Chigaco Kids with Public Insurance Denied Doctor Appointments

[Norwayguy]

Heck Maine is years behind on Mainecare payments to Drs and Hospitals...Not to mention the failed computer upgrade during the Baldacci Adiminstration, the Govenor vowed to solve the issue and it promptly fell off the newspaper headlines, last I heard from someone involved is all the money on the computer upgrade is out the window as the state decided to subcontract out the service....

Can anyone blame a Drs office which is a business like any other for limiting or not taking Government program enrollees when thye get reiumbursed at low levels and are made to wait months for compensation.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Massachusetts is still toying with global payments. That means providers get a set annual fee regardless of who they see, number of tests conducted, etc...then is measured based on quality.

It also means all hospitals get a flat fee per procedure. So a hip replacement reimburses at "$8,000" - that's it. "Elite" hospitals argued to the MA attorney general that they provide better care. So the AG's office conducted a 3 year study that showed the opposite - the hospitals that charge the most have the worst results or at least are not better than hospitals that charge lower rates.

The bitter irony of that system is doctors will take the fewest patients possible related to their flat pay.