SPECIAL REPORT: Managing Medical Bills

Augusta, GA -- Brian Dominy is doing his best to beat a life threatening illness...

This young husband, and father of two, has a lot to live for, yet his health is slowly declining due to a neuromuscular disease. Standard treatment isn't working and in an effort to help Brian, MCG Doctor Ned Pruitt is trying a few things outside of the box.

Dr. Ned Pruitt, MCG Health System: "At this point, we're in new territory for him, and for me, and we're watching him very closely...making sure we're not hurting him with some of the medicine we're trying."

Brian's muscles are wasting away. He can't feed or bathe himself and now there's another hurdle in his health care: insurance. His company-paid plan recently ran out because he couldn't work anymore. In June, Brian was approved for Social Security disability. He applied for Medicare, but was turned down.

Brian Dominy, patient: "I've had a pretty tough time getting approved for Medicare. You see my condition and that should be the last thing that I should be concerned about...whether or not I'll be covered by Medicare."

The COBRA program would allow him to continue his insurance for a time, but it would cost $430 a month, money they don't have.

Brian Dominy: "I need that money for other things. Life doesn't stop because I'm sick."

Brian's illness is rare, but his insurance problem isn't unusual in Richmond and Columbia Counties.

Daniel Walton, Project Access: "35 to 40 percent of the population is uninsured...it's a large number."

Daniel Walton is the executive director for Project Access...a physician volunteer organization. He sees the ranks of the uninsured growing...

Daniel Walton: "Every day, with the economy the way it is, the job market teeter-tottering, we're seeing a lot of that."

When King Mill folded, a few years ago, Project Access was born. City leaders and the Richmond County Medical Society banded together to help those who had lost their jobs...

Today, Doctors Hospital, University Hospital, and Trinity Hospital participate in Project Access, donating their services. And, more than 300 local doctors volunteer their time...

To qualify for Project Access, you must be between the ages of 19 and 64, and there are income limits. You must also live in Richmond or Columbia Counties

Brian doesn't qualify. He lives in South Carolina and MCG doesn't participate in Project Access. Despite that, the hospital is one of the area's largest providers of indigent care.

Dr. Pruitt: "If there was a patient that did not have insurance, we find ways to get the therapy for those patients. For Brian, that part, or anxiety, up until today, when his insurnace expires, has been one less thing to worry about."

If you live in Augusta, your tax dollars are helping the uninsured get the prescriptions they need. The Augusta Commission gives project access $400,000 a year, and while there are limits to the type of treatment and medicines Project Access can provide...it is at least something...until if and when health insurance is available for everyone.

If you'd like to help Brian, contributions can be made at Georgia Bank and Trust under the name: "Donations For The Dominy Family".

For more information about Project Access, click here.