Health clinic fees may be going up in 2013.
Holmes County Health Commissioner Dr. D.J. McFadden said Friday Aug. 17 at the monthly meeting of the county health board that clinic fees may have to be raised to offset increased fees in Medicare that are coming next year.
I think it must be done, to be honest, McFadden said. We could see trouble financially with the Medicare increase otherwise, McFadden said.
McFadden said that Medicare fees will increase to the level of Medicaid fees in 2013. Increases in the fees means the clinic will receive a lower reimbursement for services rendered to Medicare clients.
The clinic is currently undergoing the application process to become a certified rural health clinic (RHC). With the certification, the clinic would receive reimbursements on a different scale.
McFadden said the RHC status could address many of the problems with fees, perhaps cushioning the blow to Medicaid and Medicare patients.
In other business, the board asked to review the progress of the countys Hospice program. The program merged with Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County and the the board hasnt taken a close look at how things are going since, Boardmember Kurt Rodhe said.
We havent visited the Hospice issue since the transition, Rodhe said. I think its good that we (have a plan) on it down the road here.
The health district has been paying about $25,000 a month into the program, McFadden said. At that rate, according to boardmember Dr. Dan Miller, the health districts Hospice fund will run dry in three years.
McFadden said Wayne County Hospice is aware of the looming budget problem and would not like to see the fund run out. He said ideas involving extensive fundraising have been discussed.
McFadden said he has heard good things about the program.
I have received comments this week from some folks and they said the service was excellent, McFadden said. They were unaware there had been any changes.
Rodhe suggested a review be presented to the board at the September meeting.
The board further voted to give a Washington Township couple until November to abate a solid waste nuisance. Director of Environmental Health Jon Croup said Jonnie Bond and Ari Jolovitz are making progress cleaning up their 7971 Township Road 470 property, albeit slowly.
(Bond) should be given the opportunity to take care of the situation on her own, Croup said. More time is warranted. Its not as fast as Id like to see (but) as long as shes making progress I feel that we should be cooperative.
The property is 50 - 55 percent cleaned up, Croup said.
The next meeting of the Holmes County Board of Health will be Sept. 21.
