"Faith Based" is a popular phrase in the Ozarks.  What is means is, of course, as subjective as is the meaning of faith itself.  My sense is, and I think most will agree, it references "motive".  This week, I spent a little free time discovering what "Health Care Resources" are available to the relatively large and growing number of adults in Branson who have no financial/lifestyle means of maintaining a relationship with a Primary Care Doctor, much less enjoy the benefits of any Hospitalization Insurance.  I have previously written about personal experiences with friends and acquaintances that evidence this profile, and was just looking for a standard answer that I might offer up as the inevitable next time comes when I hear, "I'm injured/sick but don't have any money". General awareness lead me to four sources for a better understanding of how, in the future, I might reply to such expressions.  The first was, of course, Branson City Government.  I had a minimal exposure to the Branson City Health Department.  They reviewed some building plans I had offered up for a permit and decided that I needed one more sink in the kitchen.  They easily affirmed that neither primary/urgent/critical care was on their agenda.  They pointed me to option two, which was the Taney County Health Department.  I visited their offices out on Bee Road and had a pleasant conversation with Jean Miller, the Office Manager.  She explained that at least in the past and present the County offered no resources for injured/sick indigent adults.  She did confirm that some resources such as child immunizations and infant care are available through their offices.  She did confirm that these offered services, including the at least 6 employees working in the Branson office, were funded by County Taxes and funds received from one or more Missouri State Agencies.  Jean did reveal that recently a "Faith Based Free Clinic" had opened in Branson and suggested that I give those in need a copy of a  08' article in the Branson newspaper indicating that the clinic would open in November 08'.  She further advised that another "Faith Based Clinic" with a larger and more comprehensive agenda was to open sometime in late 09'.  Next, I contacted Skaggs Hospital, the non-profit hospital serving our community.  I had an extended conversation with Cheryl Fortenberry, Social Services Director.  She spoke to the Hospital's policy to screen all emergency care requests ( its  regulatory mandated for non-profit hospitals).  She confirmed that their screening/stabilization services was not a substitute for ongoing treatment and referred me to the same two "Faith Based Clinics" pointed to by Jean at Taney County Health. Last on my list was the Missouri State Medicaid program, now renamed Missouri HealthNet.  For those who are 65 and older and indigent or less than 18 and the child of indigent parents, this is I suspect a resource.  Again since this was not my objective, I left many questions unanswered and went directly to "the only game in town", namely the existing and proposed "Faith Based Clinics"  I will offer up my findings in a subsequent post.