HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-063 RESOLUTION NO. 10-063
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING SENATE BILL NO. 218
AND HOUSE BILL 319 WHICH, IF PASSED, WOULD AMEND
SUBSECTION (2) OF SECTION 901.35, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO
REQUIRE THAT PAYMENTS MADE BY A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY
TO A PROVIDER FOR CERTAIN SERVICES FOR AN ARRESTED PERSON
BE MADE AT 110% OF THE STATE'S MEDICARE RATE
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made the
following determinations:
1. Senate Bill 218 and House Bill 319 provide that when an arrested person requires medical
attention, but cannot provide for payment, the medical services provider can only recover
from the local government, 110% of the State's Medicare rates for the medical services
provided, not the provider's full fees, unless the medical services provider has an
alternative, written agreement with the local government.
2. The current trend of escalating inmate out-patient medical cost will force St. Lucie County
to reach into its emergency funds in order to pay for those costs at the current hospital
"Billed Rates". Continuing to force Florida Counties to pay hospital billed rates that are
greatly higher than any insurance company, Medicare or Medicaid pay is grossly unfair to
the Counties and their taxpayers.
3. The State Corrections Department tracked their costs both before and afterthe Legislature
capped their inmate hospital costs at no more than 110% of Medicare rates. The State
Corrections Department had similar "Billed Costs" discounts prior to passage of the above
law and their studies showed that after enactment of the law, charges based on the
Medicare Rates were reduced by 69% over the previous billed charges. In 2008, Pinellas
County was billed for $1.2 million for the care of 67 inmates. Using Medicaid rates, the
estimated actual amount paid would have been $77,000.00.
4. If Senate Bill 218 and House Bill 319 were passed, the St. Lucie County taxpayers could
result in a savings of more than $1 million dollars.
5. By passing Senate Bill No. 218 and House Bill 319, the Florida State Legislature would be
giving Counties one way in which they might save some taxpayer dollars.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie
County, Florida:
Section 1: The foregoing recitals contained in the preamble to this Resolution are
incorporated by reference herein.
Section 2: This Board supports the adoption of proposed Senate Bill 218 (SB 218) and
House Bill 319 (HB 319).
Section 3: The County Administrator is hereby directed to send a copy of this
resolution to Governor Charlie Crist, the County's Legislative Delegation and
the Executive Director of the Florida Association of Counties.
Section 4: This Resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 9th day of February, 2010.
BOARD OF C UNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: ST. LUCIE C4 IVTY, F ORIDA
BY:
Deputy Clerk q '~y q~ Chair
.`~~.r~ APPROVE TO FORM A CORRECTNESS:
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