HULBERT — After years of construction work and some heavy lifting in the back of a department store, Daniel Pinkston has so many physical problems that he can’t work.

That means he also is without health insurance.

Pinkston, 50, of Tahlequah, relies on NeoHealth for medical care. They are a Community Health Center and receive federal grants through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Bureau of Primary Health Care.

“I was working in Enid, then I was sent to this area by a physician in Oklahoma City,” he said. “I have family here. I’ve got everything from pins in my neck to broken disks in my back. Ever since about 2003, it affects my whole right side and hip. They (NeoHealth) have done a lot for me. I was in a wheelchair and had a cane. I’m better than I’ve ever been. I wouldn’t be able to afford this if it wasn’t for them. It’s a great place.”

NeoHealth CEO Dr. Sharon Zang said her organization is moving forward with plans to open a clinic near Muskogee. They already have locations in Hulbert, Tahlequah (three) and Westville.

“I think there was a need for services in Muskogee County,” Zang said. “Muskogee had always been in our plans. We’re very hopeful that we’ll be able to open a facility in Muskogee County in 2011.”

CHCs like NeoHealth offer a sliding fee according to income. They are not a free clinic — just affordable. New patients must present income documentation.

“CHCs have been around since (President Lyndon) Johnson,” she said. “We have always had the support of the federal government. Former President George W. Bush provided funding, and President Obama has extended it through health care reform. There are now more access points for health care in places that need health services.”

Zang said it has taken a lot of paperwork to establish a financial base for a Muskogee County facility.

“It’s extensive,” she said. “Anytime we use federal funding, we have to apply for those grant funds. It’s quite a bit of work. We expect to see those awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration by the end of the year. If it’s like Westville, we can be operational in 105 days (after federal approval).”

Another requirement for moving into a new location is being sure they will fit an appropriate niche, Zang said.

“We only want to go places where we’re needed,” she said. “We’ve been asked to come to Muskogee. The mayor has helped us find a piece of land that we can lease for $1 per year. George Faught (R-Muskogee) has been asking for us to come. We’ve had all kinds of requests, including letters of support from the schools. We get along with the physicians and hospitals there. We don’t want to compete with area physicians. Of course, people from outside town would also be served.”

Zang said NeoHealth can be a shelter for those without adequate health care through the Muskogee County’s existing resources. She said data she has seen shows that Muskogee and the surrounding area show poor health statistics and elevated levels of poverty.

“Despite the local hospitals and many health care providers, it is still designated as a medically undeserved area and a health professional shortage area.”

Zang is also interested in working in this locality.

“I really like Muskogee,” she said. “It’s not a big town, but it’s close to larger cities like Tulsa.”

Clinic hours would  be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Those hours are tentative, however, depending on how quickly NeoHealth can make arrangements with local physicians to contribute some of their time to the clinic.

In April of 2009, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland estimated the number of uninsured at 640,000 and rising. More and more people are unexpectedly finding out they can’t pay for a doctor.

Unlike county health departments, CHCs can offer comprehensive services including dental and mental health care. Using a sliding fee for patients with no income, prescriptions are usually 40 to 60 percent cheaper than retail. The only disadvantage is drive time to their few locations.

Mark Roberts, president of Muskogee Community Hospital, has been a booster for NeoHealth’s planned presence in this area.

“It’s pretty simple. They have a clinical base for people who have fallen through the cracks,” he said. “I believe most of their patients don’t have Medicare or Medicaid.”

Roberts said he worked with Zang on a project about a year ago. He added that MCH personnel have had some official contact with NeoHealth doctors and have been impressed with their work.

“Muskogee has the opportunity to become a health care center,” he said. “All these initiatives (like NeoHealth) help Muskogee be a source for more health care. More and more people are choosing to stay in Muskogee rather than travel for medical care. This is partly the impact of having another hospital. We’re very pleased to be a part of that.”

Reach Keith Purtell at 684-2925 or kpurtell @muskogeephoenix.com.

Who health centers serve

• People of all ages. Approximately 36 percent of patients in 2008 were children (age 19 and younger); about 7 percent were 65 or older.

• People without and with health insurance. The proportion of uninsured patients of all ages was approximately 38 percent in 2008, while the number of uninsured patients increased from 4 million in 2001 to more than 6.5 million in 2008.

• People of all races and ethnicities. In 2008, 28 percent of health center patients were African-American and 33 percent were Hispanic/Latino — more than twice the proportion of African-Americans and more than two times the proportion of Hispanics/Latinos reported in the overall U.S. population.

• Special populations. In 2008, health centers served more than 834,000 migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families; nearly 934,000 individuals experiencing homelessness; and nearly 157,000 residents of public housing.

Source: Health Resources and Services Administration