[nfbmi-talk] do blind students have this problem here?

[joe harcz Comcast]

Curry won’t accept Medicaid

 

By UM policy forces some students to pay out of pocket

 

Medicade Gast

 

Nick Gast / Montana Kaimin

 

Aaron Page, a blind UM student, stands in front of Curry Health Center Wednesday afternoon. Page has to pay his Curry health fees out of pocket because

the health center doesn’t accept Medicaid.

 

Aaron Page thinks the University of Montana's Curry Health Center is ripping him off, and he wants his money back.

 

The blind UM freshman says he's upset at being charged $200 per semester for a health fee when the campus health center won't accept the Medicaid he depends

on for health insurance. Because Curry doesn't submit insurance claims and Medicaid doesn't pay out reimbursements, Page said it unfairly forces him and

other students to pay out of pocket.

 

"I just don't get how you can be associated with a state university that is supported by state taxpayers, and yet you do not accept state-provided insurance,"

Page said.

 

Policies at state universities vary, even in Montana.

 

Montana State University's health center also bills only the student insurance plan and gives students statements they can submit for reimbursement from

other providers. But the health center pharmacy does bill third-party insurance, including Medicaid.

 

Eastern Washington University, the University of Idaho and the University of Wyoming accept Medicaid at their student health centers.

 

The University of Colorado doesn't accept Medicaid or third-party insurance, but they offer an alternative: A Campus Care plan is offered for $165 per semester

and covers exams, immunizations, and lab and X-ray services. The plan has no co-pay or deductible. By comparison, UM's student insurance coverage with

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana costs $852 per semester.

 

Page learned the hard way UM's policies create difficulties seen at only some public universities.

 

He first went to Curry Health Center last spring to receive the first of two MMR vaccines required for all UM students. The charge was only $25, so he paid

for it out of pocket.

 

He made his second trip before the start of the fall semester for his final vaccine. The cost of the second vaccine was $70, and Page wasn't so willing

to reach into his wallet. He asked Curry staff about submitting the charge to Medicaid.

 

But Curry doesn't submit insurance claims. The health center requires students with third-party insurance — any insurance besides what is provided through

the University — to submit their own claims for reimbursement. He paid the fee so he would be able to register for classes.

 

When he contacted his Medicaid caseworker about being reimbursed for the cost of the vaccine, Page was informed Medicaid couldn't accept claims for reimbursement.

 

"You have to receive your services from a Medicaid provider and that Medicaid provider bills Medicaid," Page said.

 

Jon Ebelt, Public Information Officer with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), said Montana Medicaid couldn't reimburse

individuals because it's prohibited under federal requirements of the program.

 

Nearly 1 in 10 Montanans rely on Medicaid for their insurance, according to statistics released by the department last August.

 

Page would like to utilize the convenience of Curry and its extended hours, but it doesn't make sense to pay for services he can get for nearly free under

Medicaid.

 

"I feel like I'm being penalized that I didn't get this school's student insurance through Blue Cross, so they're making me foot a larger bill whenever

I need to get something done," Page said.

 

Dr. David Bell, Curry Health Center director, said he's sensitive to Page's plight but the health center has no plans to change its policy.

 

Curry doesn't process insurance claims because it would require staffing a billing office, which he said would pass an additional expense on to students.

 

"By not having a billing office, we save students a fair amount of money," Bell said.

 

Bell said the added personnel costs for processing insurance claims would cost $120,000 to $150,000 annually, and that doesn't include the space and supplies

to get the program up and running.

 

Becoming a Medicaid provider isn't something Curry has pursued in recent years. Bell said he's concerned becoming a provider would result in Curry being

required to serve all Medicaid patients who walk in the door.

 

However, Ebelt with Montana DPHHS said in an email that if Curry chose to become a Medicaid provider they could limit providing care to only university

students.

 

Bell said the information from Ebelt is interesting but the situation isn't as simple as it seems.

 

"Even if we chose to only bill Medicaid — something I strongly feel would be unfair to other students — the increased cost of doing so would have to be

passed on to all students in the form of a higher health fee or increased charges for services," Bell said.

 

"In essence, we would be asking all students to subsidize the care of those receiving only one form of insurance."

 

Until the University begins accepting Medicaid, Page suggests Curry reduce the prices it charges to students on Medicaid to acknowledge the difficulty those

students have with reimbursement. If not, he says the University should waive the mandatory health fees for students on Medicaid. But there's no chance

of that, Bell said, because UM's health fee is mandated by the Montana Board of Regents.

 

"Mandatory fees are part of the cost of being a member of the campus community," Bell said.

 

Curry provides visits to their doctors and nurse practitioners free of charge as part of the health fee, but students must pay for lab fees. For example,

a strep throat culture costs $7 to process at the Curry lab. Medical services are provided 24/7 when school is in session.

 

Students are able to visit specialists for $20 and a counselor or psychologist for $10 — small fees compared to off-campus services, Bell said.

 

Curry also offers a full range of lab, X-ray and dental services to UM students, but the university health fee doesn't cover them. These services are billed

directly to students, and they can submit a claim to their insurance company – unless they don't allow reimbursements like Medicaid.

 

mark.boatman at umontana.edu

 

 

http://www.montanakaimin.com/mobile/news/curry-won-t-accept-medicaid-1.2716948