H&W spends $12 million in Elmore County

Last year, Elmore County's 29,000 residents received nearly $12.2 million from Department of Health and Welfare programs.

Elmore County ranked 41st in per capita investment of Health and Welfare dollars out of Idaho's 44 counties.

The investment of state and federal tax dollars amounted to $417 for every man, woman and child residing in Elmore County. That included citizens who may not have received a single direct service from the department. That compared to a statewide average of $808 per capita.

The department invested more than $1 billion in 2003 in Idaho communities. Those funds came from Medicaid, additional payments to hospitals, Food Stamps, the Idaho Child Care Program, the Women, Infants and Children nutritional program, and the Home Energy program, among others.

"Even if you don't directly use a department service you benefit from the Department's investment," says Health and Welfare Director Karl Kurtz. "Additional payments made to a hospital, for example, allow the facility to buy diagnostic equipment that may be used for all hospital clients, not just those who are Medicaid-eligible."

"These funds are critical for us," said hospital administrator Greg Maurer of Elmore Medical Center. "We work on a minimal margin. Without the money, how we provide services for our communities would be impacted."

Last year, Elmore Memorial received $320,816 in additional payments called Federal Upper Payment Limits and Disproportionate Share because the hospital handles more Medicaid clients than the average hospital. That money can be used for any hospital purpose, so it has the potential of providing services for any client, not just Medicaid.

The money is in addition to payment for regular services to Medicaid clients.

Elmore Memorial received $827,058 for inpatient and outpatient care bringing the total Medicaid investment in Elmore Memorial to more than $1.1 million in 2003.

"This doesn't cover our cost of delivering services to Medicaid clients," says Maurer. "But the additional funds are extremely important."

Elmore County parents received $454,031 in child care subsidy payments last year. The subsidy program helps low-income working parents and parents looking for work. The program also provides a big boost for the county's 50 child care providers who participate in the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP).

Typical of those is Seven Sanders, who owns Loving Hands Child Care in Mountain Home and serves 19 children from 17 families, 8 in ICCP. She received $42,170 in ICC payments in the past year, which is in addition to the share parents pay.

"Were it not for ICCP, we would not be in business," Sanders said.

Her husband, John, a teacher, does the bookkeeping, and there are two other employees. "Even with the self-pay clients, we would not be able to maintain the overhead. I am glad the program is in place. It takes care of the bills, and we are able to operate because of it."

ICCP payments go to the general fund for the center.

"Another example is Food Stamp payments," says Kurtz. "It is a direct investment in neighborhood grocery stores which use that money to hire clerks and meat cutters. Elmore County received more than $1 million in Food Stamp funds in 2003. This means families get the food they need and merchants create jobs in the community."

"It is important for people to know that the department's investment benefits all Idaho residents. This is wise use of taxpayer dollars because the money spent in the community often stays in the community," says Kurtz. "Those dollars are spent again and again to help create jobs and create an infrastructure that provides healthy and safe communities."