Health care agencies are expressing frustration with the three Managed Care Organizations in Iowa and their case management, as well as the time for reimbursements for services, as was expressed by Washington County Supervisor Jack Seward.

Seward is the county representative on the Southeast Iowa Link Mental Health and Disability Services board, as well as the Washington County Board of Health. At Tuesday’s supervisors meeting he said, “They might be in trouble paying their bills, but they’re not paying us either in public health. And they’re not paying for the care that’s being provided to people with developmental disabilities and intellectual disabilities, too, in the MDS, mental health and disabilities services field.”

At the meeting the supervisors acknowledged the resignation of Jeri Crile, case manager for Washington County Public Health due to the MCOs moving case management services internally. Seward further explained case management as those who approve what care a client needs and receives, and then they report it to insurance companies for reimbursement. Seward says the move from local services to the MCOs is not positive, “When it was done in house, it was really personal service. That case manager went to and talked individually to that client, that person that’s in need, that needed the service. So it was personal service, you knew exactly what was going on, you knew exactly what that person needed. It was eye to eye, it was face to face. It was care about that person.”

Administrator of Washington County Public Health Danielle Pettit-Majewski added that case managers also helped clients navigate the system and how to enroll. Seward said the waiting list now can be as long as two years for a determination for services.