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

[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. :-/