Published: July 08, 2009 11:53 am      

Clinic becomes independent agency

Lebanon — The Boone County Community Clinic is, financially, on new ground.

Monday, the Boone County Commissioners unanimously voted to make the clinic financially indepedent of the county, effective July 14.

“All the good things happen with this kind of independence,” Commissioner Charles Eaton said.

“We’re not totally independent,” said clinic director Bambi McQuade. “It lets us handle our finances.”

One good thing will be removing the clinic’s estimated $355,000 cost from the county’s budget, Eaton said.

Since its inception in 1998, the clinic has averaged 3,000 patients a year. Earlier this year, the clinic added Medicaid coverage — although it cannot advertise that service due to federal guidelines. Patients include the under-insured and those without health insurance. The clinic also participates in the Healthy Indiana plan, which offers insurance for Hoosiers ages 19 to 56 who have incomes between 22 and 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Walk-in emergency treatment is available to anyone for $25.

Much of the clinic’s revenue comes from a contract to provide health services to Boone County Jail inmates.

In January 2007, McQuade had told the commissioners they could expect to save $120,000 annually on inmate treatment.

In the first year of the contract, inmate medical costs dropped $350,000. The total savings is approaching $1 million, McQuade said.

Other clinic income comes from state and federal grants; private insurance; Medicaid and modest fees charged patients.

McQuade said Witham Memorial Hospital offers services for clinic patients and furnishes space for the clinic.

McQuade “has done a heck of a job” in operating the clinic, Eaton said Monday.

Internet resources

Healthy Indiana: www.HIP.IN.gov

Medicare and Medicaid: www.cms.hhs.gov

learn more:

Boone County Community Clinic contacts:

The clinic office is at the rear of 404 W. Camp St., Lebanon. It is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday; noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Call (765) 483-4469.