Help Expand Access to Specialty Care in Montgomery County

Graphic with the heading ACCESS TO CARE and six blue medical icons representing heart monitoring, respiratory system, kidneys, lung protection, eye care, and medication.

Farhana Arastu, MPP
Programs and Public Policy Director, MCMS

Thousands of Montgomery County residents face barriers to accessing specialty care due to limited insurance coverage, financial challenges, or lack of access to specialists. Physicians can make a meaningful difference by participating in one of several programs designed to connect patients with needed specialty services.

Project Access provides an opportunity for specialists to see referred patients in their own offices. Participating physicians may choose to provide care on a pro bono basis or at an agreed-upon reimbursement rate. This flexible model allows physicians to support vulnerable patients while integrating care into their existing practice workflow.

Another way to serve is by volunteering at one of the Montgomery Cares Health Centers, a network of eleven clinics that provide care to uninsured adults in our community. Physicians who volunteer at a health center see patients onsite and help address critical specialty care needs. These volunteer opportunities are unpaid but offer a direct way to improve access to care for underserved residents.

For physicians interested in volunteering but unsure where to start, Tefo Linchwe, Director of Specialty Care Programs at the Primary Care Coalition, can help connect you with the appropriate program or health center.

MobileMed was the recipient of MCMS's 2026 Webster Sewell, M.D. Access to Care Award. MobileMed provides comprehensive primary and preventive care, chronic disease management, specialty referrals, and behavioral health services through its three fixed-site clinics and at two community locations via its Mobile Health clinics. MobileMed has experienced a steady rise in patient volume and service utilization.

ICM Cares was the recipient of MCMS's 2025 Webster Sewell, M.D. Access to Care Award. ICM Cares Clinic provides free primary and specialty care to uninsured and underserved residents of Montgomery County, with a particular focus on Asian, African American, and Latino communities. Open on weekends, the clinic helps patients access culturally responsive care, manages chronic conditions, and connects patients with a network of volunteer specialists who provide services at no cost.
If you are interested in learning more about any opportunity, we encourage you to explore the available resources and consider how your specialty expertise can help patients who might otherwise go without care.
Together, we can strengthen access to specialty care and improve health outcomes throughout Montgomery County.
Posted in Public Health, Volunteerism