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Hendry County commissioners approve vendor to enroll detainees in Affordable Care Act coverage
Summary
Commissioners approved a staff recommendation to contract with a provider to enroll eligible detainees in health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, a move officials said could reduce county jail medical costs and administrative workload.
Hendry County commissioners on Feb. 11 approved staff’s proposal to allow a private enrollment provider to sign eligible detainees into Affordable Care Act plans, a step county officials said could cut jail medical costs and reduce administrative burden.
County Administrator Jennifer Davis brought the item forward, saying the county spent about $1.6 million on jail medical care last year and $400,000 so far this year. A staff presenter said the vendor (identified in the meeting transcript as “Health Bridal Care”) told county staff it could enroll roughly 80 percent of detainees who are not yet sentenced and who qualify for coverage, at no charge to the county. The vendor would begin enrollment work within about two weeks and said coverage would be effective the first of the month following enrollment. Staff said the vendor will provide training and tablets for intake and that insurance payments would be billed to the marketplace rather than routed through county offices.
Officials clarified limits on eligibility. County staff said noncitizen arrestees would not qualify for coverage through the marketplace. Staff also said the vendor and staff expect a short administrative lag between enrollment and final government confirmation of coverage; however, staff said the coverage is effective as of the enrollment date for qualified applicants. Commissioners noted that local hospitals would need to accept marketplace coverage; staff said they had discussed that with Hendry Regional.
The board approved the recommendation by voice vote. Commissioner Galatius made the motion; Commissioner Atkins seconded. The meeting record shows the motion carried.
Why it matters: County officials told commissioners the program would shift the immediate billing for jail medical care from county offices to insurance processors, reduce staff time spent verifying and paying medical claims, and could reduce the net cost to local taxpayers if many detainees are eligible.
Next steps: Staff said they would continue working with the vendor and the sheriff’s office on logistics, confirm where detainees are currently routed for medical care, and follow up with hospitals on acceptance of marketplace plans. County staff also said they would monitor the number of inmates who do not qualify in Hendry County to better estimate local impact.
