Local Health Department Awaits MCO Reimbursement

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The Hopkins County Health Department is continuing to wait for over $300,000 of reimbursement from one of the Commonwealth’s three managed-care organizations. 

Kentucky Spirit has filed two appeals with the Cabinet of Health Services and the Finance Cabinet in which it claims to not be financially responsible for healthcare given in school clinics. The county health department states the contract between the M-C-O and themselves clearly includes school-based healthcare. Jack Morris, director of the Hopkins County Health Department says many children are served through their school based clinics:

"Each school in Hopkins County, all 14 schools have a health department satellite and public health services are provided in that school setting just as if they were coming to the health department. Whether it’s preventive care, immunizations, well care, sick care, etc…"

Both Wellcare and Coventry, the other two MCO’s have been reimbursing the county health department for school health care since the Commonwealth implemented a managed care program in late 2011.