Enrolled in Covered California...Have insurance? Think Again

Even hardcore supporters of the affordable care act are speaking publicly about the shortcomings and misdirections of the Afffordable Care Act…  and the necessity to modify the law.  Still there is much resistance to repealing the law.

The enrollment process is somewhat easier, however the choices are still a challenge. It is stragiht forward on selecting your level of eligibility.  Choosing plans is more of a challenge, especially if some of the information is incorrect such as providers, hospitals and other service providers.  

Enrollment data is beginning to accumulate, however there have been no public announcements regarding payment of premiums, nor analysis of types of policies.

The selection process is important. For some levels the copays and deductibles are very high. Although  premiums  appear to be low in some cases patients will need to be prepared to spend substantial portions of their income for medications, copays for laboratory, imaging and other testing.  For those who are relatively healthy and do not ‘consume’ much in the way of health care it won’t be a burdern.   For those who have chronic and/or serious illness who may need to be seen three or four times in a month….say a newly diagnosed diabetic, (they may be faced with four provider copays amounting to $160.00 and other copays for labs and/x-rays. Add this to the premium, and the monthly payment rises.  For those on subsidies this additonal burden on a modest income is significant.

For those who are euphoric about finally obtaining insurance coverage some will be surprised to find all is not well and the plans fall short of ‘guarranteeing’ health care for them.  A challenge will be finding a provider who accepts affordable care act plans.   It is going to require 12 months or more to feret out the good from the bad policies.  

Providers are on the line as well. Many high deductible policies will place hospitals at risk, when their patients cannot afford a deductible of 10,000-12,000 dollars. This will require cost shifting to balance the equations, and will not alleviate some medically induced bankruptcies.

PPACA AND OUTPATIENT PROCEDURES

HealthCare LeadersMedia expects the Affordable Care Act to cause the number of outpatien proceures to increase for those opted-in for Medicaid expansion in the PPACA. And according to figures there is a spread seen as examined by state.   By 2015 California stands to perform 46 million outpatient procedures, while a state such as Texas (opted-out for Medicaid expansion) will decrease by 53 million cases.  (reported by Truven Health Analytics)   

These figures are further broken down by specialty. Two specialties which create a significant number of ambulatory surgeries, and among the top tier of expense are cardiology and orthopedics.  Medicaid opt-in vs opt-out produces some signifcant differences in reimbursement that outweigh numbers of cases.  The split per  specialty mirrors that of the total number gained or lost in 2016.  

Mental health services (Psychiatry) are already in short supply and  have previously been throttled by the lack of reimbursement by insurers.  PPACA has mandated an increase in these services as a covered benefit. For those states who are opted out the medicaid eligible population will suffer relative to states opted-in. Those who live in states opted-out of Medicaid expansion will not have access to insured  care for outpatient psychiatry services.

As expected the variance is greatest for California and Texas which are outliers in the data. In 2016 the volume of Cardiology cases in Califonia will increase by 672,000, while Texas will forgo 840,000 cases.  These figures also reflect population differences and the number of medicaid eligible patients in each state.

For orthopedic surgery California (opted-in) will benefit from over 299,000 outpaitent orthopedic cases, while states such as Florida and Texas (opted-out) stand to lose near 300,000 orthopedic cases.

The choice to opt-in vs opting out not only effects who will receive benefits in the eligible  population but will have significant effects on the hospital industry.  The number of outpatient surgerie outweighs the number of inpatient surgeries.  Using the present fee for service reimbursement rates under FFS hospitals have been advantaged by higher reimbursement reflected by higher cost.  The loss of coverage for medicaid eligible patients not only places them in jeopardy, it also creates significant differences in the infrastructure necessary to deliver these services.

Outpatient services in states who have opted-in will need a business plan to expand capacity which includes not only physical plant, but skilled workers, such as surgical techs, surgeons, expendables as well as revising operating schedules, reducing turn-a-round times and the like.

DME suppliers will reap these benefits in opt-in states.

The figures represent the number of cases gained vs the loss of gain by opting out. The opt-out numbers are a speculation, and do not represent an actual decrease in cases.  The number of procedure in any case will not decrease in states that have opted-out.

Increased demand for services always encourages efficiency and technical breakthroughs, to decrease loses and encourage profitability, much as occured with small incison cataract surgery and the development of small incision surgery in cardiology,general surgery and orthopedic surgery.

While ‘futurists’ attempt to predict the effects of the new law, serendipity and the butterfly effect should be expected.

This article also appears in Health Train Express, February 22, 2014. http://healthtrain.blogpot.com

The author also publishes at Digital Health Space http://digitalhealthspace.blogspot.com

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Doctors now Taking Payments from bitcoin

Some  say physicians are IT luddites, however there are some indications that a select few are examining other payments that border on bartering.  Bitcoin is bartering in the internet age, where privacy and security have bcome a thing of the past.

Bitcoin is a virtual currency which offers total privacy and anonymity in payments. Explaining how and why it works goes beyond the scope of my blog, other than to offer it's positive impact it may have in this time of health reform, and new business models such as concierge or direct payment models. It remains to be seen whether it is a 'fad' or will become an alternative form of payment, such as PAYPAL.

Lower transaction costs, increased privacy protections lead some practices to accept controversial e-currency.

But it's also getting strong positive attention, especially from Internet thought leaders, because the Bitcoin system, which depends on no centralized authority but rather a loosely affiliated community of techies, offers some key breakthroughs in the areas of information exchange – particularly between parties unknown to each other – and digital cryptography.

The legal status of this so-called cryptocurrency is in flux worldwide, as various policymakers, monetary bodies and tax agencies get up to speed on its true ramifications.

In the meantime, curious people can still educate themselves and explore this new payment alternative without fear and in relative safety. Doctors who have taken bitcoins have found that doing so is both simple and relatively "unmagical," as San Francisco physician Paul Abramson, MD, put it.

Abramson, founder of My Doctor Medical Group, is a former software programmer and trained electrical engineer with a significant personal interest in privacy.

Bitcoin will only be attractive to 'techies' for the time being. and there are caveats for users intent on the new system of bitcoin.

Bitcoin has been a subject of scrutiny due to ties with illicit activity. In 2013, the US FBIshut down the Silk Road online black market and seized 144,000 bitcoins worth US$28.5 million at the time.^[9] The US is considered Bitcoin-friendly compared to other governments, however.^[10] In China, new rules restrict bitcoin exchange for local currency,^[11] and the European Banking Authority has warned that Bitcoin lacks consumer protections,^[12] Bitcoins can be stolen, and chargebacks are impossible.^[13]

Commercial use of Bitcoin, illicit or otherwise, is currently small compared to its use byspeculators, which has fueled price volatility.^[14] Bitcoin as a form of payment for products and services has seen growth, however, and merchants have an incentive to accept the currency because transaction fees are lower than the 2–3% typically imposed by credit card processors.^[15]

There are many unanswered questions about the new "currency"

Many bitcoin enthusiasts  are particularly excited about the existence of a relatively secure currency that is not controlled by a government or other central authority.

Rather, the Bitcoin system is managed by software and mathematical principles, and is made possible by a peer-to-peer network that shares the burden of tracking bitcoins to ensure nobody counterfeits any, or spends the same bitcoin twice.

The Failure of Information Technology

Hospitals, providers and patients are increasingly frustrated with the affordable care act.  The project management for the ACA was seemingly run by a Whitehouse intern.

Implementation guidelines, mandates and dates for the Affordable Care Act, seemingly were set arbitrarily with little or no assessment for success or failure.

In California where the ACA was immediately accepted and optimistically initiated with its own brand of Health Benefit Exchange, name aptly "Covered California" there were enormous problems with the web site and a crushing overload of telephone registration services.

I can attest to these challenges as I had the responsibilty to enroll a member of my family.

The next axe falling is the Small Business Benefit Exchange where employers shop for employee policies. The computer process again limped along and numerous insurance agencies reverted to paper enrollment forms, a seemingly obsolete method of doing business, which however often is superior to IT. Failure of digital systems often creates more expense than doing it right the first time with proven methods.  In a self-directed study of forms on computer vs hand written, with check off boxes we demonstrated the hand method to be faster and more accurate.

What is most frightening is that most of our support systems are becoming digital. If a particular process or enrollment does not fit into the pre-determined matrix it creates a bottleneck and the system stops.

Nuts and Bolts on The Health Train Express

In the coming weeks our format will be changed.  Our pages have become cluttered with unnecessary links that are seldom used. Because these links slow page loads significantly we are eliminating all but a few. We will continue to 'back link' to relevant content housed on our own servers.  Rather than load a link to all pages we will limit links to within the text of our posts. The changes may create an image that will be unfamliar to readers.. Rest assured the  content will be the same and the 'author' is still in the room.

Physician Experience vs. Expectation

During the past decade we have witnessed the corporatization of medicine.  Solo private practice physicians in the U.S. are dwindling rapidly in the United States, except perhaps for a few selective specialists and in underserved areas. Some physicians are experimenting with the new "Direct Payment" model or "Concierge Medicine"

Although private solo or small group practices offer autonomy and control, there are disadvantages. Those who join an integrated health system, or become employed by a hospital gain administrative support and the ability to negotiate insurance contracts with more bargaining power than a small provider. However there are serious trade-offs. Physicians who sell their practice to a hospital find that hospitals receive failing grades in their prowess to run medical practices.

This is a relatively new phenomenon and hospital management may improve in the next several years. Kaiser seems to have met the challenge by forming a separate entity for a medical group which then interfaces with the hospital.  The governance structure is distinctly separated.   This allows the providers negotiating power and the abiity to make more decisions for themselves.

There are other issues in making this transition to a group practice.  Cultural clash  and generational difference can also affect the new relationship.

 Modern Health Care presents this case

"Dr. Janet Chipman worked for more than a decade in a busy surgery practice she owned with three other physicians, treating patients and sharing the responsibility of running a multimillion-dollar business. She says she valued the autonomy of private practice, which was a common career path among her peers and one she sought when she finished her training.

"But nearly three years ago, Chipman and her colleagues signed an employment contract with Baptist Health, a Kentucky hospital operator that has doubled its number of employed doctors to 485 in the past three years. They felt that joining a sizable health system would boost their negotiating leverage with health insurers and make it easier to recruit surgeons into the practice. They'd also have more bargaining clout with vendors. And it would be more viable to participate in one of the new alternative payment and delivery models, such as an accountable care organization

Even so, Chipman had plenty of doubts before signing the deal. “The decision was incredibly hard for me personally,” she said. “I came from the culture of having your own practice and your independence.”  

Not so for Dr. Nicole Lee. The first-year fellow in maternal and fetal health at the University of Mississippi will enter the workforce in two years. She expects to go directly into hospital employment. That's because working for a large health system likely will mean less on-call duty, allowing her to balance work and personal life. “If I have a family, they will definitely be my priority,” Lee said. “Being on call every other week is not feasible to me.”

Other factors enter decisiono making processesRegular work hours, enhanced family life
Guaranteed on call coverage
Working for a large health system likely will mean less on-call duty



Younger physicians work ethic has changed, largely bevause of new workoplace rule setting strict liits for work hours, and call schedules, caliing for controls much like the airline industry for pilots to reduce risks of error due to fatigue. When thes physicians enter the workforce they carry over this new ethic in private prctice.

Doctors moving from independent practice to employment may be more autonomous, business-savvy and likely to prioritize work over other obligations. But they also may chafe under bosses and rules. “They're used to setting the rules,” said Dr. T. Clifford Deveny, Catholic Health Initiatives' senior vice president for physician services and clinical integration. “One of the things you give up is that complete independence.” 

Younger doctors may have no experience with or desire to take on demanding call schedules or leadership roles. “They're looking for lifestyle,” said Danise Cooper, manager of physician recruiting specialists for Cejka Search

Thrown together, once-independent physicians and younger doctors may clash over how to share the

workload and rotation duties. In addition, physicians may differ in how they respond to their employer's invitation to participate in quality improvement or strategic efforts. And since physicians may treat one another's patients, some doctors may worry about how their colleagues' work ethic and attitudes and accessibility to patients may reflect on them and influence their patients' satisfaction. 

Cultural discord among doctors can lead to costly turnover. Culture conflict ranked in the top five reasons for turnover among doctors in the most recent retention survey by the American Medical Group Association and Cejka Search. Hospitals lose revenue when doctors depart.


The shift is taking place relatively quickly, and may accelerate even more with the mandates of the Affordable Care Act, as more physicians are saddled with non-medical responsibilities.

Twenty percent of U.S. doctors worked for a hospital in 2012, according to the American Medical Association. That figure rises to 26% if you include doctors in a medical practice partly owned by a hospital. Six years earlier, 16% of doctors were hospital employees..

The growth in direct hospital employment of physicians has accelerated for a variety of reasons, including new payment models offered by public and private insurers that bundle payments for hospitals and doctors for entire episodes of care or establish financial incentives for providers to coordinate care and achieve better outcomes and lower costs. These new models require closer collaboration between hospitals, physicians and other providers, and may be easier to achieve when physician practices are more closely integrated with health systems.

Is Obamacare Unraveling?

By ROBERT LASZEWSKI

Rumors have been circulating in the marketplace all week that the administration was thinking of extending the individual health insurance policies that Obamacare was supposed to have cancelled for as much as three more years.

Those rumors have now come out into the open with Tom Murphy’s AP story on Friday.

He and I agree, and his statement is not a question, rather a rhetorical statement.  It does not take a rocket scientist to analyze what has happened in a very short time.  The initial HBE rollout was and remains a fiasco, which will set the plan back several years. Yes it is possible to enroll if you don't work and can afford to spend over one hour on hold, and/or navigate the HBE websites.  I can only speak to Covered California's health benefit 'Marketplace'.  They should have called it "The Shopping Maul'.  Surely you will feel mauled by the process.  It is a cross between the last day of shopping before Christmas, and 'Black Friday'  

The deadlines were foolish for an unproven system. It was only tested at its launch. Fail Whale there.

FEDERAL HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGES: COVERED CALIFORNIA, BREAKING NEWS

Exchange enrollments at 3.3 million, big jump in January

By Paul Demko 

Posted: February 12, 2014 - 5:15 pm ET

Tags: Costs, HealthCare.gov, Insurance

(Story updated at 6:15 p.m. ET)

Nearly 3.3 million individuals signed up for private insurance plans through the state and federal exchanges during the first four months of the open enrollment period, HHS reported Wednesday. The total represents significant growth in January, but is still less than halfway toward the goal of 7 million enrollments by March 31.

State exchanges enrolled 1.4 million individuals through the end of January, while 1.9 million individuals signed up through the federal exchange, according to figures released by the CMS on Wednesday. The federal exchange, in particular, showed momentum in January: Nearly 40% of total enrollments through the federal HealthCare.gov website occurred last month. 

It's very, very encouraging news,” HHS Secreatary Kathleen Sebelius said on a call with reporters Wednesday.  

However the total numbers only show a small part of the enrollment issues.  Demographics vary widely from state to state in terms of age, health, and gender.

“We're seeing a growing population of Americans who are young, healthy and well covered, and these younger Americans are signing up in greater proportions,” Sebelius said.

A significant number of new enrollees are from those who had pre-existing policies cancelled at the end of 2013.

Catastrophic Options

Hardship Exemptions  (Qualifications)

However, in some states exchange customers continue to skew significantly older. In Ohio and Wisconsin, for example, only 21% of enrollees were between the ages of 18 and 34.

A gender discrepancy is also emerging, with women representing 55% of those seeking coverage. In some states, the gender imbalance is even more pronounced. Women account for 60% of signups in Oregon and 62% of exchange customers in Mississippi.

HHS also issued data for the first time on the type of plans being purchased on the exchanges. More than 60% of state and federal exchange customers opted for silver plans, which are designed to cover 70% of medical costs

Last week, the Congressional Budget Office reduced its estimate for how many people will sign up for coverage in 2014 from 7 million to 6 million, due in part to the rocky rollout of the federal exchange and continued problems with some state marketplaces. 

There is still no data available on how many individuals have actually made their first premium payment. Even after enrollment and premium payment it remains to be seen how many will find a suitable provider. Magnifying this issue in California is massive errors in the provider directory listing providers who will not accept Covered California.

A massive  deception has been built into Covered California. Policies called Blue Shield PPO (Silver  Plan) are not ordinary Blue Shield PPO plans.  Not only that but there is a difference between group PPO plans and Individual Family Plans (IFP).

I contacted a wel established medical group (Inland Empire)  (120 providers)  to inquire about their providers enrolled in Covered California. I was told tthey accept the group Blue Shield PPO, but NOT the IFP. 

This will come as a great shock to those enrolled in many Covered California plans.

Precautionary note:  Check with your chosen provider to ascertain if they accept your specific plan under Covered California. Covered Callifornia is a general term and means very little. Be certain to find if the specific plan that was signed up for is truly available.

Many patients will present to the doctor's office and find they do not have a provider.

Important News:  Covered California is updating it's Provider  Directory.  Check with your chosen provider to corroborate their participation.  Urgent Care Centers are also specific to a planBe certain your chosen provider is aa member of the medical staff of your chosen hospital.

The Health Benefit Exchanges say that enrollment can be changed until March 31.2014.  

Note: This article will be updated weekly.

Affordable Care Act..Obama admits "THERE MAY BE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS.

...Hinges No Longer Squeak, They Are off the Doors....  California today announced the expansion of customer service agents for COVERED CALIFORNIA.

CoveredCA is hiring an additional 350 telephone agents to meet the continuing demand to enroll for Covered California. The California Medical Association also reported; Health Reform and Covered California News

The White House is relaxing the employer mandate again 

The Treasury Department on Monday rolled out more tweaks to the health-care law's requirement that all large employers--those with 50 or more workers--provide insurance coverage to their workers. This is the part of Obamacare was supposed to take effect at the start of 2014, but was delayed by the White House this past summer as the White House was facing significant push back from employers.

Covered California is hiring more workers to fix service problems

California's health insurance exchange is racing to fix persistent service problems before it faces another surge of Obamacare applicants eager to beat a March enrollment deadline. The state is drawing on a $155-million federal grant it received last month to improve service ahead of the March 31 sign-up deadline under the Affordable Care Act. The Obama administration is counting on California to deliver another big wave of enrollment to compensate for a shaky rollout nationwide.

350 workers added to Covered California call lines
Hundreds of customer service representatives will be added to Covered California’s phone lines, to help cut wait times and to enroll more state residents into health care plans before a March deadline, state officials announced Monday

California health exchange pulls doctor directory again

California's health insurance exchange pulled its online doctor directory again after some physicians were wrongly listed as accepting patients' coverage plans, spurring a blame game between insurers and providers. A major error was made in the provider directorty for private insurers Covered California published the incorrect list of providers.  Many have not signed up to be providers under California law.  Covered California requires a different set of rules including unique reimbursement rates. Many providers do not even know they are llisted, and when they present themselves to the MDs office they will find the doctor' office unable to accept them.

For 3 million, 'affordable' health care might not be
The lure used to get uninsured Americans to sign up for health law coverage was the promise of generous premium subsidies.The promise comes with a catch for almost 3 million people earning three to four times the federal poverty rate: They may have to pay up to 9.5% of their income toward that premium before the government subsidy kicks in. That could take a substantial bite from their budgets — potentially as much as $600 a month for a family of three earning $58,590 to $78,120. As a result, some middle-class families may decide health insurance is beyond their reach and pay a penalty rather than buy coverage. 

Faith based and Charitable Funding as An Alternative Solution

Have charitable organizations....faith based religious, and other non-profits furnish health care financing...Keep your health care away from government

Affordable Care Act.......The Missing Link....It is not Australopithecus

Houston, we  have a problem  "Failure to Launch"

Despite a goal of access to health care for all, however the hinge on the door for acccess is squeaking. News such as this are appearing in medical news.

Family Planning Clinics In Calif. Squeezed By Health Law KQED - February 10, 2014 Millions Trapped in Health-Law Coverage Gap Wall Street Journal - February 9, 2014 They quit their jobs, thanks to health-care law Washington Post - February 9, 2014 Enrolling in Covered California is not for the weak of heart, or spirit.  For those who were previously uninsured for a variety of reasons the affordable care act raise spirits with the elimination of the fear of not being able to pay for health care. The current system was not sustainable financially, however health care is available taking away the financial morass of insurance companies, bureaucracy and government.  Neither government, nor insurance companies provide health care. Physiciains, nurses, hospitals and many other providers care for patients. A consequence of the change will be the marked reduction in 'free care'. The old model of those fortunate enough to pay for their own care, and providers and hospitals having deep pockets to finance care for the less priveleged of our society. In order to assure health care and security for all the down side is forfeiting freedom. The tyranny of absolute security is freedom. Some of  us understand the concept and the reason for opposition to the affordable care act.  Others see it as an opportunity   for free health care.   Those whol will receive this generosity are often not only uninsured, but also un-empowered, and have little impact, are passive and do not have resources, nor influence to make changes. The U.S. Constitution (    )  guarrantees the pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  That statement places us in a conundrum.  Does that mean care to avoid illness, or treatment to keep one alive? This is not some ephemeral abstract thought embodied in our founding document. Other constitutional guarrantees in the past have been manipulated to make change The Affordable Care Act in Californa is known as  'Covered California'.  Patients who sign up are screened for eligibilty based on income and household size. Those who's income is greater than........are required to purchase a subsidized health insurance policy or face a fine.  Some of these policies look nice, offered by stable companies, such as Blue Shield, Healthnet, Anthem and their providers are listed under providers for Covered California.  However with a more in depth search you will find they did not receive contracts and are not providers.  (small details).....this will reduce access to providers (and some hospitals). None of this has been adequatly explained  Some who look forward to using Covered California should call their chosen provider and ask if they are a provider for Covered California.   Many of them are not, and some may not even know if they are signed up for it.

Is Sunday a Day of Rest for Social Media ?

Sunday may or may not be a day of rest in social media, depending upon your lifestyle. If you use Social Media for business it may give you time to prepare your social media stream for later in the week, scheduled by an increasing number of social media add ons, such as Hootsuite, Buffer, Hubspot and others.

Sunday may be a time to socialize about Friday and Saturday's movies, dinners, parties, weddings, and other events.

Social media has been accepted and internalized among young people. Everyone has it and is dong it. The line between social and business is evaporating, just as it has in real life.  More deals go down on the golf course, at the coffee shop, restaurants, and during times of transportation.  It's easy enough to bring along all your digital documents and share them on google + or just 'bluetooth' them across the desk or table. Google drive, dropbox, skydrive, amazon and others all provide shareable storage for free or little charge

Physicians can share medical consults and discuss difficult diagnostic challenges anywhere at the clinic, hospital, operating room or from the automobile (smart) that will be driving itself very soon. Powerpoint, Slideshare, Prezi, offer different and imaginative presentation modes. Since  Youtube was bought by Google the two share log ons and also integrate and synchronize via Google plus.  Google continues to add some private and secure modes for video conferences . They call it "Helpouts".  And for MDs it is  HIPAA compliant which allow patient - provider secure and confidential communications In additon to these open social platforms, there are physician specific sites, such as SERMO, and DOXIMITY

Social has merged with business, and more is coming with wifi remote monitoring, coupled with two way interactive video and/or audio conferencing.  House "calls' have truly been reinvented. and are probbably more functional than the 'black bag " visits of yesteryear.

When it comes down to it, we are all connected socially.  Our responsibility remains to our patents, and no matter`how exciting the technology is, will it help you to deliver care, or is it just a  'toy" ?

Not Running A Hospital, Or What is Wrong at Hadassah ?

Hadassah was the alternate name of Queen Esther,  and is also the name of the American Jewish charitable organization of women, founded by Henrietta Szold in 1912.

Hadassah Medical Organization has fallen on hard times.

Only recently has this news been released. A lack of transparency and poor governance have accumulated to question the solvency of Hadassah Medical Organization, which is now $ 1.5 billion dollars in debt.

Pointing fingers at the past will not change the situation, however all should learn the importance of transparency in governance. There should be no shame at failure, only the lack of willingness to be committed to change.

   

Paul Levy, former CEO of a prominent Boston Medical Center shared with us on his blog, Not Running a 
Hospital. The title is quite an allegory, since he is now retired from hospital leadership. Apparently that is 
what has occured at Hadassah Medical Organization. What can global medical interests do to help?