MCR Health wins grant to expand preventive care for uninsured adults

MCR Health received a $9,099 grant from the Mark Dogoli Memorial Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation to provide wellness exams for uninsured adults in Sarasota County. The funding is aimed at earlier detection of chronic conditions and better access to follow-up care at the Fruitville Health Center.

Why it matters: - The grant is intended to help uninsured adults in Sarasota County get preventive care they often skip because of cost, transportation and education barriers. - Earlier screenings can catch conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and mental health concerns before they worsen. - The funding also supports referrals, insurance navigation and discounted care options, which can improve long-term health outcomes.

What happened: - MCR Health received a $9,099 grant from the Mark Dogoli Memorial Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. - The money will fund comprehensive wellness exams for uninsured adults in Sarasota County. - The program will serve patients at MCR Health’s Fruitville Health Center. - Dr. Melvin Price, president and CEO of MCR Health, said the program is a step toward expanding preventive care for people who might otherwise go without it.

The details: - Patients will receive preventive services designed to identify health concerns earlier. - The initiative includes education about health risks and follow-up care. - Financial counselors will help patients explore insurance coverage or discounted care programs. - Gulf Coast Community Foundation says it has invested more than $650 million in health and human services, education, civic and economic development, arts and culture, and the environment since 1995. - Gulf Coast Community Foundation is headquartered in Venice and has a second office in downtown Sarasota.

Between the lines: - The grant targets a common gap in community health: people who delay care until a condition becomes expensive or urgent. - MCR Health is using the award to connect screening with ongoing care, not just one-time exams. - The partnership also reflects how local philanthropy is being used to extend basic health access for uninsured residents.

What's next: - MCR Health will use the grant to provide wellness exams and related support services through its Fruitville Health Center. - The program is expected to help more uninsured adults connect to treatment pathways if screenings reveal chronic conditions. - MCR Health will continue working with community partners to expand access to care across the region.

The bottom line: - A relatively small grant is being used to close a practical but important gap: making preventive care reachable for uninsured adults before health problems become more serious.