By Krista Duhon
news@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — The cost of indigent care could fall for Integris Baptist Regional Health Center in Miami, pending approval of the hospital’s participation in a drug-pricing program.
The Miami City Council this week paved the way for hospital administrators to apply to the Office of Pharmacy Affairs, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, when council members approved an agreement with Integris to provide health care to low-income people in Miami.
Joel Hart, president of Integris Baptist Regional, said the program — born from the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 — will reduce the hospital’s purchase price for medications prescribed to patients who cannot afford to pay for drugs dispensed for outpatient services.
Although the council approved the agreement, there is no cost to the city, Hart said.
For Integris Baptist Regional, the cost savings is estimated to be about $200,000 a year, Hart said.
Hospitals are ranked based on the volume of indigent care and Medicaid cases they handle, said Jennifer Hessee, director of community development for the hospital. Hospitals that are considered “disproportionate” or “super-disproportionate” — meaning they have a high percentage of indigent care cases — are eligible for the drug program as long as they are not-for-profit hospitals.
Hessee said the Miami hospital is classified as “super-disproportionate” because it has a high number of charity and Medicaid cases.
In fiscal 2009, which ended June 30, charity care cost the Miami hospital more than $2.6 million, she said.
With the council’s approval, Hart will make an application before Dec. 1. He said the discount program should be in place by Jan. 1.
“The city has no obligation and can terminate at any time with 30 days’ notice,” Hart said.
Health care cost
“In the new fiscal year (July 1 to Oct. 31), we are currently at $693,348 of charity care,” said Jennifer Hessee, director of community development for Integris Baptist Regional Health Center.
