Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Report: $30 million spent by UMC to cover those who don’t pay bills

The Clark County Commissioners asked for and now must decide what to do with a report showing that University Medical Center is spending millions each year to cover people who can't pay their medical bills.

The commissioners, acting as the hospital board of trustees, will receive the UNLV report Tuesday.

"Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance and Uncompensated Care: The Role of the University Medical Center in Clark County" showed that UMC, and ultimately the taxpayers, spent $30 million in 1997 to cover uncompensated care.

Of this amount, the report showed that the county paid $10 million in fiscal year 1997 to cover employed patients who either wouldn't or couldn't pay.

The report cited several industries that abuse free care at UMC. While the construction industry represents 10.2 percent of the county's work force, construction workers make up 18.8 percent of the hospital's emergency room patients who can't afford to pay.

Hotel service industry employees, who make up 22.5 percent of the county's work force, used emergency room services at a rate of 23.2 percent in 1997.

The biggest offender was the wholesale and retail trade business. While the industry represents 20.5 percent of the county's employment base, 31 percent of individuals in this business don't pay their ER bills.

Local union officials currently trying to organize construction workers cite the case of Felipe Trujillo, 39, who installs roof tiles. He's paid by how many tiles he nails down a day -- averaging between $180 and $250 a week. Some weeks, after working 11 hours a day, six days a week, he makes a little more.

Trujillo's employer offers no health insurance. After paying $495 a month in rent, $90 a month for auto insurance, $150 a week for food, plus a couple hundred more for utilities, he said he has very little money left for himself and his wife and four children.

Even if he wanted to, Trujillo said he couldn't afford to pay for health insurance.

Trujillo said he and his family have to rely on over-the-counter drugs from their local pharmacy. They can't afford to go and see a doctor when they get sick.

Neal Westergaard, an agent with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nevada, said an individual health insurance policy for a 34-year-old male who doesn't smoke would cost about $86 a month. That carries a $500 deductible and pays 80 percent of hospital costs up to $10,000. For medical costs more than that, the company will pay 100 percent.

Many low-wage employees say they can't afford to pay this amount.

Bill Hale, chief executive officer of UMC, is planning to ask that the commissioners take appropriate action based on the report's findings.

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