HealthVisions met with Bishop Edward Braxton, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Belleville, to discuss the services and ministry of HealthVisions. Paula Wills, director of HealthVisions explained the services HealthVisions provides and its expansion of assisted transportation services throughout St. Clair County and western Clinton County to seniors age 60 and older. HealthVisions provides transportation services using volunteers to provide one on one assistance for seniors and take them to services including dialysis, cancer treatment, pharmacy, shopping, etc. HealthVisions also provides assistance with Medicare programs including Medicare Savings to help low income seniors have their Medicare Part B premium paid each month. They also provide help with open enrollment, low income subsidies to reduce the cost of medication for people on Medicare. HealthVisions provides assistance with benefit access applications for ride free transit cards and discounts on license plates. The benefit access replaced the circuit breaker program for the state of Illinois. HealthVisions provides chronic disease self-management workshops to teach people how to be better self-managers of their chronic conditions. HealthVisions provides training and support to local congregations to help them engage in outreach ministries to reach hurting people for God. The services HealthVisions provides is supported by grants and tax-deductible donations.

Bishop Braxton was pleased to hear about the services and the Poor Handmaids commitment to serve the poor and underserved. He invited Paula Wills to meet with the Diocesan Presbyteral Council on 11/6/17 to educate them on the services.  Bishop Braxton wanted to encourage the Diocesan parishioners to access the services and volunteer to help seniors. The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ started HealthVisions after they sold St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis. For more information on how you can support HealthVisions or receive services, please call 618-271-7000.