Why won't they help pay?

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

Yeah, I do think that Benton County should help, especially since their people are going to your clinic, but maybe if you start turning the Bentonians (:D) away, they'll be able to persuade the govt. to make changes, or open their own clinic, so people don't have to travel to your clinic all the way from Benton County. Now, I would really hate to turn people away, and personally, I would never do it, but they might have to. It would seem too rude to me, Like, tack a sign up saying that only people from Washington County would be able to enter, so maybe just try to persuade Benton County yourself, without effecting the patients, would be the best thing to do.

Like, try to get Representatives from the House of Reps. from both counties to work over an agreement so that you wouldn't need to turn people away. There is no good way that you can tell people that they're not welcome. It would hurt them that they have no place to go to when they need it badly. Personally, I would try to get a lawyer to persuade a Rep. to persuade a Benton County Rep. to persuade the Benton County govt. The government just doesn't know how to see the public through the public's eyes, and are too concerned with some new scheme to make more money. If they have so much money, they should be willing to fund the clinic.

Answer 2

Benton county should absolutely contribute funding to Washington County. Do you (or the clinic) have hard statistics on the percentages of people coming from other counties? I would assume they would have address information from intake forms. It might be a good idea to take the statistics and go to the media. Local newspapers and TV stations might be willing to do a story to help publicize the problem.

Have local politicians gotten involved? Or has anyone presented the problem at a county commission meeting?

Turning people away would be very hard to do. I would only do it, if the only other alternative was to close the clinic.

Answer 3

Why worry yourself with this c**p...you cant do anythig about it...who carees make sure you dont get infected by association.

Answer 4

if the govt can help thats great but govts rarely know what they are doing..

Answer 5

By all means i think that clinic should receive funds, that is such a big and great thing that these people are doing. that when everybody  should take part in keeping the clinic open. government, local officials, all should be involved in this. so good luck and god bless.