Human Services board forwards Medicaid resolution to full board

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Hurley — In an effort to help defray costs, the Iron County Human Services Board sent a resolution to the full county board Monday asking the state to seek an exemption from a federal rule restricting Medicaid funding for certain treatment facilities.

Iron County Human Services Director Cally Kilger said federal rules prohibit Medicaid reimbursements for placements in certain facilities unless a state seeks a waiver.

“If we have to place an individual in an IMD (Institute for Mental Disease), which would be the Winnebagos and Mendotas of the world, and they’re between the ages of 22 and 64, Medicaid doesn’t cover any of it,” Kilger said, referring to some of the facilities around the state. “We are fully responsible (for the costs).”

Kenosha County was one of the first counties in the state to pass such a resolution, according to information presented at the meeting, and the hope is all 72 counties contact Madison about the issue.

“The IMD rule works against the provision of necessary health care treatment, and path to recovery, for young and middle-aged adults with brain disorders,” part of Iron County’s resolution reads.

These facilities can cost over $1,000 per day, according to Kilger.

“These are the very expensive placement costs we typically try to avoid and are our last-ditch placement options,” she said.

In other action, the board:

—Hired Krystal Ferrell as a child and families social worker.

—Approved a social media policy for the department.

—Approved the job description for the department’s elder benefit specialist position.

—Discussed the issue of vaping, especially in schools, and the possibility of amending the county’s ordinance to help deal with minors vaping.

—Approved a draft of the department’s annual report.