Home >Unlabelled > Health care Rx: Lower costs - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Health care Rx: Lower costs - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2012 by Insurance Quotes Health
Concerns related to affordable health care are being discussed by many families and small business owners across upstate New York. The topic is also being debated in Albany.
One idea, which appears to run counter to controlling costs, would establish minimum payments for doctors who do not participate in a health plan's network. When a provider is "in network" they agree to receive "payment in full" from the health plan (other than routine cost sharing); when a provider is not in a plan's network, they are free to charge a consumer any amount they desire. This results in consumers paying more for coverage, and oftentimes not knowing the amount until care has already been provided.
In Rochester, virtually all physicians participate in our local network. Problems associated with this issue most typically stem from cases of:
• non-routine service, such as plastic surgery, where in-network patient choices are limited;
• lack of disclosure, such as when an anesthesiologist assisting a surgeon practices outside the network.
In these cases, costs by the plastic surgeon or the anesthesiologist are a wild card, and can result in extraordinarily high, unanticipated bills that are not covered by health insurance.
Several downstate legislators have advanced a measure (Senate Bill 5068/Assembly Bill 7489B) that, unfortunately, is poorly constructed and will benefit such specialty doctors. It fails to address a condition that plagues small businesses: providing employees with affordable comprehensive health care benefits that ensure quality coverage and prevent sticker-shock if treatment is provided by an out-of network doctor.
The bill would not protect consumers from unexpected and excessive medical bills from out-of-network providers. In fact, it may drive additional doctors from networks because their out-of-network fees could be more lucrative than mandated minimums.
Government mandates decrease choices and drive up business costs. By mandating reimbursement rates for doctors' self-set fees, health insurers will have no choice but to increase the cost of premiums. As the cost of premiums rise, fewer businesses and individuals will be able to afford health insurance.
When it comes to solving New York's health care challenges, the mission is clear: rein in costs, maintain access to coverage and enhance patient protections by increasing transparency.
We urge the members of the Legislature to reject this bill and focus their energy on measures that will help make health insurance more affordable, accessible and transparent for individuals, families and businesses.
20 May, 2012
-
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFpYUdJ9Etu0YqEKGsSJNoWTHx23Q&url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120520/OPINION02/305200026
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
Blog Archive
-
▼
2012
(1096)
-
▼
May
(474)
- 'The Bourne Legacy' 2012 Full Trailer Released
- LIVE STREAM: ABS-CBN 2 Kapamilya TV
- Renato Corona Released an Official Statement Regar...
- CJ Corona Impeachment Trial: Judgment Day: Guilty ...
- Summer Blast in San Juan, Batangas
- Hotmail Tip: How to eliminate spam
- A Long View on Health Care: Think Like an Investor...
- Zane Benefits Publishes Findings on Growth of Indi...
- Catholic University, Archdiocese Of Washington Sue...
- Web-Based Insurance Exchanges Attract $1 Billion+ ...
- To Save Medicare, Think Like The Patients Who Use It
- New health plan products offered by Blue Cross - P...
- Your Stories Of Being Sick Inside The U.S. Health ...
- Florida Catholic university to drop student health...
- Florida Catholic university to drop student health...
- Two Health Care Nonprofit Co-Ops Receive Health La...
- Obama's Health Care Box - TIME (blog)
- Health care costs rose faster than inflation despi...
- Your Stories Of Being Sick Inside The US Health Ca...
- Medical Mutual of Ohio and Eliza Corporation Named...
- Marsha Mercer: Health care and the great game of '...
- Cost Of Children's Health Care Hitting Families Ha...
- Cost of children's health care hitting families ha...
- What could revolutionize health care? This database.
- What could revolutionize health care? This databas...
- FORUM: How to reprivatize health care - Rapid City...
- Don't get stumped by insurance lingo
- Ecuador's Ambassador to Unveil New Health Insuranc...
- Zane Benefits Publishes Findings on Growth of Indi...
- Zane Benefits Publishes Findings on Growth of Indi...
- Ave Maria University considers cutting student hea...
- Zane Benefits Publishes Findings on Growth of Indi...
- Cost of children's health care hitting families ha...
- Quick medical care given free to state workers - S...
- {Article}
- Your Stories Of Being Sick Inside The US Health Ca...
- Fate of 'uninsurables' hinges on Supreme Court
- Religion news in brief
- Filling a need for bilingual health care - PennLiv...
- On health care, GOP imitates Dems' budget strategy...
- Inadequacies of China's health insurance system - ...
- Putting the 'Insurance' Back in Health Insurance
- Consumer-directed health plans shown to be money-s...
- Putting the 'Insurance' Back in Health Insurance -...
- Pa. health care co. has trove of data on residents...
- Putting the 'Insurance' Back in Health Insurance
- Health-Care Costs Rise Faster Than U.S. Inflation ...
- Higher Prices Charged By Hospitals, Other Provider...
- Your Health: Plan enrolls people who have been den...
- Data trove may shed light on health-care uncertain...
- Study: Higher prices for care may be driving healt...
- Seven in 10 Americans Oppose Health Plan Efforts t...
- Today’s Consumers Get Education About Today’s Heal...
- Caixin Online: Inadequacies of China’s health insu...
- Inadequacies of China's health insurance system - ...
- On health care, GOP imitates Dems' budget strategy...
- Insurance costs rise for UNM students
- Taxpayers share burden of health care costs - NewH...
- Pa. health care company seeks gas drilling facts -...
- Michigan CO-OP Awarded $72 Million to Provide Heal...
- Pa. Stacks The Deck For Health Insurance Rate Hike...
- Doctors, Healthcare Providers Denounce Proposed He...
- Insurance costs expect to rise for UNM students
- Costs of health insurance for UNM students could r...
- Insurance costs expect to rise for UNM students
- Affordable Care Act Creates Almost 100K Jobs, Boos...
- Health insurers yet to make a mark in rural markets
- General Insurance: Bhargav Dasgupta
- Health care Rx: Lower costs - Rochester Democrat a...
- UMass Memorial head sees new era in health care - ...
- UMass Memorial head sees new era in health care
- Fate of 'uninsurables' hinges on Supreme Court
- Ad attacks Obama health care, tax, debt promises -...
- Health-care's top executive salaries increase with...
- Hospitals mobilize on health cost bill - Boston Globe
- The uninsured's impact on health care - Yuma Sun
- Pain and suffering: Pa. stacks the deck for health...
- Taxpayers share burden of health care costs - The ...
- HealthCompare Demonstrates Compassion with New Inf...
- Obamacare is a plus for women's health care - Maco...
- Feds ease deadline for state to create insurance e...
- Health-care protest bills get Missouri OK
- Health-care protest bills get Missouri OK - Christ...
- Utah doctors are making house calls — at work - Sa...
- It's the little extras that matter in health insur...
- Supreme Court decision on federal health care law ...
- More States to Implement Health Care Law, HHS Anno...
- Student health coverage dropped over birth control...
- It's the little extras that matter in health insur...
- Letters: Logic and the Mandate - New York Times
- McManus: A campaign bombshell - Los Angeles Times
- RESA wants to cap insurance contributions
- Repeal and Replace - Fox News (blog)
- It's the little extras that matter in health insur...
- It's the little extras that matter in health insur...
- Treasury Finalizes Regulations On Tax Credits To H...
- Health Insurance Hardships Clarified For Today's C...
- Health Insurance Infographics By HealthCompare Are...
- Co-op health plan gets U.S. loans - Las Vegas Revi...
- Wheatfield mulls health insurance alternatives
-
▼
May
(474)