Written by: Tenci Reid
The University Health Center (UHC) has experienced a major rise in visits since changing its payment procedure at the beginning of this school year. An email was sent to students by Vice President for Student Development Dennis Negrón, alerting students of the change.
“Effective this fall semester, students will no longer have to pay for office visits, minor procedure care, flu shots, limited over-the-counter medications, and wound dressings when using the University Health Center,” the email stated.
Instead of paying a fee for each UHC visit, students now pay a general fee of $150 per semester.
In an interview with the Accent, Steven Miller, associate vice president for Financial Administration, said more students are accessing the UHC this school year compared to previous years, the only exception being the semester when COVID-19 was at an all-time high on campus.
“[In] October, we had 1,028 visits through there; that’s 915 students and 113 employees. If you look at last year’s October, we’re at 544 visits,” said Miller.
When asked what measures have been taken to ensure continued accessibility for students, especially those who may have financial challenges in seeking healthcare, Miller said, “If a student goes over there for anything ordinary, there is no charge to them. It’s all covered by that general fee. If you’re having a procedure done, we do charge for that.”
Miller gave an example: If a student requires stitches or a thorn removed, charges apply. The associated costs are billed to the student’s insurance.
Michelle Mix, a nurse practitioner at the UHC, also noted a significant increase in student visits.
“More students are coming in sooner to address health concerns, and we are thankful we have the opportunity to start treatments in a more timely fashion. Students are no longer delaying their visits due to concern for cost,” said Mix.
Alexia Grosjean, a junior psychology major, said last semester she didn’t make an appointment with the UHC due to the visitation fees. She described feeling discouraged to visit the health center even when the nurses urged her to do so.
“Before, I was a little more skeptical to go because each visit was $40, and it seemed kind of steep for me,” said Grosjean.
When asked whether she goes more often now due to the payment change, Grosjean said she is more inclined to make an appointment, “I don’t think that much when I go; I just go whenever I need to.”
Due to increased student visitation, UHC staff had to adjust to accommodate the influx.
“Fortunately, all UHC employees have experience working in high-volume patient care settings and can quickly and effectively handle this increase in demand for services,” Mix said. “We have maintained two full-time nurse practitioners, allowing us to see upwards of 30-40 visits a day.”
To accommodate high enrollment, the university began offering shuttle services to decrease the number of cars parked around campus. The shuttle will stop at the UHC if requested.
“The shuttle is available for students needing assistance getting to the UHC,” said Mix, adding that students unable to ride the shuttle can call the UHC directly for assistance.
