Billing for Rape kits

6-27-18

I'm wondering if any other county social service agencies are paying the cost for rape kits and forensic interviews related to criminal cases.  These are sometimes for people who also happen to be social service clients, but often times not.  The statute only says that "the County" is responsible for the cost, but does not identify what department. 

In Red Lake the Sheriff's Office pays for these bills, in Norman County, the Sheriff's Office gets the bills but denies payment and forwards them on to Social Services to pay.  We would like to know how other counties handle this since I'm seeing it both ways in the counties I work for.  Thank you,

Penny Grove, Supervisor

Red Lake and Norman County Social Services

P.O. Box 356; 121 Edwards Ave NW

Red Lake Falls, MN 56750

Ofc: 218-253-4131 ext. 240

Fax: 218-253-2926

Public Health and billing UCare

6-25-18

In Norman County, our public health department is a separate entity, however, they are telling us that they cannot be added as a provider to bill UCare without being listed as a department under the Norman County Social Service office.  We have also had this issue in Availity, where we can see each other's information because we use the same tax ID number as "Norman County" and don't have a separate one for social services.  I'm wondering if this is normal/usual, as in Red Lake County, we do not have our own public health department, so have not run into this before.

Thank you for any info you can share so we know if this should be something we look further into, trying to get the health plans to see us as two distinct entities.

Penny Grove, Supervisor

Red Lake and Norman County Social Services

P.O. Box 356; 121 Edwards Ave NW

Red Lake Falls, MN 56750

Ofc: 218-253-4131 ext. 240

Fax: 218-253-2926

Collections Question - Programs

Otter Tail County is currently using CCS on the AS400 for our collection system.  There is a push to move away from the AS400 and migrate to web-based formats.

I am wondering what programs counties are using for a collection system, what do you like/dislike about what you are using.

Thanks!

Diane Aschnewitz

Fiscal Supervisor

Otter Tail County Human Services

530 W Fir Av

Fergus Falls MN  56537

218-998-8157

daschnew@co.ottertail.mn.us

72 hour hold billing

We received a bill for a 72 hour hold.  The client had Medicare coverage and the facility received a payment.  The facility now wants us to pay the deductible and co insurance.  One of our supervisors said if they have a contract with Medicare they have to accept that payment in full.  I had asked the woman from the facility if they were suppose to accept that in full like the prepaid health plans and MA and she said no it’s different.  What do other counties do?  Our policy has been we are the payor of last resort.  If the client had Medicare we would not pay anymore and if they were not on MA at the time we would only pay what MA would have paid.

Thank you

Bobbi Sivonen

Fiscal Supervisor

Koochiching County Public Health and Human Services