Modesto Bee Article

By Garth Stapley, Modesto Bee Staff Writer
last updated: September 1, 2009

Stanislaus County's poorest adults would receive fewer subsidized health benefits -- or pay more for them -- under a proposal going before Stanislaus County leaders today.

With more people applying for help and fewer dollars to cover it, county supervisors will consider adjustments that could save $422,000 in the coming year, transferring much of the cost to patients.

The changes could affect more than half of the 6,000 to 7,000 people served by the county's Medically Indigent Adult program, some of whom would be required to come up with higher copayments for dental and medical services.

The proposal includes:

Serving individuals with less than $2,000 in assets, not including homes and vehicles, lowered from $3,000. Projected county savings: $30,000.

Boosting copays for some people from as little as $3 to as much as $574. Others with higher incomes would see copays increase from as little as $45 to $1,205. As many as 2,653 people could be affected. Projected county savings: $233,000.

Eliminating preventive dental care. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 740 people used services worth $29,400 in this category.

Requiring 50 percent copays for restorative dental services such as dentures, crowns and root canals. About 570 people could be required to pay more, saving the county $130,000.

Today's public hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. in the basement chamber at Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St., Modesto.