WASHINGTON CO. STARTING 37TH YEAR IN INDIGENT CARE PROGRAM
Beginning on Thursday, Washington County starts its 37th year under the Texas Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act.
The act defines who is indigent, identifies medical services that eligible people can receive and assigns responsibility for the indigent health care.
The county is complying through the County Indigent Health Care (CIHC) Program, which is outlined by the Texas Department of Health and administered by the Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG). The county establishes the limits within the program for the BVCOG to oversee.
Applicants must live in the county where they make the application, with the intent to stay. They also need to completely fill out applications and provide the information needed to verify and document residency, income, resources and family size. Some assistance in completing applications is available.
In addition, applicants must have a net income of less than 21 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Other factors may apply, such as the size of the household. Resources for a family of one cannot exceed $2,000 after exemptions, while resources for a family of two cannot be more than $3,000 after exemptions.
Providers are reimbursed for eligible services according to average Medicaid payment. Clients must use approved physicians.
To apply for the program, visit www.bvcog.org or call 979-595-2800.
How much does the county receive for this fund? What happens to the balance of the funds which are not used, and what is the average remaining balance? Qualifications for usage are almost at homeless level, so one would expect that their would be a significant amount of money left at the end of term. These are all questions taxpayers would like answers.