Policy

The Nebraska Urban Indian Medical Center will maintain a special needs fund to assist individuals with purchasing health-related items as funding allows.  Consistency in applying criteria is essential.

 Procedure

1. The amount of money to be authorized for any individual at a single time will be limited to $30.00.  This will allow for an equitable distribution of funds for all needy people and will encourage people to prioritize their needs.
    

2. An individual may apply more than once until their requests reach a maximum total of $30.00 during a single fiscal year.
    

3. The amount of money to be distributed each month will be prescribed.  This will permit funds to be available throughout the year.  The total amount of available funds will be divided by 12 to obtain the monthly allotment. 
    

4. A letter will be given to each person who receives a total of $30.00, advising them that they cannot be helped again until the next fiscal period.
    

5. All other resources must be exhausted before the special needs fund can be utilized.  This includes Medicaid, family, friends, and all other community resources.
    

6. The types of purchases must be limited to health-related items only.
    

7. All funds will be distributed through a purchase order system.
    

8. Each purchase order must contain the agency from which procurement is made and the exact cost of the item.  This will mandate a call to the agency to get cost.  The client will be given the P.O. which he/she will take to the agency for collection of the item.
    

9. An account of expenditures and balance of the special needs fund will be kept.
    

10. A file will be kept to identify recipients and date and amount of help will be kept.
     

11. The staff members who can apply the criteria and distribute funds will be identified.