Doctors, Hospital Sue County For Cost Of Indigent Psychiatric Care

Three doctors and Kootenai Hospital District, seeking more than $35,000 in unpaid bills for care of indigent psychiatric patients, have filed suit against Kootenai County.

Some of the patients were brought to Kootenai Medical Center by police fearing that they posed a danger to themselves or others. A 1992 law prevents police from jailing the patients unless they commit a crime. Other patients commit themselves, but are indigent.

The county doesn’t now recognize indigent mental health costs as a county responsibility, said Carmen Brochu, KMC vice president for patient care services.

The suit says the county owes the hospital, Dr. William Miller and Dr. Jeffrey Stevens more than $10,000 each. Dr. Bruce Miewald, the suit says, is owed more than $5,000.

County assistance and legal officials couldn’t be reached Tuesday afternoon for comment.

Because KMC is the only place in North Idaho with a secure psychiatric ward, it’s used by law enforcement agencies from Bonners Ferry to Plummer. That’s clogged the hospital’s ward.

It’s also cost the hospital more than $200,000 worth of bureaucracy and medical bills, said Brochu, none of which the hospital has been compensated for.

, DataTimes