In September, staff at two HealthReach Community Health Centers  — Belgrade Regional Health Center, and Lovejoy Health Center in Albion — welcomed Nancy Johnson.

Johnson is tasked with helping patients access important services such as affordable healthcare, health insurance, and other social and support services, according to a news release from Jessica Billington, communications and outreach specialist for HealthReach Community Health Centers in Waterville.

Johnson obtained her bachelor’s degree in secondary education, language arts, from the University of Maine at Farmington. She also has a master’s degree in literacy education from the University of Maine. In 2021, she served as a patient services representative for MaineGeneral, where she provided customer service to patients and determined urgency levels for medical referrals. She also has experience in helping people with Medicare Part D matters. Previously she worked for more than a decade as a certified Title I literacy teacher in the Augusta School Department.

Johnson joins HealthReach’s dedicated Connector Team of Courtney Koczera and licensed social workers Tina DeRaps and Chenoa Jackson. Connectors provide free services to help with the high cost of healthcare. Connectors help patients navigate a variety of resources, including MaineCare (Medicaid), Hospital Free Care, Supplemental Nutritional Aid Program (formerly “food stamps”), reduced-cost prescription medications through the Patient Assistance Program, and its HealthReach Affordable Care Program, which offers a “sliding fee.” Connectors can also connect patients to other resources in their  local community.

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