GLMS Roundtable Discusses
Medicare and Medicaid
Louisville physicians and practice managers
gathered at GLMS on Thursday, March 27 to
discuss Medicare and Medicaid issues with
representatives from across Kentucky.
The roundtable began with Earl Berman, MD,
Chief Medical Officer, CGS Jurisdiction 15, discussing process issues and physician dilemmas. Dr. Berman spoke about the efforts by
Medicare staff to make working with physicians
as simple and effective as possible.
“All of us went in to medicine to take care of
patients, not to deal with insurance compa nies or legislators. We just want to help our
patients,” Dr. Berman said, offering personal
conversations and contact numbers to any who
had questions or concerns about the Medicare
documentation process.
After a short intermission, a panel of Medicaid
Representatives including Deputy Commissioner Lisa Lee, Humana Caresource’s Kim
Howell and Julia Walls, Wellcare Health Plan’s
Marie Rains and Bill Watson, Passport Health
Plan Representatives Steve Houghland, Lisa
Dohoney and Jennie Wilbourn along with Anthem Medicaid’s Kelly Dean conversed more
casually with those in attendance about any
questions or comments they had with Medicaid.
(top right) The Medicaid Panel at the March 27th
roundtable. (bottom right) Dr. Earl Berman spoke
with physicians and office managers about the process
of Medicare.
St. Louis Doctor Speaks on
Single Payer
Ed Weisbart, MD, visited Louisville for an April
weekend to speak to concerned citizens about
the advantages of a Single Payer Health Care
System. Dr. Weisbart is the Chair of the Missouri
Chapter of Physicians for a National Health
Program.
Beginning with a speaking engagement at The
Old Medical School Building on Thursday, April
10, Dr. Weisbart then spent the weekend at various events including a breakfast at the Jewish
Hospital Bottigheimer Auditorium, a lunch with
medical students at the UofL Medical School
Instructional Building and a Saturday workshop
focused on building single payer support in Kentucky.
“Most social change seems impossible, but this can happen,” said
Dr. Weisbart, praising the money savings, drop in malpractice suits
and coverage advancements possible through a single payer system. “At our core, as a nation and probably as a species, we want to
help people.” He also pointed to lacking elements of health care in
America today, showing graphs indicating that while Americans pay
significantly more in health care than other countries, the United
States ranks 52nd in average citizen life expectancy.
“This is what happens when no one is negotiating on behalf of the
American people,” said Dr. Weisbart. “Under-insurance is becoming
the new normal.”
6
Dr. Weisbart also spoke on recent advancements in the state of Vermont to
move towards a single payer insurance
option in 2017 when the Affordable Care
Act will offer a waiver for individual
states to attempt the change. “What
they’re doing is as close as you can get
under law. I think they’re on track to
save millions,” he said.
During his Thursday program, Dr. Weisbart urged those in attendance to read
about The Extended and Improved
Medicare For All Act (H.R. 676). “Set
aside an hour or two to read this. Everything you need to know is
there,” he said.
While he didn’t have the numbers for Kentucky, Dr. Weisbart said
the average worker in his home state of Missouri would save more
than $7,500 if the bill were to pass. “You’d have slightly higher taxes,
that’s true. But, there is no premium, co-pay or deductible to deal
with. Every time we run the data, the savings come out better than
the costs.”
For more information, visit www.pnhp.org.
(above) Dr. Ed. Weisbart spoke to local members of the general public interested
in a single payer program.
GLMS News May 2014