Benefits · Healthcare
How to apply for TMH Tallahassee Hospital + Florida Department of Health in Jefferson County (Sliding-Scale Primary Care)
Two-layer healthcare safety net for Jefferson County: (1) Florida Department of Health in Jefferson County — provides primary care, public health services, and sliding-scale fees at 1255 W Washington Street, Monticello FL 32344; (2) Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) — independent not-for-profit 772-bed regional acute-care hospital at 1300 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee FL 32308 (Leon County) — Jefferson seniors travel to TMH or Capital Regional Medical Center for hospitalization since Jefferson has no acute-care hospital
Who it's for
Jefferson County has NO acute-care hospital of its own — Jefferson's safety-net healthcare is structured as a two-layer model. LOCAL PRIMARY CARE: The Florida Department of Health in Jefferson County (FL DOH Jefferson) at 1255 W Washington Street in Monticello provides primary care, public health services (immunizations, family planning, communicable disease), and a sliding-fee scale based on income — Medicare and Medicaid are accepted. Phone 850-342-0170. HOSPITAL-LEVEL CARE: Jefferson seniors travel to Leon County for hospitalization, typically Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) — an independent not-for-profit 772-bed regional acute-care hospital and Level II Trauma Center at 1300 Miccosukee Road in Tallahassee — about 30 minutes west of Monticello. TMH's system-wide Financial Assistance Policy applies a sliding-scale approach: patients at or below 200% FPL typically receive 100% free care; patients between 201-400% FPL receive partial discounts. For Jefferson seniors, Big Bend Transit (fl.jefferson.big_bend_transit_jefferson) is the practical mobility link to Leon County hospitals. Apply for TMH FAP by calling 850-431-5165 or via the TMH patient resources portal; for FL DOH Jefferson services, call 850-342-0170.
Jefferson County's lack of an in-county acute-care hospital makes the two-layer safety net structurally important: FL DOH Jefferson handles routine primary care locally; TMH Tallahassee handles hospitalization with mandatory cross-county travel. The modeled $31,200 income gate uses 200% FPL as the TMH conservative threshold; sliding-scale discounts extend to higher income levels for partial assistance. FL DOH Jefferson's sliding-fee scale is genuinely income-based — even seniors with modest income can access affordable primary care visits. Geographic reality: Monticello to TMH is about 30 minutes by car; emergency 911 calls in Jefferson dispatch local EMS who transport to the appropriate Leon County facility. For non-emergency hospital care, advance scheduling and Big Bend Transit coordination are essential. The combination of FL DOH Jefferson primary care + TMH hospital FAP provides a meaningful safety net for Jefferson seniors despite the lack of an in-county hospital.
What you'll need
- For FL DOH Jefferson sliding-scale: proof of household income (recent pay stubs, Social Security award letter, SSA-1099) + photo identification
- For TMH FAP application: Completed TMH Financial Assistance Application + proof of household income + proof of family size + photo ID + documentation of insurance status
- For Medicaid or Medicare: separate enrollment applications through respective programs
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 850-342-0170
Renewals
per encounter for TMH; FL DOH Jefferson enrollment is ongoing with periodic income recertification
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Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.