Members of the Flint Hills Community Health Center Board of Directors learned of a move by federal House lawmakers that could put the nation’s health at risk if the Senate votes on the cuts.
Liz Conrade, executive director of the Flint Hills Community Health Center/Lyon County Health Department, told board members during Tuesday’s meeting that the House passed a continuing resolution that proposed to cut $1.3 billion in funding in Federal Qualified Health Centers. Locally, about 3,000 community members would be affected by the cuts.
“This will affect our patients,” Conrade said. “Without proper funding I am concerned for the health and well-being of our patients. We actually save the federal, state and local funds with our efficient health care delivery system. In addition, I’m worried about the state budget, which will see an increase of costs shifted to Medicaid with more expensive visits to the ER. Uninsured patients seeking care at the ER will also increase.
“This creates a financial strain to the patients and the hospital in addition to overwhelming the ER with non-emergent patients. By providing both preventative and urgent care services, we help eliminate unnecessary trips to the ER which saves money for everyone.”
Also on the chopping block is the service expansion grant, which the health center recently applied for to expand services to include evening and weekend hours.
Conrade urged people to contact their senators. Sen. Jerry Moran can be reached at (202) 224-6521 and Sen. Pat Roberts can be reached at (202) 224-4774 or by fax, (202) 224-3514.
Funding at the Flint Hills Community Health Center/Lyon County Health Department is under attack on a state level as well. Ann Mayo, director of environmental health at the Lyon County Health Department, said the proposed 2012 state budget cuts the funding for the county’s Local Environmental Protection Program grant.
In 2011, the department received $12,949 in funding. Mayo said the Lyon County program is responsible for 112,457,400 gallons of wastewater. The department also deals with wells, sewage systems, and virtually anything that has to do with water quality in the county.
A resolution signed by Lyon County commissioners last week in support of continuance of the Kansas Local Environmental Protection Program stated that the State of Kansas has invested approximately $33 million over the 22 years the program has been in existence with an average cost of 35 cents per citizen.
Brownback’s proposed 2012 budget discontinues those grants, which “supports the work we do in meeting the objectives of the Kansas State Water Plan including: Inspection of the county’s residential septic systems, public education and public outreach, inspection of private water wells, solid waste management, non-point source pollution control and protection of public drinking water supplies,” the resolution stated.
According to information provided by Mayo, the program is required by state law KSA 75-5657 and is the only financial support given to local governments which promote and funds local control, prevention and regulation of a broad base of water-related problems.
Mayo said the money, if cut, will have to come from somewhere. Cuts will mean she would likely end up having to turn to the county commission to make up the difference.
In other matters, JoAnn Sanderson, chair of the Friends of the Flint Hills Community Health Center, spoke about the funds raised by the group, which was formed to raise money to help support the needs of the health center. The group now has a fund set up though the Emporia Community Foundation.
Sanderson said the group gives out a $500 scholarship each year and this year’s recipient was Jackie Stair of Admire. The scholarship is given to students pursuing education in the medical field including licensed practical nursing and dental hygiene.
The group also seeks to meet the needs of the health center, including the pharmacy program and other programs and services the health center offers.
In 2010, the Friends of the Flint Hills Community Health Center group raised $2,950 through board members and received an additional $3,800 through pledges. She challenged the health center’s board of directors to donate as well. Her goal for the board is $8,000 in cash and pledges by the end of 2012.
Sanderson said the goal is to have enough money to roll the funds into an ongoing account so that money can be made in interest.
Items in written reports:
• The dental clinic was open 20- days in January, seeing a total of 536 patients, averaging 26 patients a day. Jessica Herbster has started providing screenings through the Future Smiles program for public schools. On Jan. 5, she went to Olpe schools and screened 228 students and did 28 fluorides; on Jan. 7 she went to Neosho Rapids/Hartford schools and saw 117 students and did 24 fluorides; on Jan. 12, she went to Eureka schools and screened 510 students.
F January 340B activity reported by Graves indicated that 957 prescriptions were dispensed to 563 patients. The average cost to the client was $6.39 per prescription with the average cost to patients greater than 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level at $4.71.
jamesbordonaro (James Bordonaro) says...
It would be very short sighted for the government to cut funding to community health centers because as there is simply no other option than to go to the ER or to do without health care which means that some people will end up getting sicker and needing more expensive treatments.
February 23, 2011 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
doubt_it (anonymous) says...
Cutting funding to community health centers is not a good thing. As James said,it will send more people to the ER or going without treatment. Once you go to the ER (here in Emporia, anyway) and you cannot pay for your services, they have a chairty care form that can be filled out which pretty much eliminates your charges. That is more free services that Newman Regional Health is giving away, which in turn leads to decreased profits for the hospital. This hospital is already losing money, this will make it worse. JMO
February 23, 2011 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gooseylucy (anonymous) says...
"Once you go to the ER (here in Emporia, anyway) and you cannot pay for your services, they have a chairty care form that can be filled out which pretty much eliminates your charges."
I wouldn't count on that happening. Not many patients actually qualify for charity care. You have to be very, very poor to qualify for this. Even college students that have no insurance usually do not qualify. Then NRH can AND will go after any funds they can. This includes college grants and loans, as well as income tax returns, alimony payments and even child support payments. Beware!!
And......before everyone starts "throwing stones", I know you should be responsible and pay what you owe. And there are a lot of folks out there that take advantage of situations or have no intention of paying for services. However, there are circumstances beyond our control and in a true emergency situation you really do need emergency care. But, it just seems to me if you really truly cannot pay, the hospital should not be able to take your college loan $ or child support $. That just seems wrong to me!!
February 23, 2011 at 6:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Take alook at the new Workers Compensation bill the jerks in Topeka are getting ready to pass. The workers are going to get the shaft even worse than they are now. Rep. Hill is for this piece of trash. All need to email him and let him know not to vote for this bill! All its going to do help the insurance companies
February 23, 2011 at 6:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
maybe if ICE would come to this area, the health departments would have more money to work with. And then, those of you who have never been in that place, stop and take a self guided tour, as they wont show you around, they dont want to show how many county dollars are wasted on people who work there, YES i have been in there, I seen it. and mayo, go back to chase county, and STOP SCREWING with people in Lyon county
February 23, 2011 at 10:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cyberspace (anonymous) says...
Forget about Republicans looking at the big picture and long-term implications. They will pick on the poor and helpless and turn around pay millions of dollars to keep the US Army logo on a NASCAR vehicle.
Well run community health centers are beneficial but only if they are well run and use taxpayer money wisely.
February 24, 2011 at 7:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
People, people , take a look at the last sentence in cyberspace 's comment and think about it !
Now, just how many taxpayer funded agencys, Boards, Committees, Organizations and governing bodys, health or otherwise, follow the criteria that is mentioned in these words by ciberspace, " Well run community health centers are beneficial but only if they are well run and use taxpayer money wisely. ", and the emphasis / importance of the last 11 words of the comment !
February 25, 2011 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
One day a woman brought her pet duck to the veterinarian and asked "What''s the matter with my duck?" The vet took the duck and sat it on the exam table and examined the duck. He told the woman that the duck was dead. The woman asked "isn't there some lab tests or other modern scans that you could use?" "It might be in a coma or something". The vet walked out of the exam room and returned with a Labrador Retriever. The dog placed it's paw on the duck and sniffed it, then the dog looked at the doctor and slowly shook it's head. The Vet then removed the dog and returned with a cat and placed it on the table with the duck. The cat walked around the duck sniffing it from head to toe, then the cat looked at the doctor and slowly shook it's head. The doctor took the cat out of the room and returned with the bill. The woman was outraged screaming "150 dollars to tell me my duck is dead?!" The doctor looked at the lady and said my fee was twenty dollars, but you demanded more so the rest of the fees are for the lab test and the cat scan. :-)
February 25, 2011 at 4:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Now that is hilarious, REWBA !
Good one !!
You shouldn' t make an old man laugh so hard !
February 25, 2011 at 5:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )