Chigaco Kids with Public Insurance Denied Doctor Appointments

[Crabcake Johnny]

Dr. Karin Rhodes, an author of the study and director of emergency care policy research at the University of Pennsylvania, said when asked what kind of insurance they had, many simply were turned away.

"We found that two-thirds of children with Medicaid-CHIP were unable to get an appointment at all," Rhodes said.
Rhodes said the lower reimbursement rates and red tape that come with this coverage mean many clinics simply refuse to see kids with public insurance.

Academic medical centers and affiliated Children's Hospitals often have missions that stress serving low-income patients, and they receive federal funds tied to that care. In a new analysis, Rhodes found patients were about half as likely to face discriminatory denials at these hospitals. However, wait times for kids on CHIP or Medicaid were 40 days longer than those with private insurance.

Kids with public insurance denied appointments, had longer waits â€" NewsWorks

 

[somarco]

It will only get worse in 2014 when 18 million go on Medicaid rolls.

 

[taterpeeler]

I cant wait the party will be fun to watch.... almost worth being broke to watch the country blow up......

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Pennsylvania always seems to be a lightning rod of health care news. Here's another from the same publication regarding RX.

Pa. pharmacists oppose merging Medco, Express Scripts â€" NewsWorks

WebNanny was not used in this post
WebInformer was used in this post

 

[ABC]

I also think it will get much worse.

GP's will be a think of the past. You will have 40 nurses working a clinic with one GP over seeing the operation. That is the only way a medical practice treating subsidized patient will make it.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

We need more intermediary care. In my area there are three places I can go to get quick and affordable care from Minute Clinic to RightTime.

They're cheaper and faster than going to see my doctor/son's pediatrician and obviously better than heading to the ER for issues these centers can handle. Rates in these places are posted right on the wall. No waiting to see what the bill's going to end up being.

These places hold down costs since rarely do you see a doctor. It's typically a nurse practitioner.

But there are no issues with who gets seen when. I walk into RightTime if my son, for example, has an ear infection and we simply sign in.

 

[Ann H]

If I get sick (usually once a year or less) I use Cigna's Care Today nearby, even though I'm not covered by Cigna and it's out-of-network for me. I just use my HSA money and consider that I saved time/aggravation. One hour of my time is worth more than paying cash for the visit.

That's fine for those of us with low utilization. But how about more complicated medical issues and/or early detection of warning signs? I like the transparency of fees, but I'm worried about the whole "clinic" approach with too many patients for one Doctor to properly oversee.

 

[ABC]

In my experience the minute clinics are not cheaper than a GP.
$60 for the visit and then $30 in meds.

It breaks down to be about the same as GP after network discount.

But the minute clinic is a hell of a lot faster.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

What we're addressing is access to care. Minute Clinic takes everyone - show up and sign in. What this article was discussing the doctors denying kids appointments based on state insurance. These outfits solve the issue completely.

 

[JimmyUt]

In my experience the minute clinics are not cheaper than a GP.
$60 for the visit and then $30 in meds.

It breaks down to be about the same as GP after network discount.

But the minute clinic is a hell of a lot faster.

The minute clinics here are $49 to see the N.P. and there is a $10 online coupon. If I had gone to an urgent care center, they wanted $130 to $160. There isn't a GP in the world worth $130 to $160, unless I have cancer and they are the only one that can help.