After today, the hospital will not accept new patients under the new health care program for the poor

The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview has exceeded its client enrollment limit as a coordinated care delivery system (CCDS) under the new General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program.

As a result, the state will suspend new GAMC client enrollment for the hospital after today, Aug. 27.

A CCDS is a care model, operated by a hospital that may include services by area clinics and other providers as part of a coordinated system to care for some of the state's poorest residents.

Eligible enrollees who have signed and dated their enrollment forms by Aug. 27 can still enroll at the U of M Medical Center.

On Aug. 6, North Memorial Medical Center's participation as a CCDS was suspended because it had also reached its limit.

In related news, state officials told the Star Tribune Monday they will re-evaluate the enrollment patterns and payment formula for hospitals participating in the experimental health plan. The state revised its GAMC program last spring. However, only four of 17 eligible Minnesota hospitals elected to participate because the program was underfinanced and not reasonable from the beginning, said Minnesota Hospital Association President and Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Massa.

"The hospitals that agreed to become a coordinated care delivery system are reaching their enrollment limits after fewer than three months, and therefore tens of thousands of GAMC- eligible patients remain without any practical access to health care other than through their community hospital's emergency room," he said. "Hospitals across the state deserve credit for doing their best under the circumstances, but it is painfully clear that this GAMC experiment is as unworkable and underfinanced as predicted."

The revised program was created under a compromise negotiated in the final hours of the state legislative session in May.

The other two CCDS organizations - Hennepin County Medical Center and Regions Hospital - remain open to new GAMC clients. Obtain details at the Minnesota Department of Human Services' Web site, or by calling (651) 431-2670 or (800) 657-3739.