Commissioners Court - Regular Session

Issue viewing agenda items? Click here to switch to the old format.

Return to the Minutes Page

21.

Meeting Date:	04/29/2008
Submitted For:	Bride Roberts	Submitted By:	Bride Roberts, Health District
Department:	Health District

Agenda Item

Consider and take appropriate action on allowing limited medical services for County Indigent Health Care Program members who have met the fiscal year spending cap.

Background

The present limitation on WilCo Care expenditures, following state guidelines, is a maximum of 30 days hospitalization or $30,000 per year per enrollee. This cap has not changed since the original indigent health care legislation in 1986.

After an individual has met the spending cap, no more services are paid for that enrollee for the duration of the fiscal year. Managing physicians are ethically bound to continue to serve those with chronic medical needs, and often continue to do so without reimbursement. Providers and patients are further frustrated due to lack of funding for necessary prescriptions and diagnostic tests.

Proposal--to be effective 10/1/2008
That, for persons who have met the annual cap on expenditures before the end of the state fiscal year, claims for certain limited medical services would continue to be paid—as long as that person continues to be eligible for services. Payable services would include: physician visits, laboratory testing, up to three prescription medications per month, diabetes testing supplies, ostomy supplies and oxygen therapy.

Following Commissioner Long’s recommendation, we propose to cap additional expenditures per fiscal year at $5,000 per enrollee.

Fiscal Impact

From/To	Acct No.	Description	Amount

Attachments
Memo re CIHCP Revision

Form Review

Inbox	Reviewed By	Date
County Judge Exec Asst.	Wendy Coco	04/24/2008 09:57 AM
Form Started By: BROBERTS		Started On: 04/24/2008 09:20 AM
Final Approval Date: 04/24/2008