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Riley County health and treasurer reports: March revenues, measles response, and clinic billing staffing needs
Summary
Treasurer reported March revenues and fund balances; the health department briefed commissioners on a regional measles outbreak, immunization clinic activity and a staffing gap in medical billing/credentialing the department says hampers revenue capture.
Riley County’s treasurer and health department presented March financial and public-health updates at the April 10 commission meeting, covering general-fund balances, upcoming tax deadlines, a developing measles outbreak elsewhere in the state and operational pressures in the public-health clinic.
Treasurer Shiloh Hager reported a general fund balance of about $13.2 million at month end and an ARPA fund balance near $6.2 million. Year-to-date investment interest through March totaled about $647,040 (roughly 30% of the annual budgeted interest). Sales-tax receipts retained by the county were lower in the March distribution (reflecting January sales), and second-half property taxes are due May 1, Hager reminded the board.
Health Department Director Diane Craig and staff briefed commissioners on a statewide measles outbreak the Kansas Department of Health and Environment was tracking; county officials said there were no Riley County cases at the time but the department is increasing MMR vaccine clinic availability, including on-site clinics at early learning centers.
Clinic leaders reported service-line volumes for 2024: roughly 5,333 vaccines administered to 2,779 unique patients, and 1,135 STI panels conducted; reproductive-health clients served under Title X numbered about 1,109. Staff said they are expanding payer contracts (Ambetter, Cigna, Healthy Blue, TriWest) but that the health department lacks a dedicated billing/credentialing position. The department asked commissioners to consider options for addressing complex billing, credentialing and prior-authorization work to improve revenue capture and resilience against potential federal funding reductions.
Commissioners asked procedural and timing questions and did not take formal budget action at the meeting. Health staff said they will return with more detailed options if the board wants to explore a billing/coding position or alternative third-party services.
