Title
Approve the modification of policy adopted by the Board of Supervisors in October 1998 excluding commercially insured patients from county clinics to a policy of acceptance of all patients without regard to payment status.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Approve the modification of policy adopted by the Board of Supervisor in October 1998 excluding commercially insured patients from county clinics to a policy off acceptance of all patients without regard to payment status.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
At the October 27, 1998 meeting, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved the recommendation of the Monterey County Health Department that, as a result of limited space and provider capacity, a policy be established that would refer commercially insured new patients from the County Health Clinics to Natividad Medical Center or local private providers, so that the Health Clinics could provide primary health care services to residents of the Monterey Peninsula who otherwise may not have access to care, primarily Medi-Cal recipients and indigent residents. With the implementation of Covered California, many of the community's uninsured will have access to commercial insurance. As an operating Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) look-a-like clinic we are required to see all patients without regard to payment status. Accordingly, our County Clinics will need to accept commercially insured patients. It is critical that we modify this policy now to afford access to patients.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The office of County Counsel has reviewed and concurs with this recommendation. Due to late submission of this Board Report, the CAO Budget and Analysis Division was not provided adequate time to fully review for potential fiscal, organizational, policy, or other implications to the County of Monterey
FINANCING:
Failure to accept insured clients will reduce revenue coming into the clinics and result in a...
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