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October 6, 2008

UTMB hurricane damage poses problem for medically indigent

By Sherry Koonce

BEAUMONT —



By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

BEAUMONT — Some of Southeast Texas’ medically indigent who normally obtain medical care from Galveston’s University of Texas Medical Branch are being directed to other medical facilities while costly repairs are made to the island hospital.

When Galveston took a direct hit by Hurricane Ike on Sept. 13, the vast medical center sustained more than $700 million in damages, said Marsha Canright, UTMB Galveston director of media relations.

Though some of the center’s clinics remain open, the UTMB hospital has been closed since the storm, and will likely remain so at least a couple of more months, Canright said.

In the meantime, UTMB patients are asked to call an access line established by the hospital at 409-722-2222.

“This is the number they call to find out where to go. For example, some of our oncology patients are receiving care at St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston, other arrangements are being made for clinical care,” Canright said.

At Monday’s County Commissioners meeting, the Commissioners voiced concerns about Jefferson County’s medically indigent.

For fiscal year 2007, which just ended on Sept. 30, the county spent $2.8 million for indigent health care. Of that, about 1.2 million, or 43 percent, was spent at UTMB in Galveston, Patrick Swain, county auditor, said.

The amount funds a variety of medical expenditures, including those incurred for hospital stays, emergency room visits and clinical treatments such as chemotherapy.

Those receiving indigent medical care must meet low income guidelines, and not have access to other health insurance, Swain said.

UTMB will address how to handle contracts for counties’ medically indigent at a town hall meeting in Galveston Tuesday, Canright said.

Senior leadership at the hospital is looking at the possibility of imposing a moratorium on accepting future indigent care patients. Those already in the system will be referred to other facilities if UTMB cannot take them.

“We don’t have an operational hospital, and we’re limited to what can be done. There are so many important decisions to be made now,” Canright said.

Canright said layoffs at UTMB are not an issue right now because the medical center is making its payroll.

“What’s to come, we’ll learn tomorrow. Right now, we need to focus on what the institution needs to restart,” she said.

Also at Monday’s Jefferson County Commission meeting, $67,977 was approved to fund hurricane related damage at county-owned facilities was approved. Swain said the emegency repairs would be started immediately. Most likely, the county wil be reimbursed either by insurance, or FEMA.

Contact this reporter at skoonce@panews.com.









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