Employer
Home: Newsroom: News Release: News Releases
News Release

General Assistance Medical Care Weekly Report

August 14, 2009

A commentary in the St. Paul Pioneer Press1 this week highlights efforts in the state to help people with mental illness live better, and longer, lives. At the same time, people with serious mental illness face a new challenge with the recent decision by Governor Pawlenty to eliminate funding for General Assistance Medical Care in 2010. At Regions Hospital, one in three GAMC patients admitted have bipolar disorder, severe depression or another serious mental illness. Without GAMC many of these individuals will no longer be able to afford to see their providers and obtain crucial medications.

Community walk this Saturday
On Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, Regions Hospital is participating in an event sponsored by The Family Place shelter. Donors and volunteers will walk downtown and visit places that homeless families often need to go to looking for resources and assistance including Regions. The walk is from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

GAMC care for the week of July 13, 2009

Total GAMC patient visits 2
      Emergency Room
      Inpatient
      Same Day Surgery
      Outpatient 3
      Patients with mental health conditions

Reimbursement that will be lost

260
94
37
3
126
45

$380,037 		Since funding was cut (May)

2,427






$3.4 million


Story of the week: Eric, age 464
A few weeks after Eric lost his job, he lost his home. He had been sleeping in his car for several months when he told a friend that he was going to hurt himself. Doctors at Regions Hospital diagnosed severe depression and Eric was admitted to the behavioral health unit. He is applying for GAMC to pay for his medical bills of $17,000. Eric can get treatment for his depression after he leaves the hospital including the prescription drugs that can prevent another behavioral health crisis that would require another trip to the hospital.

1 Commentary published in the Pioneer Press on Aug. 13, 2009
2 Enrolled in 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