Help available to local residents living near and below the poverty line

Magnolia Regional Medical Center in Magnolia offers financial assistance services to patients who meet the eligibility requirements.
Magnolia Regional Medical Center in Magnolia offers financial assistance services to patients who meet the eligibility requirements.

The COVID-19 pandemic has carried on into 2021, with many United States residents continuing to feel the impacts of job insecurity and health uncertainty that accompanied the novel coronavirus.

These problems are not unknown to the residents of Magnolia, who already lived in an economically underprivileged area, according to 2019 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That year, those who lived in Magnolia had lower median household wages than both the state and US median; a much higher percentage of persons in poverty; and fewer homeowners than both the state and national averages prior to the pandemic.

Census data shows Magnolia residents make a median household wage of $33,474, with 27.1% of residents living in poverty and only 57.1% of residents living in homes that they own. The latest data from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services shows that Columbia County has a higher rate of unemployment than most in the state — 6.9% in November, 2020. Only three counties Arkansas math the local unemployment rate and only 16 of the 75 counties in the state had higher unemployment in November.

Roughly 3,133 of Magnolia’s 11,562 residents are living in poverty, according to the Census data.

This data does not take into account how many local residents are living in debt, the number of residents who would not be able to afford emergency medical services and the number of residents whose jobs may not be secure, meaning that an unknown number of residents are living near the poverty line and are at risk of falling into poverty.

Whether it be food to eat, career opportunities or help with medical costs, nonprofits and state organizations have help for local residents to make ends meet.

Medical care

Magnolia Regional Medical Center (MRMC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Magnolia. Due to their designation as a nonprofit organization, the hospital is required to offer financial assistance services thanks to a provision in the Affordable Care Act. Only seven of the 63 providers listed on MRMC’s Financial Assistance Program policy participate in the program.

“Our Financial Assistance Program helps eligible patients with their bills for services received at MRMC,” the MRMC website states on its page.

Who is Eligible?

In the MRMC guidelines, a person whose individual or family income is not more than 250% of the current Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) may be eligible for discounted services from participating providers at MRMC. The US Department of Health and Human Services’ 2021 Federal Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and the district of Columbia lists $12,880 as the poverty rate for a single person household, with 250% equaling $32,200.

According to the MRMC Financial Assistance Program policy, the services eligible under the policy will be made available to patients on a sliding fee scale, starting with those at 0%-150% of the poverty guideline to receive a discount percentage of 100%. It continues, with 151%-175% discounted at 90%, 176%-200% discounted at 80%, 201%-225% discounted at 70% and 226%-250% discounted at 60%. Submitting the amount of income a person makes isn’t the only method for eligibility.

“We have what you call presumptive eligibility,” stated MRMC Financial Counselor Dawn Smalls. “If someone brings in their light bill (which shows address) and we know its a low-income community that can get you qualified.”

Smalls spoke about other eligibility factors as well, such as receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits in Arkansas can be used for eligibility for the Financial Assistance Program. She also stated that patients with Texas Medicaid, which is an insurance that is not within the hospital’s network, can provide their insurance card to be used for eligibility for the Financial Assistance Program.

For more information on MRMC’s Financial Assistance Program, visit magnoliarmc.org or schedule an appointment with an MRMC financial counselor by calling 870-235-3006

Employment

The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (ADWS) states on their website that their workforce centers provide workforce readiness training, job search, academic enrichment and work experience to job seekers, linking them to employers through a statewide delivery system.

“The Workforce Centers throughout the state are designed to eliminate the need to visit multiple locations,” the ADWS website states.

ADWS also provides resources for individuals seeking to file a claim for Unemployment Insurance. Arkansas residents may file for Unemployment Insurance if they are working less than full-time or if they have completely separated from their last job .

“Our applications are online, so some people can go online to do the applications or come in person,” a staff worker from Magnolia’s ADWS center said on the phone. She also stated that the location is open for walk-ins with no need to call ahead.

The nearest ADWS Center for Columbia County residents is located at Harvey Couch Boulevard in Magnolia with their phone number listed as 870-234-3440.

Food

Several local organizations in Columbia County are working to combat food insecurity, including:

Asbury United Methodist Church’s USDA Commodity Agency Pantry, open every third Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m..

The Magnolia Senior Center’s Soup Kitchen, open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Stewpot at the First United Methodist Church holds a soup kitchen on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Unity Church Magnolia’s food pantry, open every first Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Unity Methodist Church in Taylor hosts an “honor system” food pantry for those facing food insecurity and those that are able to donate to it.

For Magnolia School District students facing food insecurity, their parents may contact the school counselor of their school for food assistance for their children.

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