BVMI: Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative Inc.: Healthcare for the Uninsured

Fact Sheet:

*BVMI provides free primary and preventive medical care to low-income working Bergen County residents who do not have medical insurance. Individuals/families may earn up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. More than 50,000 residents of Bergen County are uninsured (Kaiser Family Foundation 2016).

*Bergen County is one of the ten most prosperous counties in the nation with a per capita income of $43,347 and a median household income of $83,794. Despite this wealth, 7.2% of the County’s residents live below the federal poverty level. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2013, 12.1% of Bergen County residents who are working have no health insurance.

*BVMI is licensed, ambulatory healthcare center located in Hackensack, NJ. Patients are seen by appointment five days a week. In 2015, BVMI provided more than 6,000 medical visits for nearly 1000 patients.

*A team of 55 volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and other healthcare professionals provide medical care for BVMI’s patients. More than 250 specialists in private practice in the county have agreed to see BVMI patients at no charge.

*All five Bergen County hospitals provide x-rays and advanced diagnostic procedures for BVMI patients. BD provides donated medical products and Quest Diagnostics provides comprehensive laboratory service. J & J Pharmacy in Hackensack provides discounted medicines to patients and donates supplies to the Healthcare Center.

*Through early intervention and consistent treatment of patients, BVMI has been able to stabilize chronic conditions, help reduce infectious disease and decrease Emergency Room visits.

*BVMI has established the Diabetes Patient Care and Education Program, as well as the Women’s Health Initiative and has focused on improving healthcare literacy and expanding access to healthcare for underserved communities. This was accomplished through the generosity of many corporate and foundation donors including the Aetna Foundation, Russell Berrie Foundation, Chartis Foundation, Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, OrtaniBank Foundation, CVS Health Foundation, TD Bank, Allergan Foundation and the Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation.

*BVMI does not receive any government funding is not reimbursed by insurance companies and does not charge patients for services provided. BVMI relies entirely on contributions from individuals, corporates and foundations.

For more information, contact Amanda Missey, President/CEO at (201) 518-8484.

November 2016

*Disclaimer: I have taken this information from the BVMI pamphlet. I have not used it before so I have no opinion of the program yes or no to how it works. Please call the above number or email them for more information.