The Kane County Health Department has moved a step closer to
implementation of a unique prenatal care program with the county board executive committee`s approval of its request for a $264,000 budget increase. The committee voted 7-3 last week to approve the increase despite one member`s fears about the program. ”Aren`t we encouraging people to produce more?” asked Fred Ledebuhr, who voted against the increase.
The increase would amount to a 1-cent hike in the health department`s 1988 property tax levy and cost taxpayers about $1 more for every $10,000 of assessed valuation.
The committee also voted unanimously to allow the health department to accept a $265,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health to pay for laboratory fees, salaries for two nurses, a bilingual secretary and prenatal physician services not covered by Medicaid.
The program, a physician-referral service designed to provide care to more than 800 needy women in the county, could be implemented as early as September if the budget increase and grant are approved Tuesday by the full county board. The health department will use the funds to give obstetricians who take part a ”participatory achievement award” of $350 for each patient served. To participate a woman must either be eligible for Medicaid or deemed eligible by the health department to take part in the program.
The concept of an award has been described as ”innovative and unique”
by county and health department officials because it helps doctors who participate defray the cost of medical malpractice insurance premiums, which now range from $47,000 to $120,000 annually in Illinois, and removes a large portion of the county`s burden of liability.
”I can`t promise you that you won`t be named in a suit, but it reduces your responsibility considerably,” Assistant State`s Atty. Patricia Lord told the county board.
The health department, which was formed last year and only recently became certified, is required to provide adequate prenatal care to the needy or lose state funding.
