Bennett County Hospital and Nursing Home in Martin, S.D., may close this summer if the Indian Health Service does not reimburse at least a portion of the nearly $1 million the hospital is owed, according to a Rapid City Journal news report.
George Minder, CEO of Bennett County Hospital, which is a non-profit community-owned hospital, has been urging the Aberdeen Area IHS to pay back some of the unpaid emergency room bills that have been sent to the federal agency since 2009, which include unpaid medical bills for Native American patients who qualify for IHS healthcare.
As a non-profit hospital, Bennett County is obligated to care for every single patient who is in need of medical attention, regardless of whether that patient is able to pay for hospital services.
Aberdeen Area IHS' policy is to deny all "non-life-threatening" claims except Medical Priority I claims, which include emergency cases at non-IHS healthcare facilities. Aberdeen Area IHS argued it is not responsible for Bennett County Hospital's unpaid bills because those patients could have received medical attention at Pine Ridge's IHS facility, but Mr. Minder countered the Pine Ridge unit is too far for one-third of Pine Ridge residents. What's more, most residents lack transportation, forcing them to seek medical care at Bennett County Hospital's emergency room, according to the news report.
Aberdeen Area IHS' Director Charlene Red Thunder said "IHS is the payer of last resort, so patients and outside providers must use alternate resources first," which includes Medicaid. But Mr. Minder said many Native American residents have not applied or are not eligible for the program, according to the news report.
Read the news report about Bennett County Hospital.
Related Articles on IHS:
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George Minder, CEO of Bennett County Hospital, which is a non-profit community-owned hospital, has been urging the Aberdeen Area IHS to pay back some of the unpaid emergency room bills that have been sent to the federal agency since 2009, which include unpaid medical bills for Native American patients who qualify for IHS healthcare.
As a non-profit hospital, Bennett County is obligated to care for every single patient who is in need of medical attention, regardless of whether that patient is able to pay for hospital services.
Aberdeen Area IHS' policy is to deny all "non-life-threatening" claims except Medical Priority I claims, which include emergency cases at non-IHS healthcare facilities. Aberdeen Area IHS argued it is not responsible for Bennett County Hospital's unpaid bills because those patients could have received medical attention at Pine Ridge's IHS facility, but Mr. Minder countered the Pine Ridge unit is too far for one-third of Pine Ridge residents. What's more, most residents lack transportation, forcing them to seek medical care at Bennett County Hospital's emergency room, according to the news report.
Aberdeen Area IHS' Director Charlene Red Thunder said "IHS is the payer of last resort, so patients and outside providers must use alternate resources first," which includes Medicaid. But Mr. Minder said many Native American residents have not applied or are not eligible for the program, according to the news report.
Read the news report about Bennett County Hospital.
Related Articles on IHS:
Secretary Sebelius Announces Six Winners of HHSinnovates Program
Investigation Reveals Chronic Mismanagement at Indian Health Service
Indian Health Services Faces Panel After Investigations of Fraud, Theft and Employee Misconduct