Stuber Health Center receives city funding for upcoming year
By Chris Fortune
Access to free health care in St. Joseph continues to be available for those who need it thanks in part to a recent funding approval.
The St. Joseph City Council agreed to allocate $528,568 to the Stuber Health Center, formerly known as the Social Welfare Board, for the current fiscal year, which ends in June 2025. The health center at 904 S. 10th St. Suite A provides medical, dental and specialty care for visitors with low incomes.
Funding from the city goes to the health center’s operating budget, helping to pay the salaries of about 28 staff members.
“What we get from the city is definitely very crucial to provide those services here,” Executive Director Latha Varghese said.
Buchanan County residents can receive free medical and dental services if they make 200% or less than the federal poverty level, which is around $30,000.
“For the medical and dental services, we do have what we call a co-pay of $5, but it’s not mandatory,” she said. “It’s if patients can provide it.”
The Stuber Health Center averaged about 6,000 active patients for the services it provides during the past three years.
Dr. James McMillen has seen patients a couple of days a week since he started at the health center between 2015 and 2016 in addition to his administrative duties at Mosaic Life Care.
“It’s a huge problem in the country — people that are underinsured or with no insurance and trying to make it,” he said. “Our clinic is a real asset.”
McMillen said a misconception about people who visit the health center is that they have done something wrong or have a lifestyle issue. Most of the visitors are trying to do what they can to get by, he said.
“They’re hard-working people and plugging away, but they’re at the bottom of the economic scale and they’re having a hard time,” he said.
The Stuber Health Center’s mission is to provide care to low-income and uninsured residents, but it could use a little more help itself.
“If someone is out there that’s an LPN wanting to come and join our team to provide service to our community, please reach out to me,” Varghese said.
You can reach the Stuber Health Center by calling 816-233-5188.
