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City Financing Sought for Beach Maternity Program

Posted on: Saturday, 14 January 2006, 12:00 CST

By Susan E. White, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.

Jan. 14--VIRGINIA BEACH -- Two years ago, city health officials reached a temporary agreement to reimburse private doctors who provide some obstetric care to uninsured pregnant women.

That money is about to dry up, and health officials now hope the city will pick up the tab.

The initial two-year contract relied on $300,000 in state money. That money is no longer available.

The current proposal would set aside about $365,000 in city money over the next two years so the maternity program can continue. About 160 uninsured, non-Medicaid patients would receive some prenatal and postpartum care each year.

Uninsured pregnant women who arrive at an emergency room in labor still receive services, regardless of any agreement between the city and private doctors. Such emergency care can be costly if a baby has problems because of the lack of prenatal care.

The city's maternity program mainly serves the growing Hispanic population. Dr. Venita Newby-Owens, the city's health director, said it guarantees uninsured pregnant mothers the same quality of care that all Virginia Beach women deserve.

The program ensures that more healthy babies are delivered, she said.

"The negative consequences, such as low-birth-weight babies or complications from delivery, are avoided," Newby-Owens said.

Catheryn Whitesell, the city's budget director, said the request will be weighed against other demands in the upcoming city budget. She added, however, that Virginia Beach has had a policy not to finance programs that started with state or federal funding once that money runs out.

"If it's a community-significant issue, we will consider it," Whitesell said. "Obviously, we have a preference for maintaining current services, so that will factor in."

The issue arose in 2004 when Virginia Beach Obstetrics & Gynecology announced it could no longer afford to provide care to uninsured, non-Medicaid patients without reimbursement.

For years, women who earned too much money to qualify for Medicaid -- the government insurance program for low-income people -- but not enough for private health insurance were referred to a pool of 25 volunteer doctors. Over time, the number of uninsured patients increased, and the pool of doctors dwindled to one, and then none.

Though patients were billed for services, many were unable to pay, forcing doctors or hospitals to write off the costs.

In the last fiscal year, under the city's maternity program, 132 uninsured mothers were assigned to local obstetrical groups. Health officials estimate nearly 160 will be served through the end of June -- a 21 percent increase.

Under the proposed new two-year agreement, the medical groups would maintain the same level of care.

Currently, a private physician is assigned to expectant mothers with low- to moderate-risk pregnancies. The doctors see those patients during their 32nd week of pregnancy to review their medical records and to discuss delivery plans.

The doctors also provide postpartum care while the mothers are still hospitalized. If there are complications, the doctors are responsible for admitting the mothers to the hospital and providing inpatient care.

The Health Department provides postpartum care after the mothers are released from the hospital and handles most prenatal care, including routine exams and lab screenings.

It's unclear how the maternity program would continue without city funding. Dr. Glenn Synders, chairman of the Virginia Beach Health Services Advisory Board, hopes that won't be an issue.

"Those are mothers that don't have anywhere else to go," Synders said. "We have to find a mechanism for them to be taken care of."

Reach Susan E. White at (757) 222-5114 or susan.white@pilotonline.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.

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Source: The Virginian-Pilot

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