Suffolk requires Medicaid for uninsured

Suffolk health officials have begun requiring the county's 23,000 uninsured health center patients to apply for Medicaid before getting treatment, one step toward coping with $20 million in state health aid cuts that the county is fighting in court.

Connie Corso, deputy county executive for finance, disclosed the new policy imposed Monday at the county's eight health centers and two satellites where primary care is delivered to more than 50,000 patients.

"No one is getting past the front desk until they apply for Medicaid," said Corso in testimony before the legislature's health committee. "Now is the time to be aggressive."

Until now, health center patients without private insurance or Medicaid paid for services on a sliding scale based on income, but were never denied service. Now, Corso said services will be given to the uninsured during the 30 to 45 days that Medicaid applications are processed, but those found ineligible will be directed elsewhere - likely to hospital emergency rooms.

Corso disclosed the new policy during a briefing on the county's legal battle with the state Health Department over retroactive aid cuts dating to 2008 for care at county health centers of adults with chronic conditions, including diabetes and asthma.

County Attorney Christine Malafi said Suffolk's lawsuit maintains the state Health Department lacks the authority to change funding rules that have been in place for 40 years for services that already have been delivered. She said that legal papers are due March 6.

Corso said as many as 11,500 patients might be brought into the Medicaid program through the county's initiative. While Corso could not estimate how much revenue would be generated, she said it would not equal the disputed health aid losses. Unlike Nassau, which has a county hospital, Suffolk, because of its geographic size, operates a network of clinics.

To qualify for Medicaid, a family of four cannot earn more than $14,628 a year, or $17,424 if there is a disabled person in the family.

Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) accused the state of "outrageous behavior" in cutting aid for health centers, warning it that will only clog emergency rooms.

Kevin Dahill of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospitals Association said the county's move may "increase volume" at emergency rooms, but not enough to clog services.