Robin Devlin is one of hundreds of thousands in Tampa Bay living without health insurance.
“You just suffer. You really do. You can’t do anything,” she said.
The former truck driver from Moon Lake said she’s desperate to fix the extreme hip pain she’s dealing with.
“Can’t hardly walk, can’t stand up for very long. So I can’t get a job,” she said.
Devlin said she doesn’t qualify for Medicaid and can’t afford walk-in clinics, so this place is her last hope.
Premier Community Healthcare held a grand opening Wednesday for its location in Hudson where they welcome those who are underinsured or without insurance altogether.
The clinic was supposed to open inside the Mike Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter four years ago, but Governor Rick Scott cut it out of the state budget..
“From the perspective of the community, it’s something they’ve been asking for and there’s a need. And it was extremely frustrating for everybody involved,” said Premier Community Healthcare CEO Joey Resnick.
But now, thanks to a federal grant, the clinic is open and seeing patients. Many of them who clogged up emergency rooms for non-emergency treatments.
Those visits cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
As for Robin, a hug from the nurse helps and so will the treatment she’s about to get.
“I’m hoping they can find out what’s causing the problem and get it fixed so I can get back to work,” said Devlin.
The clinic is right next to the health department, giving patients a one stop shop for for the care they need.
