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r <br /> • <br /> • <br /> ; ' ; <br /> "medically indigent patient" was a' patient :whoso circumstances had.,been <br /> investigated <br /> g by the.t+lelfare Department.:and'found to 'be unable, to pay <br /> . hospital bills. ?sirs. Tracy further stated that some' medically indigent <br /> patients certified by the tdelfare Department ,had.been billed by the <br /> . - 3 'Leo .County hospital• and that public. assi,tance .benefits and payments ; <br /> were. not sufficient to 'pay actual livin.: exnensos of the persons - <br /> `receiving same and"'also pay hospital: bills'. - <br /> Mr.: R. Eugene Brown, State.;Direetor of. Public Assistance,, <br /> • spoke on the. policy of not requiring the. medically indigent. to pay <br /> ' hospital bills and charges, but said it was- a policy- based an regula- . . <br /> tions and not a requirement of law. Ee• further stated that, he knew• of <br /> • no' reason why such payment should not be:required 'where' insurance <br /> . <br /> benefits 'sere available or where .payment'could be made from finds other• <br /> than public assistance, such as gifts froa. 'or payments: by relatives <br /> of the medically indigent patients,, .. <br /> • : . Paul S. Cragan, Business "?agar' of the Lee County'}Iospital <br /> ' was called upon by vthe Chairman .end state&that .it was the policy of ' . <br /> ' the ,Hospital to collect ,for services to tie. medically, indigent tihere <br /> such- payments could_•be obtained .from insurance beraafits, relatives= •or. <br /> other available funds.' . Mr. Cragan` stated that the average patient ' ' <br /> cost at Tice County Hospital.was. $] .59. por day based on operations. <br /> ' "for. 1955.. Mr. Cragan stated that the annual appropriation of. $3.000.00 <br /> . 'bad been:applied: to -cases coming to tIae ,aospitai from the jail and ' <br /> County FIole andthe balance had been applied to :payments on bills of _ <br /> the medically indigent. Mr. Cragan stated that-.it .mould probably ' <br /> require an. additional.appropriation:.of: e8,000.Q4•. to cover the. cost - <br /> of estimated number of medically indigent cases.. = , , • . <br /> .. . ' A. H. '2Yciver, -Chairman of the. of,L <br /> Board of Trustees ee <br /> - County Hospital ,• spoke briefly, anti. stated that:,it alas,not the policy <br /> of the;Hospital to make money•-and that•when' this-:occurred, 'the - <br /> • flospital.'.would lower. its charges accordingly. ' ' <br /> • . <br />