Attitudes for aspirin: a small leap for dancers' health care.

"It's terrible to have no health insurance," says Ofelia Loret de Mola, 26, a choreographer for the New York City-based company, Danscores. De Mola's story: She sprained her ankle while performing but couldn't afford physical therapy. In addition, for months she had arrived at rehearsals complaining of an intense toothache, but she put that problem on hold till she visited Mexico. "It was cheaper to travel home and have it taken care of there," she adds.

However, with the advent of a new health assistance program directed at artists, de Mola now only need hop the subway to Brooklyn. ArtistAccess, a program launched last summer at Woodhull Medical Center, allows performers to barter their artist services in exchange for professional medical and dental health care services.

"It's great," says de Mola, who was one of the first choreographers scheduled to perform at Woodhull as part of the new program. "All artists like an opportunity to perform and you feel like you're helping somebody."

Edward Fishkin, Woodhull's medical director, developed ArtistAccess with a consortium of artist service organizations, including Elsie Management, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and Dance Theater Workshop. "It's a win-win situation for our patients and the artists," he says, explaining how he initiated the program after he learned that many artists, struggling financially and relying on part-time jobs to survive, go without health insurance and health care. As for the hospital patients, he says, "It's tough being a patient. Art goes a long way in the healing process."

This is how the program works. For each hour of pre-approved arts activity--such as entertaining a group of hospital patients or conducting a dance therapy session with an individual patient--the participating artist accrues 40 credits for their personal health care account. These credits can be applied to medical services at Woodhull for an equivalent dollar value. In other words, 40 credits equal $40 worth of health care.

In addition, artists are eligible for a sliding scale rate--ranging from $15 to $60 per doctor visit, depending on income level--through a related medical assistance program titled HHC Options. Created by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, HHC Options reduces the health care costs (including doctor visits, hospitalization, and emergency room care) of uninsured individuals who are not eligible for government programs. While HHC is available at all New York City public hospitals, Woodhull is currently the only city hospital offering ArtistAccess. But Fishkin hopes it will spawn a local and national trend.

Two weeks after the pilot program was announced, 127 artists had already enrolled, including de Mola and her husband, dancer Enrique Guzman Torres. When the couple performed at the hospital in early August, they presented a dance targeted for their audience, an alcohol rehabilitation group. "It sends a message that life isn't perfect, but it's up to us to try to improve and to find wellness in our lives," says de Mola. She adds, "And now I can finally get physical therapy for that sprained ankle."

For enrollment guidelines or further information, call the ArtistAccess hotline: [phone].