After several weeks of discussion and searching for answers to questions regarding the structure of a Medicaid reimbursement program for Carroll ambulance services with a Texas-based firm, the Carroll Supervisors unanimously approved a partnership. Ambulance services director, Darrell Baker, answered one of the pivotal questions, how much will the county have to pay up front to secure that amount back from the State of Iowa PLUS the federal portion.
The county will be working with Public Consulting Group (PCG) in the GEMT program to recoup the estimated 80 percent currently being lost in Medicaid ambulance transport payments. The structure has the county paying the state’s reimbursement rate up front to the DHS, as Baker explained. This will then activate the federal reimbursement that will be sent to PCG. They will deduct a contingency fee of nine percent on the net gain and send the state and federal money back to Carroll County. Rich Ruggles and Baker walk through an example.
Carroll County Auditor, Kourtney Irlbeck, says she is setting up separate accounting line items on these two for what they expend to the state and then what total revenues they are getting back. This, she says will make tracking much easier. Schettler, who has questioned the validity of this structure in the past, restated his thoughts earlier this week.
Chair, Gene Meiners, says it is unfortunate the government makes them jump through these types of hoops just to get the reimbursements they are entitled to in the first place. The newest supervisor, Scott Johnson, says he believes this is a very good program and wishes the county had heard of it years ago. Upon approval, the board also voted to approve a motion allowing Vice Chair, Stephanie Hausman, to sign the contract on their behalf.
