Title
Revision to Los Alamos County Indigent Health Care Policy
Recommended Action
I move that County Council, acting as the County Indigent Hospital and County Health Care Board, approve the revised Los Alamos County Indigent Health Care Policy as presented in Attachment A.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Administrator recommends approval of the revised Los Alamos County Indigent Health Care Policy as presented in Attachment A.
Body
The purpose of this item is to request the County Indigent Hospital and County Health Care Board approve the revised Indigent Health Care Policy. The proposed changes are to provide clarification and to align with the language of the State law that allow the Indigent Care Fund to be used for cremation and burial, State required payment for Medicaid and the Safety Net Care Pool, and administrative expenses.
The proposed changes are summarized as follows:
Section VIII - Other Authorized Uses of Funds - this is a new section that incorporates and references State law that allows the Health Care Assistance fund to be used for cremation and burial, State required payment for Medicaid and the Safety Net Care Pool, and administrative expenses. The policy is more clear and complete with these items explicitly referenced.
In addition, throughout the entire document, numerous changes have been proposed to include the appropriate references to decedents, burial services, and other necessary related language.
Alternatives
If not approved, provisions for indigent cremation and burial will remain outside of Los Alamos County Indigent Health Care Policy.
Attachments
A - Proposed Revised County Indigent Hospital and County Indigent Health Care Board Policy
B - Current HCAP Policy