News Briefs: DC health care alliance reports $15M surplus
Despite dire predictions of financial shortages made by Washington, DC-city officials in the wake of the closing of D.C. General Hospital and the privatization of the city’s indigent health care system, the city now finds that it has a $15 million surplus. Originally, $40.4 million had been set aside to fund D.C. Healthcare Alliance, the private health care program designed to treat the city’s indigent, but so far, far fewer people have taken advantage of the new program than originally expected.
If the trend continues, city officials say they could have as much as $25 million in surplus funds. The money is expected to be extended to private groups who haven’t already entered the program. The alliance is run by the Greater Southeast Community Hospital and includes D.C. Chartered Health Plan, Unity Health Care, George Washington University Hospital, and Children’s Hospital.
Currently, the program counts more than 17,000 low-income residents as members and more than 11,000 patient visits each month. To qualify as a member, enrollees must provide proof that they live in the District of Columbia, have a household income under 200% of the poverty level, and no other health coverage.
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