Health department to purchase cholesterol machine
Marion County Commissioners gave the go-ahead Tuesday morning for the purchase of a $599 lipid panel test machine for use by the county health department.
Jan Moffitt, health department administrator, said currently her department conducts cholesterol testing using a finger stick method.
"Now we have to draw blood, spin it down, a courier has to pick it up and take it to Salina, and we get results back the next day," Moffitt explained, "which means the person has to come in again."
Another issue is that a physician's order is now needed in order to receive Medicare reimbursement, which means patients must also pay for an office call.
"The physician's order really isn't necessary," Moffitt said.
With the new machine, results can be determined within two minutes. This means that clients who have problems can be referred immediately to a physician.
The lipid test strips cost approximately $8.66, Moffitt said. Currently Medicare reimburses the county for the test at a rate of $19.21, that means a $10.55 profit for each lipid panel test.
Commissioners questioned whether Moffitt had monies budgeted to fund the expenditure. Moffitt said her department was under budget last year.
"You'll make money off this," she said.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta suggested the funds come from capital outlay. "I don't see any reason why we can't do this," he said.
