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Network of clinics, outreach urged for area's uninsured
What do you think of this idea?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
DAYTON — A task force charged with finding a less expensive, more efficient way to provide health care for the Dayton area's poor issued several recommendations to Montgomery County Commissioners on Tuesday, July 15.
The Montgomery County Healthcare Safety Net Task Force recommended the county improve access to primary care through a network of health clinics that would operate as a single nonprofit corporation.
Other recommendations call for a managed care system that would focus on preventative and follow-up care and a mix of funding that would come from government and a community trust fund.
"State and national action really is required for a longterm solution," Dr. Mike Ervin, task force co-chairman, told commissioners.
Local officials hope the corporation will be designated a Federally Qualified Health Center, a status given clinics in under-served urban and rural communities. If approved, the center would qualify for twice the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements than clinics without the designation.
Ervin said the safety net system would target residents living below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, $10,400 annually for a single adult or $21,200 for a family of four. Benefits would be capped at $30,000 a year.
County commissioners convened the task force in late 2006 to try to get a handle on the rising ranks of residents with little or no insurance and the millions spent each year on their health care.
The group estimates there are nearly 70,000 county residents without health insurance and another 84,000 on Medicaid, the government insurance program for the poor and disabled.
It says the Dayton community spent an estimated $126 million last year on uncompensated care, a cost covered in part by government funds and local human services levy dollars and cost shifting to higher health care bills, co-pays and insurance premiums.
The task force also calls for better outreach strategies to encourage eligible people to enroll in Medicaid; improved management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma, and electronic linkage between health care providers to better track a patient's history and medical records.
"The work is really just beginning," Ervin said.
To view the full report, visit www.gdaha.org.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7408 or agottschlich@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By Sharon
November 1, 2008 6:00 AM | Link to this
sexy Sharon Stone movie
By Mike Ervin
July 17, 2008 6:30 AM | Link to this
As far as getting a job to get health care - For the first time last year the percent of employers offering health insurance dropped below 60% of companies. Not only are fewer firms offering health insurance, but those that do have higher and higher deductables and co-pays. And here’s the important thing for the person that said just go get a job to get insurance - We found that most of the people who were uninsured HAD a job.
By painfultruth
July 16, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
I pay full benefits for my employees. There are plenty of companies that do the same. You’re just jealous. Had you prepared yourself for life, obtained a proper education and put in years of hard work, you wouldn’t be worried about having to afford a box of Band-Aids…
By PainfulisanIdiot
July 16, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
Okay, let’s just all get a job that pays full benefits. Is that all we have to do? Not everyone can corner the glory hole market like you have. Look, painful. We all know you think you’re shocking us by dropping jerk comments. You’re not. You sound stupid, and I’m stupid for arguing with someone like you.
By painfultruth
July 16, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
Some people don’t have jobs? Gee, GET ONE!
By Steven Saus
July 16, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Hospitals have done wrong, patients have done wrong, the system has done wrong, insurers have done wrong, the legal system has done wrong. You can find both victims and victimizers on all sides of this issue.
Labeling each other criminals and communists isn’t going to fix the real problem: We are not taking care of our neighbors. We are not caring for our neighbors, our friends.
We have to drop the blame game and figure out what can work - and then do it, as best we can.
By PainfulisanIdiot
July 16, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
What makes you think everyone has those things? Some employers just don’t provide it. Some people don’t have jobs. Insurance isn’t a commodity like Cable TV. It’s typically provided through an employer, if they decide to provide it. Try to buy it yourself and pay 100% and it becomes unaffordable for a lot of people. I don’t think many people are choosing big screen TV’s over insurance.
By Steven Saus
July 16, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
Really, folks, the talking points are getting old. Providing care for uninsured people isn’t the same as Soviet-style communism, and claiming so is both misleading and, well, lame.
For every example of people from other countries coming here, I can give you an example of “medical tourism” to other countries - where US citizens have gone to India or other developing nations because healthcare here has become prohibitively expensive.
It’ll take more than talking points to fix this, folks.
By painfultruth
July 16, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
Priorities, people. “Can’t afford” insurance? Get rid of the SUV, the big screen TV tied to 150 buck a month cable, beer, lottery tickets and 140 buck running shoes. It’s YOUR fault you don’t have insurance, so STOP WHINING!!!
By Toni P
July 16, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
I definitely agree with this. I am one of the many under-insured people, who is getting ready to go thru a lay-off, which means I will be losing what little benefits I have, and I won’t be able to afford benefits on my own. I am healthy but it always helps to have a safety net in place, because you just never know.
By Toni P
July 16, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
I definitely agree with this. I am one of the many under-insured people, who is getting ready to go thru a lay-off, which means I will be losing what little benefits I have, and I won’t be able to afford benefits on my own. I am healthy but it always helps to have a safety net in place, because you just never know.
By Toni P
July 16, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
I definitely agree with this. I am one of the many under-insured people, who is getting ready to go thru a lay-off, which means I will be losing what little benefits I have, and I won’t be able to afford benefits on my own. I am healthy but it always helps to have a safety net in place, because you just never know.
By Hugh Jass
July 16, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
I’ve needed to see someone concerning my sharting problem for years. My insurance won’t pay for high-fiber foods, nor will they pay for adult diapers.
By Shawn
July 16, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
Universal Health Care doesn’t work either. People with life-threatening illnesses are put on a waiting list for treatment and surgery. Some die waiting. The only way in Canada you get immediate treatment is if you are able to pay for it outside of the Universal Health Care network. That’s why you hear about those who have an illness (that also have money) seeking medical treatment outside of Canada. Universal Health Care only creates universal red-tape for those that need medical treatment.
By Joanie
July 16, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
If universal healthcare doesn’t work out, why are we the only industrialized country that doesn’t have it? Obviously, our current system isn’t working for millions of Americans. We need to make a change to serve our citizens.
By Democratic Party
July 16, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
This is, but another push, to invoke the socialized agenda that the loony left loves, as long as they don’t have to use it.
By Fe3male
July 16, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
Local hospitals should acknowledge they are for profit but pay no taxes. The hospitals have been able to accumulate massive reserves in spite of the cost of care for medicaid and people with no insurance. The hospitals might consider pooling their reserves to create the local funds necessary for a local trust fund. They should also embark on a media campaign to help folks understand that the Emergency room is for EMERGENCIES.
By Wordell
July 16, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
If “universal health care” is so outstanding and neccessary for us, why did a good Canadian friend of The Hildebeast come to the U.S. for her breast cancer care? Why do heads of state of other countries(with “universal health care”) go to The Cleveland Clinic to be treated/cured? Where will all of you collectivists get care when open market care is no longer available? The Soviet Central Comittee had “special hospitals” for the elite. Planning the same thing, comrades?
By Phil
July 16, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
If we didn’t sue each other for every little thing, insurance wouldn’t cost so much for medical providers. Oh no, you scratched me, pay me 1 million through your malpractice insurance.
By Julie
July 16, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
Has anyone noticed how aggressive medical billing has become? If you are late paying your first bill, you are automatically turned over to a collection agency. And they don’t want payments, they want the entire billed amount at once.
By aharddaysnight
July 16, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Universal healthcare? Yeah it’s worked out great for Canada huh?
I would love to see clinics like this open. I’d also like to see some free dental clinics open for emergency dental care.
By Joanie
July 16, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
This is why we need universal health care.
By Don
July 16, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
The AARP and locals report nonprofit hospitals want prepayment and are filing liens on homes. The County health levy is reducing its clinic work. So, I guess a lot of people are going to need free clinics. Yet, AARP and the Wall Street Journal now claim the largest 50 nonprofit hospitals increased their profits eight fold in the last five years to over 4.27 billion, and the levy is renewed. So,the solution is a chain of federally funded clinics? We wouldn’t be able to build enough.