Community Clinic Operators Thankful But Wary About Budget Compromise

Operators of Wisconsin’s community health center clinics say they are thankful for a budget compromise that delays implementation of a new reimbursement system, although they still worry about its impact in the future.

The clinics, which serve Wisconsin’s poorest residents, have been reimbursed for the cost of the care they provide for years. But under Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget, they would be reimbursed instead by a flat fee for each patient visit, regardless of expense.

Greg Nycz is the executive director of Marshfield Clinic’s Family Health Center, which provided dental care for nearly 50,000 patients in north central Wisconsin last year. He said the change could cost his clinic $10 million dollars a year.

“The thought that you could cut reimbursements by 10 percent — or like one of our colleagues, 57 percent — when this is fully phased in, and say that that’s going to be taken up by efficiencies, just doesn’t pass the smell test,” said Nycz.

Nycz said he’s grateful the Joint Finance Committee is delaying implementation for a year, but he’s worried that when the new reimbursement rates are determined, they won’t be enough to cover the cost of treating the poor.