Your claim for disability benefits is generally won or lost based on doctor and other provider records. Seeing someone for the problems that cause you difficulty working is extremely important to both your general well-being and your claim for benefits.
If finances or lack of insurance is an issue, here is a list of free or reduced fee clinics:
Benewah Clinic, 1115 B St., Plummer, (208) 686-1931; medical, dental, counseling, sliding scale.
Latah Community Health (a CHAS Clinic), 719 S. Main St., Moscow, Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, sliding scale. Mental health services also available.
Lewis Clark Health Center (a CHAS Clinic), 338 Sixth St., No. 101, Lewiston, (866) 729-8258 (208) 848-8300; Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and sliding scale. Mental health services also available.
Palouse Health Center, Sandra K. Schorzman, ARNP, 235 E Main St, Palouse, WA 99161, (509) 878-8000. Sliding scale fee for those who apply, almost all insurance accepted.
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare provides free or reduced-fee mental health services at the following locations: Moscow office (208-882-0562), Lewiston office (208-799-4440), Grangeville office (208-983-2300).
Snake River Clinic, 215 10th St., Lewiston, (208) 743-5899; basic health care, referrals, non-narcotic drugs, prescription refills and laboratory work for patients without insurance only. Care for free or small fees. No appointments. Patients seen by number after 5 p.m. Line forms at 3:30 p.m. Warning: Records from this clinic are often illegible and very minimal, so they often are not helpful for your claim. In addition, you may see different doctors every time you go, so care is sometimes not as consistent as it might be with other options. Go here only as a last resort.
Imaging:
If you are paying out-of-pocket for imaging like X-rays or MRI’s, shop around. St. Joseph Regional Medical Center is often considerably more reasonable than other area hospitals.