A unique family medical practice in Frederick is thriving and the doctor who runs it sees patients who have little or no insurance.
The demand is so great and people drive from so far away that new offices just like it could be on the horizon.
Doctor Julio Menocal does routine exams all day long, but his family practice is anything but routine. He sees up to 120 patients a day.
Ten percent of patients at Menocal Family Practice have no health insurance and 70% get state or federal help. Patients with traditional insurance are in the minority.
"We've had some patients come from as far as Northern Virginia," said Menocal.
The waiting room is usually packed, but patients are grateful. "He doesn't turn away patients because they don't have any money. He treats them like they're human beings. They're people, not dollar signs," said patient Louise Mason.
Tiffanie Green and her baby boy both see Dr. Menocal. She's a single mother who's unemployed and has her insurance through the state, but finding a practice who accepted that coverage was challenging.
"Either they didn't accept my insurance or they weren't accepting any new patients."
Menocal's practice not only had room for her, but they have a van that picks up patients who don't drive. "I don't think it's right that a mother with two children has to walk two miles in 12 degree weather. So we go and pick them up."
Suzanne Clipsham doesn't have insurance, but she just shows her pay stub and her fee is discounted based on her salary. In her case, an appointment costs $38.
"It's incredible, because I've always paid over $100 to go to the doctors."
Menocal says he just wants to give back to his community. "It's fulfilling. We go home at night and we know that we helped somebody."
Dr. Menocal will have a meeting with an insurance company to see if they'll help underwrite a loan to get offices in Hagerstown and Baltimore up and running.
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