http://commonhealth.wbur.org/guest-contributors/2009/09/some-unfinished-work-for-massachusetts-health-reform/ CommonHealth Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:13:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://commonhealth.wbur.org/guest-contributors/2009/09/some-unfinished-work-for-massachusetts-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-9924 Reducing Medical Debt: A Six-Step Plan | CommonHealth Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:59:35 +0000 http://commonhealth.wbur.org/?p=1350#comment-9924 [...] a previous post, I talked about some of the unfinished business of health reform in Massachusetts. While celebrating the successes of health reform, I noted that one in five state residents still [...] [...] a previous post, I talked about some of the unfinished business of health reform in Massachusetts. While celebrating the successes of health reform, I noted that one in five state residents still [...]

]]> http://commonhealth.wbur.org/guest-contributors/2009/09/some-unfinished-work-for-massachusetts-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-9755 Leslie C Kelly Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:33:31 +0000 http://commonhealth.wbur.org/?p=1350#comment-9755 As a member of Commonwealth Care I can attest to the overwhelming and confusing nature of the program descriptions. I would like to add that the barrage of information and changing fees with which I have been presented seems to have been due to the fact that Commonwealth Care requires constant updating of the income of its participants. Over the year that I have used Commonwealth Care, I have had 3 or possibly even 4 different policies. Each time I changed jobs or my hours were dropped or increased, I had to fill out paperwork (quickly!)and contact Mass Health by phone. I would then be issued a new set of providers, instructions, and sometimes fees. I have never discovered how the fees are determined. I would like some assurance from the program that the administrative expenses of keeping up with sudden changes in income over a one year period are cost effective. Intuitively, I would guess that if someone meets the income criteria initially it would be cheaper to put them on one program and leave them on that program adjusting for income changes only with the annual eligibility review. But I would like to see some figures either way. As a member of Commonwealth Care I can attest to the overwhelming and confusing nature of the program descriptions. I would like to add that the barrage of information and changing fees with which I have been presented seems to have been due to the fact that Commonwealth Care requires constant updating of the income of its participants. Over the year that I have used Commonwealth Care, I have had 3 or possibly even 4 different policies. Each time I changed jobs or my hours were dropped or increased, I had to fill out paperwork (quickly!)and contact Mass Health by phone. I would then be issued a new set of providers, instructions, and sometimes fees. I have never discovered how the fees are determined. I would like some assurance from the program that the administrative expenses of keeping up with sudden changes in income over a one year period are cost effective. Intuitively, I would guess that if someone meets the income criteria initially it would be cheaper to put them on one program and leave them on that program adjusting for income changes only with the annual eligibility review. But I would like to see some figures either way.

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