FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

Can local musicians finally afford and receive basic health care?
R.I. Music Hall of Fame introduces 'Tune In & Tune Up' program

PAWTUCKET – With an issue as important as affordable health care for Rhode Islanders, it's no wonder that many people have been working to make it a reality. And while many individuals from all walks of life face this national problem, board members of the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame (RIMHOF) have decided to do something about it and try to take care of their own.

RIMHOF Board member and musician Don "D.C." Culp explains, "The Tune In & Tune Up Health Awareness Program grew from a sincere and long-time concern to bring professional Rhode Island musicians, including myself, an alternative to high-cost health insurance. At a 2011 advisory board meeting, I first brought up the idea of joining together some type of affordable health care with a health awareness information center." Culp continues, "The idea was met with great enthusiasm but also a realization of the greatest obstacle to overcome – programs with very high monthly fees and/or high co-pays which make them far from affordable for most musicians."

Designed for Rhode Island’s professional active or retired musician community as well as music industry professionals, the 'Tune In & Tune Up' program will offer free interactive workshops and health forums focusing on musicians issues as well as a website with health-related information. By presenting their 'Tune In & Tune Up' membership card, musicians will also receive discounts on retail items from participating outlets. But it is their partnership with Dr. Zaheer A. Shah's Access Basic Care (ABC) Initiative, an existing health care program that provides affordable primary, urgent, and preventative health care, that has Hall of Fame board members most excited.

Culp explains, "The Music Hall of Fame is truly looking forward to partnering 'Tune In & Tune Up' with Dr. Shah’s Access Basic Care Initiative. Early on in the process, Dr. Mark Andreozzi, a leading Ear Nose and Throat Doctor, joined on as the Medical Consultant for the 'Tune In & Tune Up' program. After researching several models, we discovered that Dr. Shah's initiative was already in existence, providing very affordable health care at two local facilities that he runs."

Adds fellow RIMHOF Board member and musician Russell Gusetti, "With the partnering of these two basic health care programs, the possibilities are huge that Rhode Island musicians and industry professionals will finally have a health care option they can afford. And we want to be very clear, there is no financial gain for RIMHOF with this partnership... our sole interest is helping our fellow musicians, it is straight from the heart."

Gusetti continues, "Too many of us have seen friends who are musicians go without health insurance or health care of any kind, simply because they felt they could not afford it. So year after year, we end up holding benefit concerts for fellow musicians who have suffered major health issues. And with musicians, if you are sick, you don't play. And if you don't play, you can't earn a living let alone pay for health care visits or procedures. It made us want to do something to let the music community know that there ARE options out there for affordable health care and that prevention really IS the best medicine."

"Unfortunately," RIMHOF chair Robert Billington says, "most in the music community make the hard decision to live without proper preventive health care, skipping routine annual exams and turning down medical services because they can't afford them or are unwilling to pay their insurance's high deductibles if they even have insurance. In effect, people are denying themselves basic primary care."

Even in its infancy, 'Tune In & Tune Up' is gaining the interest and support of many in the music community such as Chris Vachon, leader of Roomful of Blues, members of the 2012 inaugural class of inductees of the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. To commemorate their 45th anniversary, Roomful recorded a live CD at The Ocean Mist, in Wakefield, R.I., over the course of three days. For the Sunday show, Roomful decided to ask fans for a donation to benefit the 'Tune In & Tune Up' program instead of charging admission.

Vachon says, "In addition to doing some very special things to celebrate and recognize Rhode Island's musical legacy, the Hall of Fame has been proactive in helping with education – most recently developing ”Tune In & Tune Up.” For so long the music community has sought affordable health care ... the Hall is helping to identify options as well as raising funds to help subsidize those in need." Vachon added, "Having an affordable health plan for musicians has been something I've dreamed of for a long time. I applaud Hall of Fame members for working to make it happen."

Zaheer A. Shah MD, JD, is a board certified internist; his ABC Initiative, the first of its kind in the country, was designed to be an alternative to health insurance. Requiring a one-year commitment, it is a membership-based health care program ideal for individuals and employers who cannot afford health insurance benefits or wish to supplement their high-deductible health plan or catastrophic insurance. Dr. Shah's two clinics are located at 100 Smithfield Avenue, Pawtucket, and 65 Eddie Dowling Highway, North Smithfield. Both are staffed seven days a week with highly-trained board certified physicians and experienced physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners.

Says Dr. Shah, 'We at the ABC Initiative couldn't be more proud of our affiliation with the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. We look forward to providing our state's musicians with basic preventive health care."

For individuals enrolled in the ABC Initiative there is a $90 enrollment fee plus $45 a month which provides unlimited scheduled appointments, prompt urgent care, unlimited sick visits, and a comprehensive annual physical exam including blood testing and x-rays. Dr. Shah was also able to negotiate a generic drug price with Stop & Shop on more than 200 prescription drugs for just a $10 copay. And Dr. Shah provides the answers to two of the most-asked questions up front: "Yes. We accept patients whether or not they have pre-existing medical conditions and yes, patients can enroll even if they already carry some level of health insurance."

The public's introduction to the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame's 'Tune In & Tune Up' program and the formal announcement of RIMHOF's partnership with Dr. Shah's Access Basic Care Initiative will be held Wednesday, March 27, 7:00 p.m., at Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad St., Cumberland, R.I. Members of Rhode Island's professional music community are encouraged to attend and to reserve a spot by emailing russell@riverfolk.org . Seating is limited and the presentation by RIMHOF Board members and Dr. Shah will be followed by a Q&A session.