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Mark "Slewfoot" McLaughlin should be dead.
The 54-year old New Orleans street musician survived triple-bypass surgery nearly three years ago when 70 percent of his heart shut down, suffers from hepatitis C after years of heroin abuse and was recently diagnosed with the early stages of emphysema.
Like most musicians, McLaughlin is uninsured and incapable of paying for the thousands of dollars of outpatient care and medications required to maintain his health.
When he plays at clubs, which is rare now because of his condition, he makes no more than $40 a gig.
Two years ago, McLaughlin's chances of survival would have been slim at best. But last year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the New Orleans Musicians Clinic a three-year grant potentially worth millions of dollars.
The money allowed NOMC to expand the scope of its health care services and the number of people it can treat.
There is no cure for McLaughlin, but thanks to the NOMC and its increased budget, he is now being treated.
"Without them I'd be dead," he said.
The DHH Primary Care and Stabilization Grant provides $100 million over three years to health care providers in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. It is designed to increase the availability of primary and preventative care and decrease the public's reliance on emergency room services.
Money is distributed in multiple payments over the course of three years based on the amount of medical services provided.
NOMC was awarded $518,177 in its first year of funding. That figure is based on the amount of care the clinic provided to 800 people between March 2006 and March 2007. They are now treating...