Amid concerns that their policies were getting in the way of a key COVID-19 safeguard, several private insurance plans have backed down from limitations they’d placed on access to telehealth.
This is OT, but I need a laugh today; maybe you do as well.
What do sportscasters do when there are no sports to, um, cast? Here’s one solution:
Funny how all these insurers suddenly turn out to be Blue Shaft.
“We are in the middle of a crisis. It’s really unfair to treat these federal employees differently from other patients,” Ransom said.
Sorry Mr. Ransom, but the treatment is equal. Federal employees are getting screwed just the same as the rest of us with private health insurance.
Only if there was a way for all of us to have one big entity insure all of us, set uniform rules, and pay all the healthcare providers, while charging a fair premium to cover costs.
If I were to welcome any death from this crisis, it would be the death of private health insurance companies.
Hospitals deserve funding to see us through this plague. The shitty for-profit health insurance industry does not. There is a reason why most of the civilized world shuns them.
That’s just crazy talk!
Sounds shirtless to me.
But who, then, would be left to do the following?
“It really disrupts the physician-patient relationship,” Ransom said
My office is currently billing for all phone, Skype of Facetime consultations. Since it would be irresponsible for me to drag patients into my office if they don’t absolutely need to see me in person, and it would be irresponsible for me not to provide needed medical care (which can be easily done remotely most of the time), let them try to come after me for not using an approved telehealth platform.
Basically, as long as I’m serving my patients responsibly, I don’t think the details will matter much in this emergency situation. I encourage all doctors I speak to to do the same. Many of my patients are elderly and have little or no access to a computer, let alone some complex telehealth platform approved by some insurance company. Expecting them to aquire such technology before getting needed medical care at a time like this would be completely irresponsible.
And … ?
I forget which telemedicine platform my doc uses. All I remember is that when he started I couldn’t figure out how to get signed up for it. And I’ve been doing computers for 35 years.
This may be the same guy who set up a “race” between his dogs eating their dinner and commentated on it. Hilarious stuff.
My 80-year-old dad, who has a number of health problems and had a crucial cardiology appointment scheduled for early April, is struggling now that they’ve asked him to convert to a telemedicine visit. I have no doubt that I can help him set everything up, but he’s really stressed about these technology worries–while he can check his email and surf the Interwebs, that’s about the limit of his knowledge. Skype would be much easier for him and a lot less stressful.
Remind me again. Who are the people who love their insurance?
Have a standing monthly pain management appt mid-April.
The NP I see regularly stated last visit-- the practice have no method in place to accommodate telehealth consultations.
I do get ‘one mulligan’ where I can call in ‘sick’ and get Rx’d-- then visit in May-- she said.
Last week I pulled 66hrs. If I am w/o pain meds-- my performance will drop.
Here’s hoping they get this process worked out by May’s appt.
That is a feature, not a bug.
As Covid-19 pandemic spreads…Coverup Barr/DOJ is busy sabotaging ACA in the court…RethugniCONS are griping against the few pieces of silver that will go one time to Mainstreet vs buckets of gold for Wallstreet and the Evangelical Christians decry “evil pork” in the Covid-19 Relief Bill because it will encourage slothfulness!
Meanwhile, the Fed is predicting a 47million job loss, 32% unemployment rate…Actions that help in bankrupting Mainstreet and KAG (Killing American Geriatrics) for Wallstreet Profits needs to STOP!
Nothing like a pandemic can bring so much consciousness in the American minds about the importance of healthcare for all or universal healthcare system!
My car insurance company, state farm, called me to check in. Granted I doubt they’d have offered much more than thoughts and prayers!
As a family that has taken Anthem to arbitration twice - and won (do not mess with my wife, she will beat you if only through brute perseverance), I am not the least bit surprised the majors are trying to skate by with the least possible financial exposure.
That’s why they exist - to deliver shareholder value.