Comments on: “What’s Next for the Uncompensated Care Pool?” by Nancy Turnbull http://commonhealth.wbur.org/nancy-turnbull/2007/05/whats-next-for-the-uncompensated-care-pool-by-nancy-turnbull/ CommonHealth Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:13:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt D'Aguiar http://commonhealth.wbur.org/nancy-turnbull/2007/05/whats-next-for-the-uncompensated-care-pool-by-nancy-turnbull/comment-page-1/#comment-2780 Matt D'Aguiar Sun, 08 Jul 2007 00:16:54 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=117#comment-2780 A couple of points: Elgibility for 100% free care (at least as of last September) was a few bucks shy of $17,OOO.00. As of a few weeks ago, I received 100% free care at Boston Medical Center. This included 100% free prescription medicine. It was only when I ran into denial upon denial to see a specialist that I learned I was now enrolled in one of the new scams collectively known as "health care reform." My income remains well below $17,000.00 per year. The only difference is that I now have a copay for my prescription medicine. Sure, it's a low co-pay (one dollar per prescription). I had $2.00 in my pocket for my subway ride home. But I did pay my co-pay. And I walked home to forest hills. Health care reform in Massachusetts is Orwellian doublespeak, just like the $130,000,000 million dollar "non-profit" earned by Mass General last year. But MGH did throw some cash at the new crystal palace Charles/MGH station. It's a sight to see, really it is. Too bad I have that new co-pay to keep me off the subway. But hey, exercise is good medicine, right? A couple of points:

Elgibility for 100% free care (at least as of last September) was a few bucks shy of $17,OOO.00.

As of a few weeks ago, I received 100% free care at Boston Medical Center. This included 100% free prescription medicine.

It was only when I ran into denial upon denial to see a specialist that I learned I was now enrolled in one of the new scams collectively known as “health care reform.”

My income remains well below $17,000.00 per year.

The only difference is that I now have a copay for my prescription medicine. Sure, it’s a low co-pay (one dollar per prescription).

I had $2.00 in my pocket for my subway ride home.

But I did pay my co-pay.

And I walked home to forest hills.

Health care reform in Massachusetts is Orwellian doublespeak, just like the $130,000,000 million dollar “non-profit” earned by Mass General last year. But MGH did throw some cash at the new crystal palace Charles/MGH station. It’s a sight to see, really it is. Too bad I have that new co-pay to keep me off the subway. But hey, exercise is good medicine, right?

]]> By: A Healthy Blog » Pooling Our Health Care http://commonhealth.wbur.org/nancy-turnbull/2007/05/whats-next-for-the-uncompensated-care-pool-by-nancy-turnbull/comment-page-1/#comment-2486 A Healthy Blog » Pooling Our Health Care Thu, 07 Jun 2007 03:35:37 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=117#comment-2486 [...] Of course, ideal and reality are not always congruent. The previous administration made several attempts to limit Pool services and eligibility. This led the legislature, as part of health reform, to put a freeze on Pool regulations until October 1, 2007. After that, the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, which administers the Pool, can make changes to eligibility and benefits regulations. The Division will be holding a consultative session on the Pool in 2 weeks, and plans to issue draft regulations in mid-July (a terrific background and summary of the issues was posted by Nancy Turnbull on the CommonHealth blog). [...] [...] Of course, ideal and reality are not always congruent. The previous administration made several attempts to limit Pool services and eligibility. This led the legislature, as part of health reform, to put a freeze on Pool regulations until October 1, 2007. After that, the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, which administers the Pool, can make changes to eligibility and benefits regulations. The Division will be holding a consultative session on the Pool in 2 weeks, and plans to issue draft regulations in mid-July (a terrific background and summary of the issues was posted by Nancy Turnbull on the CommonHealth blog). [...]

]]> By: Ann E Malone, RN, MSN http://commonhealth.wbur.org/nancy-turnbull/2007/05/whats-next-for-the-uncompensated-care-pool-by-nancy-turnbull/comment-page-1/#comment-2411 Ann E Malone, RN, MSN Wed, 30 May 2007 20:50:52 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=117#comment-2411 Interesting to see a serious post on healthcare from Ms. Turnbull instead of just more lighthearted poems and notes to her nephew. Now how about we ALL GET HONEST about the causes of our healthcare mess (various forms of GREED) and about the lasting solution -- a TRUE UNIVERSAL COVERAGE program that guarantees care for everyone instead of concocting a flawed and harmful mandate to purchase a product sold at a profit (this is the approach of the Mass. faux reform plan). Yes the free care pool has helped people but it is by no means a solution to our very real healthcare crisis. A universal coverage program that uses streamlined single-payer financing can create a universal coverage program in the most cost effective manner. The ivory tower and well-funded "advocacy" folks often say "Yes, streamlined single payer makes the most sense but it's not politically feasible". Many people are very sick of hearing this excuse as more families are bankrupted by high healthcare costs and more people die prematurely due to not having insurance. Too bad. Well, maybe the ivory tower and foundation folks could help make an actual solution politically feasible. Or is our "democracy" just too broken? If you're not a part of the solution then you're a part of the problem. Sounds harsh but rings true. To learn about ongoing work for real universal coverage reform that puts people before profits, visit http://www.MassCare.org/legislation and http://www.DefendHealth.org and on the national level visit http://www.MedicareForAll.net Thank you. Interesting to see a serious post on healthcare from Ms. Turnbull instead of just more lighthearted poems and notes to her nephew.

Now how about we ALL GET HONEST about the causes of our healthcare mess (various forms of GREED) and about the lasting solution — a TRUE UNIVERSAL COVERAGE program that guarantees care for everyone instead of concocting a flawed and harmful mandate to purchase a product sold at a profit (this is the approach of the Mass. faux reform plan). Yes the free care pool has helped people but it is by no means a solution to our very real healthcare crisis.

A universal coverage program that uses streamlined single-payer financing can create a universal coverage program in the most cost effective manner. The ivory tower and well-funded “advocacy” folks often say “Yes, streamlined single payer makes the most sense but it’s not politically feasible”.

Many people are very sick of hearing this excuse as more families are bankrupted by high healthcare costs and more people die prematurely due to not having insurance. Too bad.

Well, maybe the ivory tower and foundation folks could help make an actual solution politically feasible. Or is our “democracy” just too broken?

If you’re not a part of the solution then you’re a part of the problem. Sounds harsh but rings true.

To learn about ongoing work for real universal coverage reform that puts people before profits, visit http://www.MassCare.org/legislation and http://www.DefendHealth.org
and on the national level visit
http://www.MedicareForAll.net

Thank you.

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