Cyndi Loza

An “angel” came to teaching assistant Nelly Hutchison — and it came in the form of an Access to Healthcare Network coordinator.

Access to Healthcare Network, Nevada’s first nonprofit organization medical discount plan, has extended its services to the uninsured employees of the Washoe County School District.

For a fee of $20 each month, the program will provide uninsured school district employees a chance to access discounted medical treatment from hospitals and clinics.

Some school employees, such as Nelly Hutchison, signed up for the program on Monday at Wooster High School.

Hutchison said she made sure she was first in line.

“Oh my God, this is wonderful,” said Hutchison, who lives in Reno and works part-time at Alice Smith Elementary School. “I didn’t have insurance, and now I have it for what, $20 a month? That’s nothing.”

The employees’ plans take effect May 1.

Access director Sherri Rice said the program is not a health insurance provider but instead is a system created by hospitals and doctors in Washoe County for getting discounted medical treatment.

“We literally have designed this program from the ground up in a way that will benefit the uninsured in our community,” Rice said.

Typical cost for a Network patient’s initial visit to a doctor is $60, which is about half the normal price. The cost of joining the network is $40 per month for an individual (the fee is split between school district employer and the employee) and $50 for dependants.

Among the other groups that have joined the program are Sparks Florist and Soak, a nail and spa lounge.

Reno resident Tammy Parker, 46, said she was ecstatic when she heard of the program. She said she often worries about medical costs because of her thyroid problem.

“I was really excited,” said Parker, who works part-time in nutritional services at Hug High School. “I thought, ‘Yahoo, now I don’t have to worry about bankrupting my family.’”

Rice said neither employee nor employer can drop their current insurance plan to join the program. The program is designed to help provide medical care to local uninsured part-time employees, small businesses and people waiting to get their work benefits.

For more details or to sign up, contact the organization at 770-6035.