LDN - Today's Top Stories

Area health care providers still serving troubled company’s clients

[MARCH 21, 2000] Although Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital is no longer a contracted provider for one of the insurance programs offered by the financially troubled American Health Care Providers, Inc., employees of local organizations insured under the company’s Point of Service (POS) operation can still get care at the local hospital.

"Benefits may be different now for those insured under the POS," said Woody Hester, president and CEO of ALMH, "but no patients will be turned away because of the insurance company’s problems."

However, because the hospital is no longer in the POS network, the benefit levels may decrease. A health plan may offer a higher level of payment for services given by a provider in the network and a lower level of payment for out-of-network providers. In a letter to members of the POS plan, Hester suggested they call the insurance company to verify levels of coverage and availability of in-network providers.

American Health Care Providers offered another plan, an HMO, and ALMH is, as of now, still a provider for the HMO, Hester said. According to Hester, the American POS plan owes the hospital more than $150,000 and is not responding to requests for payment. The hospital is still receiving payments from the HMO.

Susan Shull, clinic manager at Family Medical Center, said the medical group is also continuing to provide care for all patients who need it, although they, like the hospital, ceased being a contracted provider for American POS as of March 13. She also noted that the level of coverage may be lower for POS members.

Two area organizations who have been insured by American Health Care Providers, Lincoln Elementary School District 27 and Logan County employees, will not have to debate the question of coverage levels long. Both are seeking coverage from new insurers. District 27 has already contracted with Country Companies for health insurance, which will take effect April 1. In the meantime, District 27 employees, who were all originally enrolled in the POS, have been transferred into the HMO and are still receiving medical coverage.

The Logan County Board’s Insurance Committee has hired an insurance consultant, Clemens and Associate Life Agency Ltd. of Bloomington, to help find new health insurance for county employees. The insurance committee is still in the process of bidding for a new provider but may be making a decision at an April 11 meeting. The county employees who were enrolled in the POS have also been transferred to the HMO, a county spokesperson said.

Halting service as a contracted provider for American’s POS was "the only prudent course for ALMH to pursue," Hester said. "I want everyone in the community to know we regret this has happened. We had to take this action as a last resort, and we will continue to provide services to any patients participating in American Health Care Plans.

"We have not turned anyone away since 1898," he added. On that date, Deaconess Hospital opened, bringing the first organized health care to the community. Deaconess later became Abraham Lincoln Hospital.

In February, the Illinois Department of Insurance petitioned the Circuit Court of Cook County asking that American Health Care Providers be declared insolvent and liquidated. Since that time the company has been in receivership, with the Department of Insurance in control of its assets.

The next hearing on the case is Friday, March 24. However, no decision may be made by that date, and even if the company is declared bankrupt, it may appeal, a spokesman for the Department of Insurance said.

[Joan Crabb]

One old, one new

Businesses moving to Woodlawn Road

[MARCH 20, 2000] Two new buildings are going up on Woodlawn Road, one to house a new Walgreens and the other to combine three existing Lincoln businesses, Gossett’s Drive-In Cleaners, Broadway Cleaners and the 5th Street Wash House.

Work at the Walgreens site, on the corner of Woodlawn Road and College Street, is still in the demolition stage, according to Les Last, Lincoln building and safety officer, while a little farther west the foundations have already been laid for the dry cleaning-laundromat facility. "The foundation is in and they’re starting to put up steel," he said.

The dry cleaning and laundromat business is owned by Marvin and Joyce Board, and the new establishment at 623 Woodlawn will continue to be a family operation.

[The Board brothers work on site at the new location for the family's laundromat/dry cleaners facility.]

"Last year we decided we needed to expand," said Vicki Board Hasprey, operator-manager of Broadway Cleaners. "We’ve done upgrades and expansion on the Broadway building and the Wash House, but there’s just not enough room. We found a lot and we are putting all three businesses under one roof."

The new 7,000 square foot building will house the laundromat, the dry cleaning plant and four tanning beds and will have a drive-through drop-off and pick-up lane. Hasprey said the family will keep all current employees, both full and part time, and will probably add several more. She said plans are to keep the laundromat open 24 hours a day for the convenience of second and third shift workers.

Scott, Victor and Doug Board are acting as general contractors for the new building. Scott Board said he hopes to have the new facility open in September or October. He said the family has not yet chosen a name for the new business and is considering having a contest to let customers help make the choice.

"We haven’t got a schedule yet, but with the newer, bigger facility we will be able to cover a lot more hours than we do now," he said. At this time plans call for closing Gossett’s at 311 Broadway Street and the 5th Street Wash House at 500 Fifth Street, Board said. He said the family is considering keeping Broadway Cleaners, 1028 Broadway, open for the convenience of regular customers in that area.

The Board family has been operating Broadway Cleaners since 1995 and the 5th Street Wash House since 1991. The Gossett’s cleaning business was purchased in July of 1999.

The Walgreens building site on Woodlawn Road and College Street has been the home of automobile dealerships for many years, most recently Five Star Motors. Its replacement will be a 15,120 square foot building with room for 73 parking spaces. The building will house a pharmacy, retail sales and a one-hour photo developing area, according to the building permit.

Walgreens will be the seventh pharmacy in the Lincoln area, located almost across the street from CVS Pharmacy in the Kroger shopping center and a half block from the pharmacy at the Family Medical Center. A Medicap pharmacy is located nearby at 709 Woodlawn Road. Others in the area include the pharmacy at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Graue Pharmacy at 602 Keokuk Street, and a pharmacy at the Lincoln Wal-Mart store.

[Last week demolition crews destroyed the
former 5-Star Motors. This property will be the
home for Lincoln's new Walgreens, which
is scheduled to open over the summer.]

A spokesperson for Joe Hurwitz of the Blackstone Group in Springfield, listed on the building permit as owner or lessee, said the Walgreens facility would probably be open in July or early August. Contractor for the Walgreens facility is Ken Williams of Buzard-Williams, also of Springfield.

[Joan Crabb]

Christian Coalition officials meet Presidential hopeful

[MARCH 20, 2000] Last Thursday in Springfield, Texas Governor and Presidential hopeful George W. Bush was met by John Dickey, executive director of Illinois Christian Coalition, and Bob Wood, the Logan County Christian Coalition chapter chairman, at the Sangamon County Lincoln Day Dinner. A capacity crowd of over a thousand people listened to Bush as he set his agenda toward his bid for the 2000 Presidential race. Reflecting on the assembly, Dickey stated, "It is great to hear from the candidates and to listen to their plans for the future."

Voters to decide senior program funding

[MARCH 17, 2000] Logan County voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve a new tax that will raise an estimated $94,000 to help support organizations that benefit senior citizens. The referendum, which will be on all county ballots, asks if the Logan County Board should impose a tax “not to exceed .025 percent” of the equalized assessed valuation of taxable property in the county.

According to the Oasis Senior Center, this one-quarter of one percent tax increase would amount to an additional $5 to $7 per year for the average Logan County homeowner. A homeowner with property assessed at $75,000 would pay about $6.25 more in taxes, and if the home is owned and occupied by a senior citizen age 65 or older, the tax would be only $4.87. The land tax would be six to eight cents per acre for unimproved land and slightly higher for other land, according to Oasis projections.

Although the Oasis Senior Center is the only organization which has actively researched and promoted the referendum, the tax increase would benefit not just Oasis but other Logan County senior services as well, said Judy Donath, executive director of the Oasis Senior Center.

"The county board has made it clear that this is not just an Oasis tax," Donath said. "The board will decide which organizations will receive the new tax dollars. However, we feel it is logical that the Oasis Senior Center should benefit from this tax." Groups such as Meals on Wheels and Community Action Transportation Services would no doubt submit proposals for funding if the tax increase passes, she said. She also pointed out there are active senior groups in Atlanta and Mount Pulaski which would also qualify for funding.

According to the wording of the referendum, the purpose of the new tax is to provide social services "designed to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of elderly residents, or for the operation of, and equipment for, senior citizens centers providing social services to elderly residents, or to provide transportation vehicles or services for senior citizens."

Oasis spearheaded the project because "we are forever having to sponsor fund-raisers to pay our bills," Donath said. The Oasis budget is roughly $90,000 per year. The organization receives about $10,800 from the United Way and must meet the rest of its budget by sponsoring various fund-raisers such as card parties and chili suppers.

"Last May, in order to keep operating, Oasis had a fund drive that brought in over $20,000. It would be wonderful to have a stable, known income," Donath added.

If the referendum passes, Donath sees several projects which would immediately benefit from the increased funding. "Our 1988 van is in dire need of repair or replacement," she said. The van is used to transport seniors to plays, shopping and various area attractions. It might also be used to being seniors from outlying communities to Oasis for the day or to furnish transportation to someone who needs social security or health services, she said.

The Home Alone project is another service Oasis would like to expand. At present the program consists of telephone calls to seniors who are unable to leave their homes. Donath would like to schedule regular visits to these homebound seniors.

Oasis, which opened its doors on May 5, 1985, has more than 500 seniors on its mailing list and several hundred active members, according to Donath. "This is a place for seniors who may be alone and want an enjoyable place to come. It brings people together. People can come here and feel safe and welcome and also get a good meal for only $4."

Oasis offers a number of recreational and educational programs, including craft and computer classes, card games, bingo, quilting, blood pressure and hearing screenings, programs on nutrition and diabetic diets, information about senior health insurance, and social security assistance.

[Joan Crabb]

Christian Coalition Voter Guides available

[MARCH 17, 2000] Bob Wood, chapter director of the Logan County Area Christian Coalition, has announced that Christian Coalition Voter Guides will be available in the Logan County area to distribute on Sunday, March 19. This week the Illinois Christian Coalition began the distribution of 500,000 voter guides for the March 21 primary. "Our people set a goal of one milllion voter guides this year, and we will be over halfway there with just the primary. God has blessed us! I think anyone can see that," said John Dickey, ILCC executive director. The Primary Voter Guides are educational, based upon voting records and registered surveys. "An effort was made this year to consolidate the effort of several pro-family values organizations into one unified effort," Dickey explained. The voter guides are non-partisan, as always, and they include valuable information on the competitive races across the state.

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