Commissioners adopt new rules targeting indigent health care clients
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Citing complaints from local medical service providers about the attitudes and actions of the county's indigent health care clients, a set of behavioral guidelines were adopted by the Wharton County Commissioners Monday.

In introducing the item, County Treasurer Donna Kocurek said she's received a number of comments about indigent patients being disrespectful and, that in at least one instance, one of the individuals was caught in the attempted theft of a prescription pad. She added that a number of the clients have been given instructions to stop or reduce their alcohol consumption because it is interfering with their treatment, but have refused to cooperate. She said that lack of cooperation adds to the cost of providing the program as well as having an adverse impact on the patient's treatment.

The guidelines, as adopted, state:

All applicants and qualified clients are required to comply with all state and county policies and guidelines to receive services through the Wharton County Indigent Health Care Program and Physician's Clinic.

All applicants or qualified clients are required to comply with behavioral guidelines established by the State of Texas, Wharton County Physician's Clinic and any specialist's offices they are referred to.

Any applicants or qualified clients who display disruptive or abusive language or abusive behavior may not be seen. Our personnel will be protected from dangerous situations; physical or combative confrontations are grounds for immediate termination from the Indigent Health Care Program.

All qualified clients arc expected to comply with the medical regime proposed by the Wharton County Physician's office or by the specialist office to whom they were referred. Referred additional testing, such as lab, radiological procedures or other specialist referrals should be completed within one week of their last primary care physicians visit. We cannot properly treat without testing results. qualified clients may be terminated from the program for repeated non-compliance.

No qualified clients shall receive any medications without periodic primary care physician evaluation (three to six months evaluation.)

Clients may be terminated from the Indigent Health Care Program for illicit drug usage and continued alcohol abuse, if not currently and actively participating in a supervised rehab program.

All qualified clients are expected to give all physicians, primary care or specialists, at least 48 hours advance notice to cancellation of an appointment, if the client is unable to keep the appointment. The client will be terminated from the Indigent Health Care Program for chronic failure to keep scheduled appointments.