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News Release
General Assistance Medical Care Weekly Report
July 2, 2009
It is not true that Minnesota is the only state with a program like General Assistance Medical Care to cover low income adults without children. Over the next few weeks our weekly GAMC report will highlight programs available in other states. Last week we featured BadgerCare in Wisconsin, this week we offer details about the Healthy Indiana Plan.
About 34,000 low income adults without children are enrolled and 6,000 adults are on the waiting list for the Healthy Indiana Plan which was launched in January 2008. HIP provides coverage for preventive and physician services, prescriptions, diagnostic exams, home health services, outpatient hospital, inpatient hospital, hospice, preventive services, family planning, case and disease management and mental health services. Co-pays are required for emergency services only, and co-pays are returned if the service is determined to be a true emergency1.
GAMC care provided by Regions Hospital for the week of June 8, 2009:
Total GAMC patient visits2
Emergency Room
Inpatient
Same Day Surgery
Outpatient3
Patients with mental health conditions
Reimbursement that will be lost
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239
84
37
6
112
41
$355,682
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Story of the week: Mark4, age 28
Despite having a history of depression, Mark was able to hold down a job for several years. But he recently lost his job and his depression got worse. After he talked about killing himself, a family member took him to Regions Hospital emergency department. Doctors admitted him with a diagnosis of depression, thoughts of suicide and other mental health conditions. He was hospitalized for five days. His $20,000 in medical bills will be paid by GAMC while the program lasts.
1 Source: Indianapolis Star
2 GAMC or in process of enrolling
3 Outpatient visits include radiology, chemotherapy, chemical dependency, mental health and other diagnostic visits.
4 Not patient's real name or age.
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