By John Kiesewetter
Enquirer staff writer

HAMILTON - Butler County commissioners are ready to start the yearlong process of establishing a health insurance program for workers without medical coverage.

DRUG HELP HONORED

For the second time in a month, Butler County's prescription drug relief program for low-income families has received national recognition. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has given the year-old program an award for excellence. On Sunday, county officials will receive an award for it at the National Association of Counties convention in Phoenix. More than 1,980 Butler County residents pay $7 per prescription per month in the program funded with $100,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant money. The program is open to people with no other drug insurance coverage, and with yearly gross incomes less than $16,000 for an individual or $25,000 for a family. Eligible persons may call toll-free to Patient Assistance Services, (887) 463-1905.

A project manager could be hired in two weeks to create the low-cost health insurance system for an estimated 20,000 county residents who work at small companies that don't offer health insurance, Derek Conklin, county administrator, said Thursday.

The so-called Butler Community Health Partnership is modeled after a program in Muskegon, Mich., where 1,300 previously uninsured people have health coverage for $46 per month. Their employers also pay $46 per employee per month, while the county share is $56 per member per month.

Hamilton County commissioners have talked about establishing a similar program for the county's 70,000 uninsured residents.

"This would be a big comfort item for people. They want to work," said Commissioner Jolivette.

But often people in low-paying jobs, without insurance, must quit and apply for state assistance when they get ill, he said. They also tend to use hospital emergency room services instead of going to private physicians, he said.

"This compounds the problems for the hospital, the person who is working and the employer," said Jolivette, who owns Jolly's Drive-In in Hamilton.

Jolivette said the county will apply this month for a $50,000 grant from the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, for half of the projected start-up budget. The foundation serves 20 counties, said Judith Warren, program officer.

If approved, the grant would pay for the administrator, who will survey small-business owners and solicit support from hospital and medical providers, community foundations and other organizations. In the interim, the administrator would be paid with federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds, Conklin said.

Jolivette said the insurance program could be established without using general fund dollars.

The health partnership would eventually become an independent agency reporting to a board of directors, Conklin said.

"The county will provide assistance in start-up and administration. We want to get it up and running, and then get totally out of it," Conklin said.

In Michigan, employers and workers contribute monthly payments that are matched by a variety of public funds.

Butler County officials are considering using some money hospitals get through Ohio's Hospital Care Assurance program as matching funds.

The county also could be one of 50 pilot projects through a bill in the U.S. Senate, Jolivette said. "If we're first (in the area), and we're successful, I think you'll see a lot of counties start up these programs," Jolivette said.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com