Good article I just received concerning the rollout of universal healthcare in Massachusetts, and, since Obama repeatedly refered to the "success" of the model, that, maybe he shoud have really done his homework........ As it is, we're already seeing these same things occur. In Mass, the situation created "problems". Applied nationally, this could be a disaster.
From what I hear, people still cannot get through to sign-up......
KHN: Five things Obamacare should have learned from Massachusetts
Enrollment estimates of the ACA may be way off base, Bebinger warns
October 11, 2013
Writing for WBUR and Kaiser Health News this week, Martha Bebinger outlines five major issues with the implementation of the 2006 Massachusetts health reform law—and explains how the experience should help guide Obamacare rollout efforts.
According to Bebinger:
1. Massachusetts significantly underestimated the number of residents who would become eligible for no-cost and subsidized insurance coverage.
2. Newly insured patients put a major strain on physicians and health services at every level.
3. Patients who had lacked insurance for years had many health problems that had not been properly cared for, leading to a spike in health costs when those issues were finally addressed.
4. The executive branch repeatedly requested additional funds for the rollout, creating doubt for some once-supportive lawmakers and panic for state budget hawks.
5. Employers saw an increase in health costs when more employers signed up for coverage to avoid the individual mandate penalty.
Although it's unclear whether the national rollout will mirror that in Massachusetts, Bebinger outlines this key lesson for the health industry next year: "Be prepared for a rush of sick, or at least not completely healthy, people. Healthy folks will sign up later, when the individual mandate kicks in, and hopefully balance out the costs" (Bebinger, WBUR/KHN, 10/10).
Obama should learn from history
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Cherry Kelly
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AND along those lines: SADLY - United Health Care has sent pink slips to doctors treating MEDICARE (seniors) health care programs.
http://www.wtnh.com/news/health/thousan ... healthcare
WHO's NEXT???
http://www.wtnh.com/news/health/thousan ... healthcare
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)-- In the midst of major changes in health care, UnitedHealthCare has sent thousands of pink slips to Connecticut doctors. Termination letters went to physicians caring for Medicare patients. Those letters were sent out to doctors caring for 'Medicare Advantage' patients. It's a plan, marketed to Seniors to provide additional services through UnitedHealthCare. A mix of primary care and specialty doctors are affected by it. And it comes at a questionable time. Open enrollment for Medicare starts next Tuesday, and it's still not clear at this time as to which doctors are still in the United network. The Connecticut State Medical Society is fighting back. The biggest concern is patient access to healthcare. "What the government is looking for is to manage better care by adding a patient centered medical home so that you have a doctor who is totally invested with taking care of every aspect of the patient and coordinating it. This is clearly not a patient centered decision," said Dr. Michael Saffir, President of CT State Medical Society. Dr. Saffir says the State Medical Society is in contact with UnitedHealthcare. They are also asking doctors to call United to find out why they were terminated without cause as notified in the letter. He recommends that Seniors affected by this should call the office of the HealthCare Advocate of Connecticut. United Healthcare's spokesperson is sending News 8 a statement which has not yet been received.
WHO's NEXT???
Cherry Kelly wrote: AND along those lines: SADLY - United Health Care has sent pink slips to doctors treating MEDICARE (seniors) health care programs.
http://www.wtnh.com/news/health/thousan ... healthcare
WHO's NEXT???
If the way things have gone here in Massachusetts is any indication - "Don't ask!".
Don't get me wrnog - things are better compared to how they were back in the 1990s. But, this transition didn't go smoothly. What I'm thinking is that, if you apply what occured here in Mass to the nation as a whole - with all of their individual state's rules and regulations, this has the potential for a LOT of people getting screwed.
Still say that this would have been better if the integration was implemented in stages. Get one group of people out of he way - say those with pre-exisitng cnditions. Work-out the bugs there and then move on to another group - say young adults, and keeping hem on their parent's plan, and so on.
We tried what Obama's doing now on a state level, and it wasn't pretty.....
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Cherry Kelly
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Cherry Kelly
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O.B.A.M.A.
Overrated Blundering Activist Menacing America
Organizing Bureaucracy Against Middle America
Overly Boastful About Minor Accomplishments
Often Bitches About Minuscule Annoyances
Oblivious But Always Media Approved
Oh Boy, A Marxist America!
Organizing Bureaucracy Against Middle America
Overly Boastful About Minor Accomplishments
Often Bitches About Minuscule Annoyances
Oblivious But Always Media Approved
Oh Boy, A Marxist America!
