File Photo
Caroline Robertson, Executive Director of Greer Relief and home to the Medicaid office, received a proclamation from Mayor Rick Danner during the non-profit's 80th Anniversary breakfast celebration.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is closing the service offered to citizens from Greer, Taylors, Duncan, Blue Ridge, Lyman and Wellford. The Medicaid office is at the Greer Relief and Resources at the J. Verne Smith Center at 202 Victoria Street.
State DHHS officials insisted Greer Relief sign an agreement to pay for the facility costs of the Greer Medicaid office or they would close it, according to Caroline Robinson, Executive Director of Greer Relief. Robinson made the announcement in an email to media near 5 p.m. Friday.
Two Medicaid employees work at the Greer location and serve over 4,000 walk-in clients a year, according to Robertson.
"In late September I was given an ultimatum from DHHS either to sign a ‘DHHS Participation Form’ for Greer Relief to absorb the cost of Medicaid or they would leave Greer,” Robertson stated.
“Greer Relief is a non-profit. We are not able to pay for a state agency to serve its own clients,” Robertson stated. “Medicaid has been providing services to thousands of clients from the J. Verne Smith Center since 1992, what's changed now?"
Greer Relief provides space where citizens meet with a Medicaid worker to apply for and manage their health insurance, according to Robertson.
Medicaid is an income-based health insurance provider for children, pregnant women, the disabled and families with dependent children in the home.
Residents, beginning Wednesday, may get Medicaid services at:
• Greenville County, 301 University Ridge, Suite 6700, Greenville. Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Phone numbers 1-864-467-7926 or 864-467-7800.
• Spartanburg County, 1000 N. Pine Street, Suite 23 Pinewood Shopping Center, Spartanburg. Hours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 1-864-596-2714.