Commission OKs help for residents who lose jobs

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2001 | 10:05 a.m.

After bickering over which board member has done the most for the community during times of distress, Clark County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved measures to help workers who have been laid off since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The commission offered the United Way $200,000 for its rent-assistance program and agreed to provide about 17,000 laid-off workers breaks on medical bills at University Medical Center clinics.

UMC Executive Director Bill Hale said the county-operated hospital is prepared to treat thousands of uninsured employees at its 14 QuickCare centers in the Las Vegas Valley.

Patients who can't afford to pay their bills will be offered a deferred payment program or be referred to a social service agency, which will work to identify other payment options.

UMC will use its indigent funds to absorb the cost of visitors who have no way to pay medical bills.

"I am confident UMC has the ability to provide services, but I don't have a secret contingency fund," Hale said.

Going by estimates that for every hotel job lost an employee in a related industry will be laid off, Hale guessed a minimum of 30,000 workers could lose their jobs due to a sluggish economy. He estimated a maximum of 139,000 workers in the Las Vegas Valley could lose their jobs.

If every worker sought treatment and none had health insurance, UMC in the worst-case scenario could be hit with $122 million in medical costs, Hale said. However, he said that situation is unlikely.

Still, commissioners who have publicly questioned Chairman Dario Herrera's proposal to explore the county's options in offering breaks -- including providing free care in some cases -- were supportive of the efforts Tuesday.

"We're looking at a policy board with fiscal responsibilities on one hand balanced with an overwhelming amount of responsibility to do absolutely everything we can do to help people in our community hurt by the tragedy," Commissioner Erin Kenny said.

Kenny also asked private hospitals to pitch in and help displaced workers.

Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center spokeswoman Ann Lynch said administrators would work with the county to determine any additional services the hospital may be able to offer. She said Sunrise already offers deferred payments and treats indigent residents.

Health benefits for most union members extend for four months after they are laid off. Other workers aren't as fortunate and are expected to take advantage of UMC's deferred billing program.

Also, a one-stop center at the Culinary Union's Commerce Street hall will open today, offering displaced employees myriad services, including help with filing unemployment claims. UMC officials will also be available to discuss insurance options or alternate ways to pay medical bills.

Red Cross representatives will use their criteria to determine whether a worker is eligible to take part in the county's deferred payment offer.

Herrera said he also has a tentative agreement with developer Irwin Molasky, who owns several thousand apartment units. Molasky, Herrera said, has offered 5,000 units to house residents.

Herrera said housing officials will also be stationed at the one-stop center to assist with helping laid off workers.

The chairman blasted fellow commissioners for accusing him of proposing plans the county cannot afford and thrusting himself in the spotlight to further his bid for Congress.

"That's absurd," Herrera said, adding that he is simply doing what he can to help families who are struggling financially as a result of the attacks. "It flies in the face of everything I have set out to do."

Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, offended at Herrera's suggestion that other commissioners were not compassionate about displaced workers, informed the chairman that the board has always helped the community in times of need.

"We have done this in the past, prior to you becoming a board member," Atkinson Gates said. "This is not first opportunity or first time we have had a major disaster that affects the citizens of this valley."