We recently had an idea about enrolling TLC
into the AHCCCS program, the Arizona program for those under a certain income level. That
way we could hopefully serve more clients.
I
thought it would be a good idea, considering that most of our clients are
indigent. In other words they don't have the money to go into treatment. And a
number of them do have AHCCCS cards. Or are eligible to obtain them.
But
when our volunteers started wading through the mountain of paperwork that's
required to become affiliated with the program we realized that we’d made a
mistake.
Not
only is there endless paperwork, the AHCCCS program also pays very low fees for
counseling and other services we’d provide. The
program's focus seems to be upon volume, as opposed to results.
After
I discussed the program with some of our counselors who had worked with them in
the past I was sure we didn't want to become involved.
One
negative thing is that they pay low rates and expect a lot of information and
paperwork in return. One report I was given said that an auditor would actually
come in and spend time in our accounting department auditing all the details of
the operation.
Another
person told me that this program only allows a company to make a certain margin
profit. Anything above that margin must be returned to AHCCCS. I heard that the
margin is something like 5%.
Most
of the counselors I have talked to who worked with the program say they had to herd
clients through like cattle. Some counselors say they carried caseloads of up
to 50 or 60 clients each. Many of them became burned out after a short time.
I'm glad we made the decision to not proceed with AHCCCS. This
business is difficult enough without adding more layers of stress.
I know we couldn't deliver the personal attention and quality that we now provide under such circumstances.
