By Garry Schalla, Development Director
The total cost for the relocation and expansion of the new Basalt Integrated Health Center is $3.4 million. This project is a community partnership, with Pitkin County, Aspen Valley Hospital and many generous donors. Donors include the Aspen Skiing Company – Caring for Community Fund, The Colorado Health Foundation, Alpenglow Foundation and the Betty Jane Schuss Fund at the Aspen Community Foundation contributing $1.2 million to the project so far. Mountain Family’s goal is to raise $2.2 million in additional funding by May 31st, 2019.
In the Roaring Fork Valley, 4,212 persons from Aspen to El Jebel are low-income, adding up to 27% of the population. Low-income is defined as living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level which is earning $24,140 each year—or less—for an individual or $49,200 in annual income for a family of four.
These residents often have difficulty accessing health care due to their income, being under or un-insurance, provider shortages and social determinants of health barriers. Social barriers include but are not limited to transportation, employment, language and cultural barriers, food security and inadequate housing.
Mountain Family’s new Basalt Integrated Health Center will increase the capacity to serve Roaring Fork Valley families with the relocation and expansion of the Basalt health center to a 9,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility at 123 Emma Road. The new Basalt Integrated Health Center, scheduled to open on January 7th, 2019, will enable Mountain Family to provide care to 3700 people annually, an 85% increase over current capacity. For the first time, Roaring Fork Valley families will be able to access integrated primary medical, dental and behavioral health (mental health and substance use disorders) services in one health care home.
Won’t you join us in making this valuable community asset a reality? To learn more, schedule a “hard hat tour” of the new health center or make a donation, please visit this page on our website or contact me, Development Director Garry Schalla, at gschalla@ mountainfamily.org or 970-945-2840 extension 7290.