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County board OKs uncollected claims agreement

NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners unanimously approved a provider agreement to resubmit $4,860 in uncollected claims for homecare services provided in its adult home visiting program, Tuesday.

On Oct. 23, Brown County Public Health requested commissioners write off $4,860 in claims it had not been able to collect from HealthNet Federal Services. The claims were the result of providing home care to an adult client who for a period of time during their care, had HealthNet Federal Services as their health care coverage provider.

The October request for board action detailed numerous time-consuming attempts to submit claims in numerous ways without reimbursement success. Board direction in October was to seek Brown County Attorney’s Office assistance in correspondence that would hopefully encourage reimbursement. That was completed and a letter was sent.

Not long after that, HealthNet Federal Services issued a bulletin to all providers that it has extended the time for providers to resubmit claims until March 26, 2019. It was assumed providers had numerous issues seeking reimbursement.

The extension period included the ability to submit claims electronically through an intermediary, Availity LLC. All previous attempts were made by paper claim.

Brown County Public Health uses Availity to submit claims to several health care coverage providers.

The Availity agreement with HealthNet Federal Services requires Brown County to use their premium product with a $50 monthly fee. The current Availity product Brown County uses to process claims does not require a fee from Brown County. The agreement would cost $1,800 over three years. It includes a termination clause that can occur without cause with a 90-day notice.

Brown County’s goal would be to submit claims and receive reimbursement within 90 days. Based on experience with HealthNet Federal Services, Brown County Public Health is not sure if it is feasible. In addition, Brown County only has until March 26, 2019, to resubmit claims, and there is no success guarantee.

The best scenario according to the request for board action (RBA), is to receive reimbursement within 90 days and submit a termination letter, incurring $300 in fees.

Commissioners unanimously approved:

• The 2018 Annual Landfill Report and environmental monitoring assistance from GEI Consultants, as required by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Work will be performed on a time and materials basis. The estimated fee is $21,400. The 2017 Annual Report cost $24,327.

• A 2019 Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention (AISP) Plan for Brown County. Since 2014, the Minnesota Legislative has approved AISP aid payable to Minnesota counties to be used solely to prevent the introduction or limit the spread of aquatic, invasive species at all county access sites.

• Submitting a mini-grant application to the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) to receive $4,085.40 for four hydration stations to be installed at the Brown County Courthouse, License Bureau/Heartland Express, Highway Department office and Extension Service office.

The stations are intended to provide the public with a convenient means to fill reusable water bottles with clean, potable water.

• A landowner request to do a feasibility study on the County Ditch 18 watershed due to multiple drainage issues on the system just south of Sleepy Eye. Affected landowners will pay $2,000 for the study to be done by ISG that will include public improvement and outlet options.

• The resignation/retirement of Brown County Probation Chemical Dependency Specialist LuAnn Macho effective Feb. 28, 2019, and delaying posting the job for future county board consideration. Macho worked 26 years for Brown County.

• The resignation of Brown County Administrator Chuck Enter after more than 36 years of Brown County service as of May 31, 2019.

“I’d like to see Mr. Enter stay on. We’ve been blessed with his time here,” said Commissioner Scott Windschitl.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.

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