Chuck Williamson

Chuck Williamson, CEO of Community Health Foundation of Man, said 40 percent of the patients at the independent clinic are on Medicaid, the state-run program for the poor, disabled and elderly.

Since the town's hospital closed, Williamson said, "We're the only game in town."

The patient volume has increased 25 percent the last three years, he said, and the clinic has had 51,000 patient visits in that time.

The clinic needs $70,000 to $80,000 a week from all revenue sources, he said.Right now the clinic is meeting payroll and paying utilities.

Medicaid's reimbursements dropped to about $12,000 and $15,000 for two weeks.Williamson said the person who runs the clinic's billing department called Medicaid and was told the reimbursements would be slowing to a trickle until the end of February for all providers.

Williamson said four months ago the clinic had about 100 employees, but since then he had laid off the 18 employees.

"We've cut to the bone," he said.

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"The state has been good to work with us," Williamson said.

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"We don't turn anybody away" with medical needs, Williamson said.

He said the clinic is behind paying its insurance premium to Blue Cross and Blue Shield by two to three months."They're working with us.They've been very patient," he said.

"I'm not laying the blame at anybody's door," Williamson said.

Charles Williamson, Administrator