In the first six days of 2022 we did over 2,500 COVID tests at 36 health
clinics. Every single person at our health center was working in a COVID
line, including the top executives. We worked early and we worked late. We
worked through lunch breaks. We worked more than I ever knew a company
could work without mass strikes from the employees. We didn't pay
overtime, we paid triple time. It was a nightmare. But that nightmare
continued through January and even a few days into February. At one point
the health center in the county ran out of COVID tests, they sent the patients
to us. The rural hospitals didn't have enough beds. They sent the less severe
patients to us, along with the ones who just needed a test. None of us could
keep up. We survived, but I wouldn't say any of us did it well.
HIPPA was a nightmare that had to be followed during this time. Sliding fee
paperwork that HAS to be filed out by every patient (per our grant from
HRSA) was a nightmare. Then the worst of them all, the No Surprises Act
Good Faith Estimate (GFE) went into effect (Greeson et al., 2022). If a
patient schedules an appointment more than 3 days in advance we have to
send them an estimate of services. This is impossible when you have lines of
people waiting hours to be tested. There is no time to answers phones hardly,
much less fill out paperwork, and mail it. By law we are required to fill this
out and send it to every self-pay patient (Greeson et al., 2022). I have had so
many site leaders call with complaints. I have heard that staff has quit
because of it. I have seen staff now turn on each other when they find out
someone is not doing the job. There is nothing about the GFE during the time
of COVID spikes that has made the workplace better. I hesitate to say that it
has even made the patient's visit better. The GFE is an attempt to prevent
price gouging, but at this point in time, we would be better off to time gouge
just to get a break (Greeson et al., 2022). Everyday I get at least one call
about the GFE and how difficult it makes life for the managers and admin
staff and every day I tell them the same thing. Call and write your elected
officials, I am truly sorry I can not change this for you.
Greeson, T., Hennessy, J., & Hayes, A. (2022, February 8).:No surprises act
good faith estimates: What they are and when you need them. Health
Industry Washington Watch. Retrieved February 23, 2022,
from:https://www.healthindustrywashingtonwatch.com/2022/02/articles/
department-of-health-and-human-services/no-surprises-act-good-faith-
estimates-what-they-are-and-when-you-need-them/#:~:text=The%20No
%20Surprises%20Act%2C%20effective,their%20expected%20health
%20care%20spending.&text=The%20No%20Surprises%20Act
%20also,uninsured%20or%20self%2Dpay%20patients.
less
