Ingham health centers face deficit, officials look for fix

MASON, Mich. (WLNS) – Three resolutions passed by Ingham County Commissioners seek to ease the financial situation for the Ingham Community Health Centers.

Officials expect a $4.5 million dollar deficit by the end of this fiscal year. It’s a total that puts the squeeze on this year’s budget of more than $36 million dollars.

The ICHC board operates 13 Federally Qualified Health Centers in the county. That means these centers rely on federal funding to provide services like pediatric healthcare visits and dental appointments. Just last year, more than 19,000 residents made use of the services.

To maintain the federal funding,  a cooperative operational agreement with Ingham County is required. One of the passed resolutions extended the current agreement after it expired earlier this month.

Another approves bringing in an outside firm to do a financial assessment of the centers with a price tag of up to $40,000. The third resolution will contract an expert to analyze the structure and operating process of ICHC. That pulls up to $11,520 dollars from the County’s contingency fund.

Ingham County Board of Commissioners Chair Ryan Sebolt says there has been some friction between the county and board members over the health center operations, playing a part in the need for an extension. But there’s a desire to maintain the services that thousands rely on.

“We’ve been very proactive and I’m hoping that the Community Health Center Board knows we’re past the deadline will be spurred into more proactivity on getting this done,” says Sebolt.

The extension on the current contract lasts until September, but without a new agreement, the centers will lose federal funding as well as enhanced reimbursement rates for doctors treating people on Medicaid.

“I am a little bit baffled at this point, exactly what has got us to this point,” says Sebolt. “But I’m hopeful that we will find a resolution and we are actively trying to be good partners and making that happen.”

Member and chair of the ICHC’s Strategic Growth Hope Lovell spoke to 6 News over the phone. She says she’s happy to hear that the resolutions were approved.

The ICHC board is expected to see the details of the resolution during Thursday’s meeting.

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