Grant Helps During Hard Times

TELLURIDE – In synch with a growing national trend, the Telluride Medical Center is treating increasing numbers of uninsured, “self-pay” patients, according to Hospital Administrator Gordon Reichard.

“It’s happening fairly frequently,” he said, clarifying that while he does not have hard numbers to back the assertion he estimates hearing about patients who have lost their jobs, and subsequently their health insurance, a couple times a week.

As a result, a grant awarded to the Telluride Foundation’s Local Healthcare Initiative in November by the Colorado Health Foundation could not have come at a better time.

The $330,000 grant will be dispensed over three years to fund efforts to reach low-income residents of the Telluride, Ouray/Ridgway, Norwood, and West End regions.

As such, a portion of the grant will go to providing assistance to patients of both the TMC and David Homer, M.D., to enroll in low premium private insurance or government sponsored programs such as Medicaid or the Child Health Plan Plus, according to Gary Steinbach, administrator of the Telluride Foundation’s LHI.

“The Colorado Health Foundation grant is the latest funding for our preventative health programs,” said Steinbach, who explained that the grant funds one part-time “healthcare navigator” position in each of the four areas.

Beth Kuperman has taken the position at TMC.

“The overall arching goal is to help people get through the system and get what they need,” she said.

In addition to assisting patients run the insurance enrollment gauntlet, Kuperman will also help with chronic disease screening programs, such as those done for diabetics, that monitor patients in order to try to improve their disease outcomes.

“Diabetics need to have their blood tested on a fairly regular basis,” said Reichard. “People who are underinsured kind of fall through the cracks because they don’t really go back to their physician very often.”

Similarly, she will help track childhood immunizations.

Kuperman will facilitate transportation to and from physicians, dentists and hospitals in Montrose and Grand Junction for diagnostic testing, dental, medical, mental health, and other locally unavailable services on the Regional Medical Shuttle, provided by the LHI.

Additionally, she will provide information on cardiopulmonary resuscitation/automated electronic defibrillator certification to those interested, as well as on the San Juan Kids Cavity Prevention Program, a school-based sealant and screening program that works in the region’s eight elementary schools.

With the other half of her time Kuperman will continue to coordinate the Telluride Foundation’s Equality in Health Initiative to improve cultural competency and reduce healthcare disparities in minority populations.

In another move to lighten the burden of healthcare costs on the uninsured, the TMC will offer a 20 percent discount for services paid in full at the time of service to those people who will not be submitting insurance claims.

The TMC also offers a sliding fee discount for those who qualify through its Care Support Program. However, as a result of the economic downturn, a letter went out to program participants last month advising them of changes effective Jan. 1.

The previous 100 percent discount category, which required a $15 primary care or $50 emergency room co-pay, has been discontinued.

The 80 percent discount category is now the highest available and other levels have been adjusted down accordingly.

Those participants who previously qualified for a 25 percent discount on services are no longer eligible to receive that discount.

Additionally, emergency room visits will now cost all patients a minimum of $150.

Lastly, the TMC administration is working to negotiate agreements with United Healthcare for the entire facility, and with Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield for the emergency department to allow participants in those insurance plans to receive “in network” care.

It plans to announce those agreements if and when they occur.

Beth Kuperman can be reached by calling the Telluride Medical Center at 728-3848.