LITTLE ROCK — The number of poor or underinsured seeking medical care at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is rising and additional money is needed to cover the cost, the state medical school’s chancellor told lawmakers Tuesday.
Dr. Dan Rahn told the Joint Budget Committee that UAMS has seen about a 15 percent increase in the number of uninsured patients seeking medical treatment.
“We think that reflects the economy in general,” Rahn said.
Gov. Mike Beebe’s proposed balanced budget for UAMS for the new fiscal year that begins July 1 includes $625,422 in additional funding to help cover the increase in uncompensated care the facility provides patients.
Rahn told lawmakers most of the uncompensated care comes from treating the poor or uninsured, but some comes from treating people who simply don’t pay their bills.
In response to a question, Rahn said UAMS makes “a very serious effort to collect collectable dollars … it will take months to eventually get to the point of writing something off as bad debt.”
Rahn told lawmakers that at 16 percent, UAMS ranks 4th among 97 similar facilities nationally in the percentage of its budget that goes to caring for the uninsured or underinsured. The median nationally is 5.5 percent, he said.