Healthcare is a Right For All: Mobile Health Unit bringing care to communities
Nicole Zappone @TheChronicleCT
Aug 7, 2025
WILLIMANTIC — Generations Family Health Center unveiled its new Mobile Health Unit in partnership with the Northeastern Connecticut Community Chamber on Tuesday.
“It’s so appropriate that we’re launching our new Mobile Health Unit during National Community Health Week,” said Generations CEO Melissa Meyers. “For 60 years, health centers have provided high-quality, affordable care to all, serving 1 in 10 Americans.”
The Mobile Health Unit provides a variety of medical services such as primary care, preventive and sick care, as well as testing and treatment of chronic diseases.
Dental services provided include routine preventative care, restorative treatments including dentures, and emergency treatment.
Other services include behavioral health, specialty services, and care coordination/support services.
There are several patient benefits with the van, including prescription access and management, bilingual staff, care, and services, and more. In-person visits and telehealth care are available.
Payment options include Husky Medicaid, Medicare, and other commercial insurance plans, including the Affordable Care Act plans that are offered by Access Health CT. Discounts are available to those who may qualify for the sliding fee scale program, which is based on family size and income.
The Mobile Health Unit was funded by the Health Disparities and Prevention Grant Program administered by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Operations are supported by funding from the DPH Health Resources and Services Administration.
“Through innovations like this mobile unit, and the dedication of our staff, we’re working to ensure healthcare is a right for all, not a privilege for some,” Meyers said. “By literally hitting the road, this new unit helps break down the barriers that prevent so many from accessing care.”
The celebration, which kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday morning, featured remarks from U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman Joe Courtney, and Dr. Manisha Juthani, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, along with Mayor Tom DeVivo and GFHC Board of Directors Chairperson Joan Marshall.
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are values that make America great, and bringing healthcare to people where they are is part of those values,” Blumenthal said. “The real heroes, or the dignitaries today, are not Joe and myself, but you. You are doing this work every day, you are on the front lines, you are dealing with the challenges in a very real and human way, trying to make their lives better.”
Blumenthal said the van represents bringing healthcare to people, meeting them where they live, ensuring they understand the services offered, and preventing healthcare problems, along with education and awareness.
The previous van had about 200,000 miles on it, and Generations hopes to continue with the care and the distance that it will travel.
“In this country, we are facing a healthcare crisis, because what is happening in Washington is historical and not in a good way,” Blumenthal said.
Meyes added that they want to help as many people as they can in Eastern Connecticut with the funds they received.
“Slowly over this time in the next year, they are going to be losing their healthcare coverage, and thank God, community health centers are available to provide that preventive medicine, primary medical, behavioral health on an outpatient basis,” Meyers said. “We provide it with a sliding fee scale regardless of your ability to pay. That’s not going to change. We need to adapt.”
There are over 40 towns in their existing service area, and they are seeking additional partners to expand their services. They are looking for libraries, schools, senior centers, and other community locations to host the mobile van.
“We need to count on our partners in the area,” Meyers said. “We work hard to try to make it work, because it’s our mission.”
The van visits enrolled schools to provide dental services for children during school hours, on school premises, in fully-equipped dental exam rooms.
Those partnering schools include Danielson, Norwich, Putnam, Willimantic, and the Putnam School-Based Health Center. Generations is looking to partner with additional school districts.
Any student enrolled at a school is eligible for a visit from the Mobile Health Unit to receive services. Eligibility includes both current dental patients of Generations Family Health Center and new dental patients.
Dental services include preventative oral health care, such as exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants. Oral Health Education is also included.
The Mobile Van travels throughout all of Windham County, along with parts of Tolland County and New London.
To learn more about the Mobile Health Unit and view the service schedule, visit: https://genhealth.org/services/mobile-health-unit.