The Trenton Times published the following article on July 31, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
Capital Health expects to spend $6M this year on uninsured victims who are shot or stabbed
By Alex Zdan/The Times
on July 31, 2013 at 6:40 AMTRENTON — Outside a Walnut Avenue convenience store on an April evening, Buzz McNeil could tell he had better get out of the way.
An armed man was running down Walnut in the direction of the store, shooting as he chased another man who was outrunning him. Bullets were flying, and despite McNeil’s efforts, one of them flew through the top of his right foot.
McNeil’s wound was not serious, but treating, cleaning and dressing the injury to his foot at Capital Health Regional Medical Center likely cost up to $75,000, according to figures from the hospital. On disability from a bad disk, McNeil, 57, has Medicare, and his insurance covered the cost of his treatment. But others are not so fortunate.
In the first quarter of this year, Capital Health spent $1.5 million on care for patients who suffered from gunshot and stab wounds alone. Year-to-date numbers have not been tallied, but using the first three months as a guide the health care system projects it will spend $6 million by the end of the year on shot and stabbed patients who can’t contribute to the expenses of their care.
As surging violence in Trenton leads to multiple people shot each week, the odds increase that more of the city’s economically depressed population will have to make its way to the emergency room.
Contact Alex Zdan at azdan@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5705.