Plan Would Limit Indigent Care

The Idaho Association of Counties proposes legislation that would set an income limit determined by tax statements to decide whether a person receives indigent medical care.

Anyone under the limit will be helped by the county and will later be asked to pay their medical costs.

“We definitely need some reform in the current indigent program,” said Latah County Commissioner Shirley Greene.

She said she will endorse anything to make it easier for counties to seek reimbursement for indigent medical services, such as placing a tax lien on personal property. Counties are the last resort in paying for medical help for the poor.

Since indigent care is provided through property taxes, the service should only be available to county residents, Greene said.

“We would be very much in support of standards which determine the financial status of a person,” said Bob Colvin, administrator of Moscow’s Gritman Medical Center.

He said hospitals would like to know if a person is above the financial limit in order to direct collection agencies to seek reimbursement.

Greene said there should be a statewide fund for residents who live in another county or state.

Latah County Auditor Susan Peterson has spent the last two years on the Idaho Association of Counties’ Medical Indigent Recodification Subcommittee.

One thing the Idaho Legislature should seek is joint agreements with surrounding states to pay indigent medical bills, Peterson said.