Single Payer Insurance WORKS

A free public service for a better community

Alan Unell Ph.D.

May 14, 2024

A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare

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Single Payer Example

For more than four decades, state Medicaid directors have paid private health insurers to manage the care of their Medicaid beneficiaries under comprehensive risk-based contracts. Today, Medicaid managed care, as it is called, is the rule, not the exception — with 40 states and the District of Columbia running their Medicaid programs this way.

But since 2012, Connecticut has gone against the grain of this trend. Late in 2011, the state ended the $800 million contracts it had with Aetna, UnitedHealthcare’s AmeriChoice division, and a nonprofit insurer, Community Health Network of Connecticut (CHNCT). It assumed the full financial risk of 529,000 people in the state’s Husky Health program, a group that included adults and family members covered by Medicaid and children in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Connecticut adopted a self-insured system similar to what large employers use and contracted with three companies to provide administrative services under administrative services only (ASO) contracts and approve payments for hospitals, physicians and other providers serving Medicaid and CHIP members. The three ASOs are Beacon Health Options Connecticut for behavioral health, Bene-Care for dental care and CHNCT for medical claims.

It is also worth noting that when the managed care organizations were fired, the number of physicians willing to participate went up by 33%. Doctors don’t do that unless it works in their favore.

In 2019, Connecticut’s annual spending per Medicaid and CHIP enrollee was $8,405, a sliver below the median annual Medicaid spending level of $8,436 for all states and territories, according to data from Medicaid.gov. That level of spending is impressive because Connecticut’s cost of living is among the highest in the U.S. States with a more expensive cost of living tend to have higher healthcare costs because labor and other expenses are greater. (Managed Health Executive)

Summary

Let’s recap: Connecticut decided to implement Medicaid with a single payer trust fund instead of paying insurance companies to create medical managed care networks. They paid companies to administer the claims process only. The number of doctors participating went up by a third. The system serves well and costs less in an expensive marketplace.

Score one for the Single Payer Team!!! Share this example.

Reproductive Health News

America Wants Reproductive Rights Restored

Almost two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, most Americans still support abortion access. About 6 in 10 Americans think abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of 8,709 adults released Monday. The share of American adults who believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases has increased by 4 percentage points since 2021, according to Pew.

Accordingly, check out the statistics from the Pew Research Center - over 24 years and those in the US that favor abortion being legal is at a new high of 63%.

Remember that abortion care is a necessary part of women’s reproductive healthcare and is needed to save so many women’s lives and fertility

Louisiana Seeks to Criminalize Some Abortion Medications

According to Axios, Louisiana is moving to criminalize possession of two medications used to induce abortion without a prescription, with punishments including prison time. If approved, Louisiana would become the first state to categorize mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled dangerous substances, a class of drugs that includes medications that can be abused such as narcotics, steroids and depressants.

Arizona Supreme Court Stays 1864 Abortion Ban

The Arizona Supreme Court on Monday granted state Attorney General Kris Mayes’ request to delay the enforcement of the state’s 1864 abortion ban, preventing it from taking effect for the next several months. The state’s high court granted a 90-day stay of the 1864 law on Monday, meaning the ban cannot be enforced until Aug. 12. Combined with a separate court case, the stay is in effect until Sept. 26. (The Hill)

It comes weeks after Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed a repeal of the ban passed by the state legislature. The repeal, however, does not take effect until 90 days after the state legislature adjourns for the year.

Combined with Monday’s ruling, enforcement of the 1864 abortion ban may never take effect, though it depends on when their state legislature adjourns and there is currently no end date in sight.

Speaking Out Against Abortion Bans

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s upcoming trip to neighboring Tennessee to speak out against that state’s sweeping abortion ban is the latest sign that the Democrat known for defeating Donald Trump-backed rivals is looking to improve his party’s prospects in GOP territory and build up his own name recognition. Beshear — who campaigned against his state’s near-total abortion ban in winning reelection last year — will speak next month at an event called “Championing Reproductive Freedom.” (AP)

ACTION

This state’s rights thing is just a sad excuse for banning abortion and punishing half the women in the country. Call/email your member of congress and Senators and remind them we need them to dwell long and loud and often than women are full citizens and bodily autonomy is part of the package.

RESISTBOT: Text SIGN PTCOYJ to 50409 on your cellphone to send this email.

“I am your constituent and I am fed up with this country treating women as less than full citizens without bodily autonomy. According to the Pew Research Center at least 63% of Americans want abortion legal. I want you to be a loud advocate the Women’s Health Protection Act and restore the right to reproductive health nationwide. I will be listening - I promise.”

Colon Cancer Rates Rising

First came public pleas for millennials and Gen Zers to be aware of the signs of colon cancer, which has seen such a rise in young adults that it’s now the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in men under 50 and No. 2 in women under 50. This week, that plea expanded to adolescents, with news that colorectal cancer rates among kids between 10 and 14 and teens from 15 to 19 have risen by 500% and 333% percent, respectively, over two decades. (Fortune)

Despite alarmingly high percentages, it’s vital to note that actual numbers remain very low: In 2020, only .6 children ages 10 to 14 per 100,000 population were diagnosed compared to .1 per 100,000 in 1999. For teens 15 to 19, diagnoses went from .3 to 1.3 per 100,000, and in the young adults group, cases rose from .7 to 2 per 100,000.

Diet, alcohol use, low fiber in the diet are all contributors as are potential genetic predispositions but at least one investigator thought that there may be something more subtle under the surface - a change in gut microbes. The truth is that further investigation is required because these kind of cancers in younger people were virtually nonexistent in the past.

Signs and symptoms of colorectal cancers are the same in children and teens as they are in adults, the most common of which are changes in bowel habit, abdominal pain, signs of iron deficiency anemia, and rectal bleeding. Bottom line - if the symptoms are present - get to a doctor! If there is a young person in your sphere of influence share the info with them so they are aware!

Goat Milk Insufficiently Nutritious for Babies (FDA)

A Washington-based company is recalling a goat milk product and urging consumers to immediately stop using the product as baby formula. Healthwest Minerals Inc, doing business as Mt. Capra Products, of Chehalis, announced on Friday that it is recalling 1,506 boxes of Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit on the advice of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because the product does not provide sufficient nutrition when used as infant formula.

Resources

Find My Elected Officials

Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website

Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List

Important Healthcare Resources

League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit

Organizations to Contact

National Nurses United Medicare4All

Physicians for a National Health Program

One Payer States

Healthcare Now

Reproductive Health

NARAL - Pro Choice America

Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion

Planned Parenthood

Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.

United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.

Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.