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Health and Human Services shares client support success stories — medical-assistance enrollment, WIC detection of severe anemia, and nonemergency medical rides
Summary
Beltrami County Health and Human Services presented three client support vignettes — medical-assistance enrollment for breast/cervical cancer, early anemia detection via WIC, and coordinated nonemergency medical transportation — to illustrate programs and partnerships that reduce financial barriers and improve clinical outcomes.
Anne Linsoff, director of Health and Human Services, introduced three client‑support vignettes during the county work session intended to illustrate daily services HHS provides and the benefit of partnerships.
Kurt Anderson, Economic Assistance Division Director, described one case in which county MNsure staff helped a resident get enrolled in the Medical Assistance for Breast and Cervical Cancer program. Anderson said the program permits coverage “with no income or asset limits” for people in treatment who meet screening requirements; enrollment removed out‑of‑pocket costs during treatment and reduced the client’s stress while receiving cancer care. He credited MNsure and county staff for helping the applicant complete eligibility screening and the application.
Amy Bowles summarized a WIC clinic case in which staff measured a nine‑month‑old infant’s hemoglobin and found a critically low result “less than 8.” WIC nutrition staff provided immediate dietary counseling, notified the pediatric provider, and the infant received oral iron and iron infusions; at one‑year WIC follow‑up the child’s hemoglobin had returned to a healthy range, and by 18 months clinicians reported normal iron levels. Bowles emphasized that WIC hemoglobin screening can detect severe iron deficiency earlier than many pediatric clinics that typically screen at 12 months.
Josh Burnham, Health and Human Services finance manager, described nonemergency medical transport coordination with PrimeWest and Paul Bunyan Transit and volunteer drivers. He said the county typically requires five days’ notice for nonemergency transport but that staff worked with PrimeWest and transit volunteers to arrange an urgent eye procedure appointment for a client in three days. Burnham said leveraging transit ($1.50 per ride in the example) and volunteer drivers — with the provider assisting on‑site — allowed the client to receive a vision‑saving procedure.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about provider follow‑up (WIC) and about transit distances; staff offered to provide additional program detail on request. Linsoff said the report was a quarterly example of regular client supports and thanked commissioners for their attention.
