Healthcare Reform: The Insurance Stimulus Package
It looks like healthcare reform will be passed in the senate. What a Christmas present for the insurance companies. Everyone will now have to, by law, have health insurance. What a boon for the insurance companies. The insurance companies have just been given 30 million new clients to fight over. In Massachusetts, where insurance is already mandatory, at the onset of the new law, the state contracted with insurance companies to provide affordable premiums and adequate services including prescriptions for the uninsured.
Types of plans were created based on economic situation. The basic plan was Mass Health (medicaid) There is also a special category for the unemployed who are up to 200% above the federal poverty line. This insurance is free while on unemployment. When benefits run out, other affordable insurance with low premiums is available.
Two major problems have emerged from this new law. There are not enough primary care providers to provide care. Medical practices are overflowing and are unable to accept new patients. Existing practices are so busy, providers are seeing over 30 patients a day. Massachusetts did enact a new law giving nurse practitioners primary care status. However, the medical lobby and the AMA are working very hard to change that law. Nurse practitioners fill the gap in rural settings and research continues to show outcomes in the primary care setting are equal to those of physicians.
Second, practices often do not accept the new insurances. The reimbursement for many of these insurances is so low. It is difficult for practices to justify the cost of the billing vs the amount of the receivable. Without accessibility, many people will continue to use emergency rooms as care providers.
I am happy for the new law eliminating preexisting conditions and the ability to drop people. Be aware, the insurance companies are currently on a rampage of dropping people, denying prior approvals and raising premiums before the enactment of any new laws. I haven't never sen it this bad. I look forward to reading the final bill after the house and senate meet to create a final bill.
Posted by HealthCare Whisperer at 12/20/2009 10:05 AM 
Categories: insurance,nurse practitioners,health reform,poverty,medicaid
Tags: insurance nurse practitioners health reform medicaid Massachusetts
Categories: insurance,nurse practitioners,health reform,poverty,medicaid
Tags: insurance nurse practitioners health reform medicaid Massachusetts
I don't agree. The Senate health bill offers major comprehensive reform. I think it's silly to criticize it for it's missing rather than to applaud it for what it contains. Think about it. Universal coverage -- paid for by increasing fees on those who can afford it to pay for those who can't. Insurance companies and health care providers will need to be managed, but that was not really the point of reform, so much as to provide universal coverage. Costs management is built in with the tax on high cost plans, which is significant if not popular. Cutting costs is not going to be popular no matter where you do it. Imagine telling all those doctors and labs that they can only be reimbursed for care with is supported by medical evidence. Make a list of your priorities and compare them with the details in this bill. If anger at insurance companies is higher than universal coverage, we have a problem.
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