3000 women and their children.
May is ALS Awareness Month
Olga Torres, Medical Assistant at Neponset Health Center in Dorchester, talks about caring for the community while living with amyotrophic laterals sclerosis (ALS).
What is ALS? Amyotrophic laterals sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impacts the function of nerves and muscles. The month of May is dedicated to raising awareness about ALS and sharing information about its research. Here are some facts about the disease from the ALS Association:
- ALS is not contagious.
- Although the life expectancy of a person with ALS averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis, this disease is variable, and many people can live with the disease for five years and more. More than half of all people with ALS live more than three years after diagnosis.
- Once ALS starts, it almost always progresses, eventually taking away the ability to walk, dress, write, speak, swallow, and breathe and shortening the life span. How fast and in what order this occurs is very different from person to person. While the average survival time is 3 years, about twenty percent of people with ALS live five years, 10 percent will survive ten years and five percent will live 20 years or more.
- Progression is not always a straight line in an individual either. It is not uncommon to have periods lasting weeks to months where there is very little or no loss of function. There are even very rare examples in which there is significant improvement and recovery of lost function. These ALS “arrests” and “reversals” are unfortunately usually transient. Less than 1% of patients with ALS will have significant improvement in function lasting 12 months or more.
- Approximately 6,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. The incidence of ALS is two per 100,000 people, and it is estimated that more than 20,000 Americans may be living with ALS at any given time.
- ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries and can affect anyone.
- Military veterans are approximately twice as likely to develop ALS.
- The onset of ALS often involves muscle weakness or stiffness as early symptoms. Progression of weakness, wasting and paralysis of the muscles of the limbs and trunk as well as those that control vital functions such as speech, swallowing and later breathing generally follows.
- There can be significant costs for medical care, equipment and home health caregiving later in the disease. It is important to be knowledgeable about your health plan coverage and other programs for which you may be eligible, including Social Security Disability, Medicare, Mediciad and Veteran Affairs benefits.
If you would like to help raise funds to fight ALS, please go to http://www.alsa.org/fight-als/
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a prevention option for people that are at a very high risk of HIV infection. PrEP is a pill that contains two HIV medications and can be prescribed by a doctor. The pill must be taken every day and follow-up visits are required every three months. Ask your healthcare provider about PrEP and if it’s the right option for you.
Want to know more about PrEP? Go to AIDS.gov or make an appointment at Neponset Health Center or Geiger Gibson Community Health Center to talk with a healthcare provider.
Harbor Receives PRIME Certification for Behavioral Health Integration
Harbor Health Services, Inc. is proud to announce that all of its health centers that provide primary care have received PCMH PRIME Certification. Neponset Health Center, Geiger Gibson Community Health Center, Harbor Community Health Center Hyannis, and Harbor Community Plymouth have all met the criteria for integrating behavioral health services into a primary care setting.
The PCMH Prime Certification Program was developed by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Read More
Do You Need Help Applying for Health Insurance?
What If I Miss the Open Enrollment Deadline to Apply for Health Insurance?
- You can enroll in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time of year.
- You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. See if you qualify.
If you would like to speak with a Certified Application Counselor about health insurance options or need help applying for health insurance, email enroll@hhsi.us or call 617-533-2284 (Boston), 508-778-5498 (Plymouth) or 508-778-5435 (Cape Cod). You can also visit any one of our health centers located in Boston, Plymouth and Cape Cod to meet with a Certified Application Counselor!
What to Bring to Your Appointment
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- Proof of Income: Two pay stubs for each job or letter from Unemployment, If Self Employed: most recent tax forms including Schedule C, Proof of rental income, Proof of Child Support or Alimony.
- Proof of Identity: Driver’s License, Massachusetts I.D., Military I.D., School I.D., Adoption Papers
- Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status: Birth Certificate, Passport, Certificate of Naturalization or Green Card
- Social Security Number (If you have one)
NOTICE TO PATIENTS ABOUT THE ELECTION RESULTS AND YOUR HEALTH COVERAGE
Some comments made during the recent presidential election have made patients worried about their health coverage.
1) If you are a MassHealth patient , re-enroll now. You will be able to get health coverage! We will tell you about any upcoming changes. Our Community Health Center will continue providing you care.
2) If you get health coverage through the Health Connector, re-enroll now. You will be able to get health coverage! We will tell you about any upcoming changes. Our Community Health Center will continue providing you care.
3) Anybody can receive care at this health center regardless of immigration status.
We are a Veterans Choice Program Partner
Harbor Health Services, Inc. is proud to be a Veterans Choice Program Partner! Learn more about the Choice Program by visiting www.va.gov/opa/choiceact or call 866-606-8198 to speak with a representative.
