Although sad to admit, it’s a rare occurrence that one sees both a quality and highly efficient health care organization. Suffice to say it’s a great day when one finds such an organization, and even better when you learn it’s managed to work using limited funding and being self-sufficient.
What are these magical organizations that I’m referring to? They are some of North Carolina’s Local Management Entities (LME). There are 23 LMEs in NC, and each has been assigned functions by the NC General Assembly to care for patients with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse problems around the state. They provide patients with 24 hour a day access to care and coordinate at the local level.
But that’s not the greatest part about LMEs. What’s most amazing about local management is that they receive funding from block grants, forcing them to plan ahead and use their funds wisely. These block grants come in the form of 1915 b/c waivers, and have been such a success that LMEs are asking to continue to method of funding.
Now, if only we could get the federal government to use this model when considering how to help fund the great state-level expenses of ObamaCare…
