PEP, June 2008: Bringing in the bucks

Union members at Lincoln Hospital

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center sits in the heart of a revitalized South Bronx neighborhood, where it dispenses top-notch comprehensive services to more than 389,000 New Yorkers annually.

The state Dept. of Health has taken note and designated the hospital as an official stroke center — the first in the region. Lincoln ensures that stroke victims are seen immediately and receive the specific treatment that is critical to preventing permanent disability or death.

And while hospitals around the city struggle financially, for three consecutive years Lincoln has been excelling at another vital hospital job: generating and collecting revenue. As of April 30, Lincoln is $12.6 million ahead of its target of $405 million for fiscal 2008, which ends June 30.

“Our entire staff here is dedicated to that goal and works very hard every year to reach it,” said Paula Mandel, senior associate director of patient accounts, during a recent tour of Lincoln. Marlene Zarack, chief financial officer of the Health and Hospitals Corp., agrees with Mandel. “It’s a total team effort, there’s no question about it,” she said.

In the busy corridors of the hospital’s first floor you can find several Local 1549 members like Afusat Siyanbola, Amy Montañez and Daniel Torres, members of the team responsible for helping Lincoln reach its financial goals. As Marketing Reps, their job is to introduce people to the MetroPlus Health Plan, explain the benefits of the plan and encourage them to sign up. Yolanda D. Rosario and David Ozoria, members of Local 371, are also part of the team and as Health Care Investigators they work with dozens of community residents every week. “The people really appreciate what we do for them,” said Rosario.

“We try to sign up at least half a dozen people a day,” said Montañez from behind a table filled with MetroPlus pamphlets. After a two-year organizing drive, the MetroPlus employees voted in 2007 to be represented by DC 37 and are now members of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549.

Tisha Hardwick is an Eligibility Specialist 2 and member of Local 1549. Hardwick works in the Medicaid Application Program where she screens patients and collects information that will be used later to determine eligibility for people who can’t afford health insurance. “I feel like I’m helping people and making a difference,” said Hardwick, who used to work in the city’s food stamp program.

Some of the city’s poorest people — those who are unemployed and can’t afford private insurance — come through the doors of Lincoln daily for medical care. Last year HHC treated 400,000 uninsured patients. “Our goal is to get everyone insured,” said Mandel.

With President Bush’s proposed cuts to Medicaid, which could cost HHC as much as $390 million a year, the staff at Lincoln realizes the importance of reaching their financial goals.

“They’re doing a great job,” said Eddie Rodriguez, president of Local 1549. “I’d like the hospital to use more Eligibility Specialists from the Human Resources Administration so they can enroll more people in MAP and help them get Food Stamps too,” he said.