Some not-so-good health care news, and opportunities for activism...

[cyan_blue]

1. New York State Governor proposes to eliminate Medicaid funding for such services as psychology, dentistry, nursing, and vision. This would severely impede access to those services for a lot of folks who have low-incomes. New York folks can click here for a sample letter that you can use as a template to mail your elected officials about it.

[Edit] Am having a bit of trouble with the above link. If it doesn't work, go here and click to preview the letter on the topic of "Elimination of Medicaid Coverage for Optional Services Including Psychology (NYSPA)" near the bottom of the page.

2. Supreme Court denies patients the right to hold managed care plans (HMOs) accountable in state court for negligent health care treatment decisions. If patients pursue such cases in federal court, they can't receive damages for the harm done by the HMO's decision to withhold treatment - only for the value of the benefit denied. This gives HMO's less incentive to approve expensive but medically necessary treatments.

Comments

Bad news

[kimuchi.livejournal.com]

How are psychology, dentistry, nursing, and vision "optional"? How is someone expected to work if he can't see, or his teeth are falling out of his head? It's just ridiculous.

The 2nd piece of news isn't too keen, either.

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Don't blame the Supreme Court for the ERISA decision; they didn't have a choice. The law's very clear on that. Not ethical, perhaps, but clear -- and the ethics of clear legislation are not the Supreme Court's business to correct.

[auros]

I think I wrote a journal entry about the unfairness of ERISA, something like a year ago... I am, sadly, unable to locate it. :-/

[merde.livejournal.com]

i just can't believe it's possible for people to be so callous.

also, i'm so mad i could spit. in fact, i think i will.

ptui.

[beelzebabe.livejournal.com]

Mdicaid isn't going to pay for psychologists ????? I'm sure that hospitals and agencys will get around that by having an MD sign off on the charts and billing it as psychiatry work in affect making that service MORE expensive instead of less.

But still that blows because I thought there was talk of credentialing psychologists in some states to be able to prescibe meds by taking some courses. I'm sure that adendum to the medicaid law would put a halt to that.

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

There is talk of that - New Mexico is going ahead with that, and another state - I forget which - has started looking seriously at it too.

But that's a hotly contested turf war - MD folks don't want psychologists to have that privilege, and they lobby hard against it. New Mexico got it passed because there is a serious psychiatrist shortage out there - but in places like NY and CA, it'll likely be a long time coming.

[spoothbrush.livejournal.com]

Yikes. I faxed the first to my state reps.

I could use some vision care myself... hmm.