HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 2548 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 2548
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ofFoar a To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 8, 1975
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»rEX°'y Subject: AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR
"" PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERVICES
During the budget study session on September 3, 1975, the -Council requested
information pertaining to- the eligibility of Public .Health Nursing
Services for-Federal Medicare/Medicaid Funds.
The City- Public Heaith� Department- does-not currently_receive Federal
Medicare/Medicaid revenue for-Nursing- Services for-the following
reasons:
1. Most nursing- services provided .are not eligible for reimbursement -
The primary orientation- of- Public-Health .Nursing is to aid
individuals and families -to:- . a)- assess health-deficiencies,
b) understand the- nature- of-var-ious .diseases, and c) learn to
cope with diseases- by individual- or family self care to the
maximum possible extent.- The .Nursing .division provides
these- services- through- ciinics .and- home instruction, de-
pending- on- the- circumstances-of- the- diseases- and
e-
pending- on- the- circumstances-of- the- diseasesand personal
situations,- -Medi.care/Medicaid payments-.are--basically for
medical treatment;-which- is- primarily provided by agencies
other- than the City-Nursing- Staff.- These services make up the
bulk- of the PHN workload.
2. The• few- patients- receiving- services- which are eligible for
financial- assistance- are-not-themselves eligible -
The City- Health-.Department-has-hi.stori.eally-.provided-.home treatment
care through the-Nursing Division- to-residents of- the City who
are-unable- to obtain-such- treatment otherwise:- - Such treatments include
medication;- therapy-,-changing-.dressings -and-_checking-blood pressure,
etc. The current caseload consists of 25-patients who require
vitamin-B-12- injections-which-are- not-eligible- for-Medicare/Medicaid.
The home care-caseload also includes 12-patients who are either
ineligible- or who- require-services beyond the- limits of federal
programs.
3. The City Health Department is not a Certified Home Health Agency -
The Public Health Department has allowed itscertificationto
expire because private Home Health- Care Agencies- and the Tarrant
County Hospital District have assumed the-largest proportion of
patients during the last two-years. Re-certification would require
the City to expend additional funds- to-meetstandards, including the
addition-of a-.physical-therapist-to the staff.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER - FORT WORTH, TEXAS �—
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 2548 - Page 2
µpPTIq�O
o�fUP p To the Magor and Members of the City Council -September 8, 1975
u�0
s
q xAy Subject: -AVAILABILITY-OF- FEDERAL FUNDS FOR
" °PUBLIC`HEALTH•NURSING SERVICES
Should the City Council desire additional information-on- this subject,
it will be supplied upon request.
-Respectfully submitted,
R. N. Line
City Manager
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ---