Medicaid Reimbursement Comes with Strings Attached for Health Clinic
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
The clinic is close to receiving Medicaid reimbursement, Weaver said, but they’ve been asked to charge everyone who comes to the clinic an $8 administrative fee.
He said he spoke with county commissioners and they’ve agreed not to let inability to pay the fee keep anyone from using the clinic.
“We will turn no one away. If you can pay $2, that’s great,” he told the board. “It’s a long road to Medicaid reimbursement, but we’re closer to the end than we are to the beginning.”
He added he would like the clinic in the K21 Health Services Pavilion, which offers free “first visit” prenatal care, child immunization and health checks, to be self-sufficient and not lose its ability to provide services.
Weaver also reported that 50 out of 78 applicants for exemption from the Lakeland Regional Sewer District have been approved as eligible. They must pass a site visit and pay a $25 fee before they can be forwarded to sewer district officials.
The initial exemption is up to 20 years, starting when the septic system was installed and depending on its condition and age. Residents can apply for an additional 10 years after that, Weaver said.
Health Officer Dr. William Remington Jr. reported that, despite initial skepticism, he considers accreditation something the health department should consider.
He described accreditation – the scoring of health districts on several performance metrics by an outside company – as a potential game changer. He said it would require an investment of money and man hours to prepare for, but that staying competitive as a county and continuing to receive federal funding may depend on it.
Weaver noted he has seen a county in Ohio twice the size of Kosciusko earmark $2 million for getting accreditation-ready.
“It’s almost Fortune 500-sized ideals brought to mom and pop stores, at least in Indiana,” Remington remarked. He said they may consider applying for accreditation in three years, and that the first step is to name an accreditation coordinator.[[In-content Ad]]
The clinic is close to receiving Medicaid reimbursement, Weaver said, but they’ve been asked to charge everyone who comes to the clinic an $8 administrative fee.
He said he spoke with county commissioners and they’ve agreed not to let inability to pay the fee keep anyone from using the clinic.
“We will turn no one away. If you can pay $2, that’s great,” he told the board. “It’s a long road to Medicaid reimbursement, but we’re closer to the end than we are to the beginning.”
He added he would like the clinic in the K21 Health Services Pavilion, which offers free “first visit” prenatal care, child immunization and health checks, to be self-sufficient and not lose its ability to provide services.
Weaver also reported that 50 out of 78 applicants for exemption from the Lakeland Regional Sewer District have been approved as eligible. They must pass a site visit and pay a $25 fee before they can be forwarded to sewer district officials.
The initial exemption is up to 20 years, starting when the septic system was installed and depending on its condition and age. Residents can apply for an additional 10 years after that, Weaver said.
Health Officer Dr. William Remington Jr. reported that, despite initial skepticism, he considers accreditation something the health department should consider.
He described accreditation – the scoring of health districts on several performance metrics by an outside company – as a potential game changer. He said it would require an investment of money and man hours to prepare for, but that staying competitive as a county and continuing to receive federal funding may depend on it.
Weaver noted he has seen a county in Ohio twice the size of Kosciusko earmark $2 million for getting accreditation-ready.
“It’s almost Fortune 500-sized ideals brought to mom and pop stores, at least in Indiana,” Remington remarked. He said they may consider applying for accreditation in three years, and that the first step is to name an accreditation coordinator.[[In-content Ad]]
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