I am writing to tell you about an important but struggling resource in our community.

The Kilgore Samaritan Counseling Center has been a not-for-profit, faith-based non-denominational ministry to the emotional and mental health needs of Louisville families and individuals since 1988. Through generous donations by our supporters we have been able to provide therapy and counseling services to anyone in our metro area who needs such services – and never with regard to a person’s ability to pay for those services.

As well, we have always prided ourselves in our ability to earn at least part of our way though treatment of insurance-paying clients. However, over the past decade, we have witnessed two very troubling trends, the cumulative effect of which challenges us more profoundly every year.

The first is a stagnation in insurance reimbursement rates to therapists. In fact many such rates have decreased since the mid 1990’s in absolute terms – not just when factoring in inflation.

The second trend, seen more severely over the past few years is a relentless growth in the number of clients who have insurance but who lack financial ability to pay ever-increasing deductibles and or burdensome copays. Thus, while we have traditionally ministered to the emotional and spiritual mental health needs of our community’s uninsured and financially vulnerable, we are now seeing significant increases in clients who are underinsured.

The result of such trends is that we are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain ourselves as time goes by, and while we have never turned a client away for lack of ability to pay, the financial pressure on our Center is increasing faster than we are able to overcome. Donations and the fundraising events that we hold are simply no longer enough and we need help if we are to continue providing the vital services that we are so well-known for in our community.

And of those most economically vulnerable clients who require our services, we are humbled each and every day by the gratitude reflected in their comments to us. One of our clients said it best, in writing to us, “Please know that your organization is making a difference in my life. . . . I am the face of the needy of whom you comforted. Blessed are they who do God’s work.” And to that client who shared such wonderful thoughts with us, I would reply, Yes, we are blessed. Blessed in our calling and blessed in the ministry that allows us to provide such care and comfort to those who need it. And blessed in that we have never, through God’s grace and the generosity of our donors, yet been forced to curtail or decline treatment to any who have asked for it. But our struggles are growing and we humbly ask for your help.

Sincerely yours,

Wayne J. Harper, EdD
Executive Director