KIRKBRIDE: Will medical providers flee rural areas, seniors?
Tuolumne County residents Pat Garside, 78, and her husband, Rod, 82 are healthy for their age. That's good considering the unnerving state of health care insurance in general and in particular for residents of rural areas such as Tuolumne County.
Pat told me she and her husband were covered with a Medicare Advantage plan through Cigna Insurance through 2010, when Cigna informed them it was no longer providing coverage to Tuolumne County. They switched to an Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan and again were told their coverage would end with 2011. They have resigned themselves to be on a regular Medicare plan with another insurer with a Medi-Gap policy policy and a separate drug plan.
Pat is also fortunate that still can see her primary care physician, who is not accepting new Medicare patients. Many physicians — especially family practice and other primary care — cite low reimbursement rates for Medicare and the volume of paperwork required in submitting the bills.
In California, according to 2010 AMA surveys, 17 percent of 9,000 doctors surveyed said they restrict their number of Medicare patients; the rate increases to 31 percent for primary care doctors.
In Tuolumne County a recent survey by the county Medical Society of primary care doctors and clinics found no change in the number accepting new Medicare patients. The survey showed about half of the 22 primary care physicians in private practice the county are taking new patients. But that could change depending on a couple of factors, most notably a proposed cut in Medicare reimbursement rates for medical providers across the country. That issue is tied up with the payroll tax cut extension that is still before Congress.
The other obstacle is the reimbursement rates assigned to counties within a state. The present law only reviews reimbursement issues only every 10 years. Rural counties like Tuolumne receive lower reimbursement rates for medical procedures than more largely populated cities and counties. Even counties like Santa Cruz and San Diego are designated as "rural" counties which lower the reimbursement rates to doctors.
Wayne County Michigan Health Insurance - News
By Wayne Kirkbride Tuolumne County residents Pat Garside, 78, and her husband, Rod, 82 are healthy for their age. That's good considering the unnerving state of health care insurance in general and in particular for residents of rural areas such as
Both Wayne and Hanson have received free family health insurance coverage for more than 20 years. The new contracts would require them to pay their own insurance premiums. Most county employees already pay their own premiums. Gov.
Rick Snyder to create a Michigan health insurance exchange, which threatens to leave the state with a federal marketplace where consumers shop for health coverage. Many House Republicans are rejecting the wishes of their fellow GOP governor,
They both also have received free family health insurance for years, although they now will begin paying part of the premium. During the past three years, the previous county board increased Wayne's salary from $97492 to more than $121400,
Some people work and are still uninsured because they are not offered health insurance. In Wayne County, one option for help is the Wayne County Four Star program, a health insurance program. Students can also purchase this insurance.
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