Page 10 - Delaware Medical Journal - March 2016
P. 10
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Delaware and Rhode Island are the only states that have no charity care funds, public general acute care hospitals, or critical access hospitals. This unique environment drives costs differently compared to other states where charity care costs are mitigated by direct state and local government spending for charity care funds and public hospitals.
In Delaware we are fortunate to have other safety net programs to meet Healthcare Centers, clinics, and programs run by the hospitals and other the gap by providing care to many of Delaware’s most vulnerable citizens. There are also two other programs available through the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH): Delaware Cancer Treatment Program (DCTP) and Health Care Connection.
The DCTP provides medical insurance coverage to the uninsured for the treatment of cancer. To be eligible, patients must: 1) need active treatment for cancer in the opinion of their physician; 2) must be a Delaware resident at the time of diagnosis; and
3) have a household income less than 650 percent of FPL. DCTP will provide Patients may request a hardship waiver
REFERENCES
1. ObamaCare Medicaid Expansion. Obamacare Facts. Available at: http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacares-medicaid-expansion/. Accessed January 31, 2016.
2. The Coverage Gap: Uninsured Poor Adults in States that Do Not Expand Medicaid – An Update. The Coverage Gap: Uninsured Poor Adults in States that Do Not Expand Medicaid – An Update. Available at: http://kff. org/health-reform/issue-brief/the-coverage-gap-uninsured-poor-adults-in- states-that-do-not
3. New Face for Charity Care - Center for Health Care Strategies. Center for Health Care Strategies. 2014. Available at: http://www.chcs.org/ new-face-charity-care/. Accessed January 31, 2016.
needs of our patient population. Today, there are 539 physician volunteers in VIP – 243 primary care physicians,
268 specialists, and 28 who are listed
as both. Prior to the implementation of the ACA, as many as 10,000 to 11,000 patients were served by VIP. DPH estimates that currently there are 4,000 and, while this is now a very small percentage of our residents, it is still not zero. Patients receive preventive care, acute care, specialty care, allied health services, diagnostic lab work, imaging services, and pharmacy assistance. Since 2007, 18,413 prescriptions have the patients of $4,662,571. To volunteer, contact the Society’s VIP Department. While there is still a need to care for our most vulnerable patients who cannot otherwise receive care, I am glad the physicians of Delaware are there to serve the need.
Dorothy M. Moore, M.D.
President, Medical Society of Delaware
if out of pocket costs for their cancer treatment by their health insurance is greater than 15 percent of their income excluding premiums and covering copays and coinsurances for cancer therapy until their deductible is met. rates but only to Delaware Medical Assistance Providers.5 If you have a patient that may qualify, DCTP can be reached at (302) 744-1040.
Health Care Connection is another state-run safety net for Delaware’s uninsured. Formerly called Community Healthcare Access Program, or CHAP, many of you are already familiar
with it. It is administered through DPH, with medical services provided through community-based health care centers and by private physicians who participate in the Medical Society
of Delaware’s Voluntary Initiative Program (VIP).
MSD has over many years maintained a network of physicians who volunteer to serve these patients pro-bono or
on an income based, discounted
fee for service basis. Many of you, myself included, have volunteered
to see patients through VIP over the many years the program has been in existence in testimony to the efforts of
4. Use of Free and Charitable Clinics Sustains Post-Affordable Care
Act. GlobeNewswire News Room. Available at: http://www.globenewswire. com/news-release/2014/08/13/658456/10094603/en/use-of-free- and-charitable-clinics-sustains-post-affordable-care-act.html.
Accessed January 31, 2016
5. 4203 Cancer Treatment Program. 4203 Cancer Treatment Program. Available at: http://regulations.delaware.gov/admincode/title16/ department of health and social services/division of public health/health promotion and disease prevention/4203.shtml.
Accessed January 31, 2016.
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Del Med J
| March 2016
| Vol. 88
| No. 3
