Supervisors discuss Public Health budget shortfall and Managed Care

At the Butler County Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 6, Director of Public Health Jennifer Becker discussed the public health budget shortfall with the county supervisors.
Medicaid revenue before and after the advent of Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) in Iowa on April 1, 2016 was the main focus. Medicaid revenue for Butler County Public Health in FY 15-16 was $323,638.75. In FY 16-17, revenue was $352,359.69. But by FY 17-18, Medicaid revenue had dropped to $190,696.50. In FY 18-19, revenue was $182,211.62. While Medicaid revenue has decreased by over $140,000, the population of Butler County and the patients served in the county remain more-or-less the same.
The shortfall in Medicaid reimbursement, according to Becker and the Butler County Supervisors, is due to (a) Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) reducing services and denying patients care that Becker and her nurses feel patients need, and (b) even when care is approved by the MCOs, the MCOs are denying claims and/or give partial and late payments.
“That’s an issue for us as a county. That’s an issue for us as taxpayers. That’s an issue for us as a society,” said Supervisor Rusty Eddy.
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