Federally funded program provides free health screenings for women

A free health screening program for women who are underinsured, uninsured or income-eligible has plenty of spots available.

The Wisewoman Women's Health Program was created to establish a tradition of prevention and instill healthy behaviors for women who often find themselves putting everyone else in their life first, and their health last, said Tammi Meissner, Wisewoman program health educator, who took over the program at SEARHC in Wrangell in 2018.

"It's a great opportunity for women who don't go to the doctor very often," Meissner said.

The program offers care for women between the ages of 21 to 64. Services include blood pressure checks, a lipid panel, basic metabolic panel, hemoglobin test, fasting glucose tolerance test, support for quitting tobacco, health coaching sessions, discount access to community facilities like the swimming pool and recreation center, dietary help, a health office visit, clinical breast exam, diagnostic mammogram, screening mammogram (ages 40-64), breast ultrasound, pelvic exam, pap test, colposcopy (looks at the cervix) and other cervical diagnostic tests.

Meissner said there is often a misconception about the income level to qualify for the free program. It's based on net income after taxes, and is a sliding scale based on household size. A woman can fill out the one-page form in Meissner's office and be enrolled that day.

For a household size of one, women with a monthly net income of up to $3,352 are eligible.

For a household size of two, women with a monthly net income of up to $4,535 are eligible, with the sliding scale going up to a household size of eight.

Anyone who would like to apply can go to Meissner's office on the second floor at 215 Front St., above the credit union, call her at 907-874-5139, or email her at meissnert@searhc.org.

After signing up, Meissner said, she has the participant make an appointment by calling the Wrangell Medical Center at 907-874-7000.

For first-time participants, Meissner recommends they request to establish a provider and get an exam in the same appointment, so they don't have to make two appointments and come twice. Then, if the participant has provided a cell phone number, the medical center sends a text message with the name of the doctor and requests they press Y to confirm the appointment.

In the meantime, Meissner orders labs for blood work, which the participant goes to Wrangell Medical Center to complete a couple of days before their appointment, she said, so the doctor has the results beforehand.

And this is all free for income-eligible participants through a grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Meissner said.

About 83 women have already applied since Oct. 1, she said.

The program can take "as many as we can get, we have the funding for it," Meissner said. If people know of a woman who can benefit from the program, she said, refer them to her.

Gloria Benson, a social worker at Wrangell Medical Center, said she's been taking part in the program for five years. She first started using Wisewoman services in 2016 when she lived in Yakutat, and continues to use it in Wrangell after moving here two years ago. While she has health insurance, the program allows her to use programs she wouldn't have thought to try.

"One of the best things I enjoyed was the women's health coaching," Benson said.

The program name is an acronym for "Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation," according to the CDC website.

The program is administered locally by SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. SEARHC Wisewoman provides support throughout Southeast Alaska, including a mobile mammography screening service.