Social Services

Click here to view / download the Social Services Brochure. (PDF)

Mission Statement

To further enhance the County’s Community Based Care philosophy in addressing community needs by partnering with other providers to maximize service delivery at the highest level, yet eliminating the duplication of service.

To provide and coordinate accessible health services to promote, protect, maintain and improve the health status of all community citizens.

Introduction

Administration – The Social Services Program administers the County’s Medical Assistance Program, the General Assistance Program, processes the State mandated County Medicaid Participation bills, provide support staff for the Health and Human Services Advisory Council. General information and appropriate referrals to available resources are provided to low income residents.

Eligibility determination for the following low income programs:

• State Insulin Program
• Impact Fee Deferred Payment Program
• Solid Waste Exemption Program
• Humanitarian Waiver of the filing fees for zoning exceptions and variances

Hospitalization (local) – funding is provided by the County through an annual grant to Flagler Hospital. Residents that are inpatients at Flagler Hospital will have eligibility for payment of their bill determined by hospital staff.

Physician Fees – The County provides funding for 3 Primary Care Clinics. They are located at the County Health Department, at Flagler Hospital and in the town of Hastings. These clinics are available to all St. Johns County residents and fees are on a sliding scale based on the current Federal Poverty Guidelines. Prior approval and eligibility must be determined before appointment is made with physician(s) other than those at the clinics.

Medications – Payment of prescriptions are limited to the current formulary and client eligibility criteria. The county contracts with Flagler Community Pharmacy for dispensing of medications.

The General Assistance Program – Provides limited emergency assistance to eligible County residents in crisis one time per year for specific medications, rent and utilities. Assistance is subject to availability of funds and program eligibility.

Medicaid Participation – is a state mandated program. When St. Johns County Medicaid recipients are admitted to hospitals the County pays 35% of the charges for days 11 through 45. Nursing Home patients that are St. Johns County residents the County pays $55 per month for each eligible person.

Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA) – is a state mandated program. The Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA) which mandates funding for Participating Regional Referral Hospitals for qualified services outside of the county. Specific criteria must be determined for eligibility for this program.

Prescription Assistance Program – is a pharmaceutical company program that assists low income County residents with long term medications. Eligible medications may be obtained from the companies for up to a one year supply with a co-pay or no pay from the resident. At the present time only prescriptions from the County funded primary care clinics and the County Mental Health Department are eligible under this program. Community physicians have access to the pharmaceutical companies programs and are encouraged to enroll their own patients.

Impact Fee Deferred Payment – residents are required to pay the impact fee when building a new home or mobile home. Low income residents may apply for this program to make payments over a one year period after making the initial down payment.

Solid Waste Exemption Program – allows a portion of the solid waste tax to be exempted from the low income home owner’s annual tax bill. To determine if a low income resident is eligible appointments are made from early November when the new tax bills are issued, until the end of December.

Humanitarian Waiver – was enacted for low income residents by the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners as a waiver of County zoning exceptions or variance fees. Applications may be obtained from the Zoning Department. Appointments are required to determine eligibility for this waiver.

Identification Cards – are issued by the Social Services Department to provide County residents access to the County funded primary care clinics. Cards are issued to all eligible residents with or without insurance. Eligibility is for medical assistance is based on a sliding fee scale.