In Florida, Manatee County awarded reimbursement contracts to area healthcare providers Tuesday as they continue to seek permanent solutions to a longstanding problem: how to reimburse medical costs for the uninsured or underinsured.
The one-year contracts aim to supply providers with partial reimbursement for indigent patient care costs by redistributing $3.25 million of government funding, channeled from county reserves that exceed minimum requirements.
Regarding the county's stopgap contracts, Bradenton, Fla.-based Manatee Memorial Hospital CEO Kevin DiLallo told the Bradenton Herald, "I'm glad the commission came up with a reasonable contract and we can partner with them to solve the indigent care issues we have in the county."
In a push to permanently resolve indigent healthcare by the stopgap's termination in 2016, the county has developed three strategies to tackle uncompensated care costs:
1. A new Citizens Financial Structure Advisory Board has been tasked with finding alternative revenue sources to supply county services and programs, including uncompensated care.
2. Using a consulting firm, the county will develop a comprehensive care program to reduce costs, improve outcomes and enhance transparency and accountability.
3. Three Florida county administrators have been invited Manatee County to present new ideas for funding government to the financial advisory board.
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