WASHINGTON — Greg Nycz has been a leader at the Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. for 54 years. The federally-qualified health center provides dental care, primary care, and substance use treatment for underserved patients in rural Wisconsin. The center received a $3 million infusion from the federal government to help expand into Wisconsin Rapids.

“The best care is quality care close to home,” Nycz said. “It allows for it allows for prevention and maintenance of health."

What You Need To Know

  • The latest government funding package includes more than $60 million for special projects in Wisconsin

  • The state’s congressional delegation requested funds to remove lead pipes, improve road safety, and construct new health clinics

  • The Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to claim its $3 million earmark, which will be used to help construct a new building in Wisconsin Rapids

  • CEO Greg Nycz said last year, more than 1,000 patients from the Wisconsin Rapids area traveled at least 70 miles to other FHC locations to get care

Last year, more than 1,000 patients drove 70 miles or more from Wisconsin Rapids to the closest Family Health Center clinics for dental care. 

“Most of them were coming in pain,” Nycz said. “Most of them would like to have had care closer to home.”

The remaining funding for the $17 million project will come from community support. Nycz gave credit to Congressman Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, and Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.

“I think both representatives are acutely aware of the problem of access for dental care for people on Medicaid or for uninsured, low-income people, elderly, disabled and veterans as well.”

Nycz noted that only a fraction of veterans have access to dental care through the VA. Van Orden is a retired Navy SEAL.

“When we do our earmark projects,” Van Orden said, “those are direct needs that are communicated to us from communities in my district, and I don’t see a better way that we can actually spend money other than helping the people that really need it.”

Nycz said he’s still working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to process the earmark to actually receive the $3 million in funding.

“We have to make sure that all of the federal rules that govern the expenditure of that money are met in terms of the bid process for construction,” Nycz said. 

He said he’d like the money to have already been approved.

“The need in the community is so great,” he said. “The value of being close in town is that you’re more apt to get people to establish, like, a medical home, and because you’re in the neighborhood, and that means that there are more opportunities to do screening, early detection.”

Nycz said most people take getting dental care for granted. 

“You think about how far you have to travel to go to your dentist, and then think about people traveling 100+ miles because [of their] pain—and it can be the pain of themselves or a loved one that they’re driving to get that care,” Nycz said. “And especially with the Congressman’s involvement in the military, we’re pleased that he was able to help us reach out for veterans. And being close to a VA clinic, we’re hoping that referrals for veterans who have difficulty with oral health can be facilitated.” 

Nycz said this project will help stimulate the local economy by bringing in new jobs. He hopes to break ground this fall and open the new health center next year. 

“Because of the need on the substance use disorder treatment side, we are renting a location in Wisconsin Rapids and trying to provide temporary care closer to home through telehealth until the construction is complete and people have a place to go,” Nycz said.  

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