Should they contribute funding?

Question

The county I reside in (Washington County) has an HIV clinic that gives education, condoms, and anti-virul medication to those with HIV, also helping those who are drugged addicted or homeless with seeking social service and housing. It's doors are open to those who are covered by insurance, medicaid, and those who do not have insurance and has a sliding pay scale. From my knowledge, they do not turn anyone away because of an inability to pay.

About 30%-40% of those who go there for these services are from the neighboring county (Benton County). My county and the HIV clinic have asked repeatedly for Benton County to contribute funding considering the numbers of those seeking services at the clinic are from Benton...they have refused.

The clinic is desperately needing funding to keep the place up and running and to deal with inflation.

My question is, do you think Benton county should contribute funding, or do you think the clinic should start turning thier people away?

Answer 1

Does state law (you did not say what state) require the county of residence to pay for the "necessities of life" for those who are unable to pay or indigent?

If so then they should file a lawsuit for the county to pay for their own residents.  I can not see making your county's residents pay for others.    They should quit serving after notice (60-90 days).

EDIT!!

Have the board of directors look at this:

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:q6I...

Answer 2

That's a tough one. I had a similar problem at a food bank in Toronto.

First, the centre should ask the governement or other foundations for more funding in light of the greater need. If that doesn't happen, then they should probably only take out of towners on referral from a social worker. At least that way the people accessing the services are being managed and more likely to recover, then just abuse handouts.

It's noble to want to serve everyone but if the reality is a lack of funding, it's better to fully serve a few people then only half serve a lot.

Answer 3

The clinic needs to do what it needs to do to keep the doors open.

Its a nice fantasy to beleive that you can help everyone with thier problems, but its going to bankrupt them.

They need to screen the clients for where they live and charge more for those who live out of county and not give free services for those who live out of county since they are not contributing to thier funding. Turn the people away and tell them to write to thier county representatives, give out thier contact info and a mailing address.

When the angry letters come pouring in from drug addicts and aids sufferers, the county will eventualy capitulate

Also, have them write angry letters to the county papers editorial staff blaming the county for rufusing to accept thier social responsibility to control the aids problem and pawning it off on other counties

Its turned into politics and Business and in both of those fields there is no such thing as nice