https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/opioids/73289
After Medicaid Privatization, Steep Cuts in Care
The Dallas Morning News launched a series they’re calling “Pain and Profit,” which looks at how companies paid by the state to handle Medicaid issues fall short. The first installment explored the case of a baby named D’ashon Morris who needs assistance to breathe. In the months before his first birthday, D’ashon began pulling out his trach tube. Despite evidence that it was a constant problem, the company supervising his care ruled that he did not require around-the-clock care. Physicians called it a matter of life and death.
It didn’t matter. He didn’t get the care. His tube dislodged one night; he’s now brain dead. The second piece, highlighting care to poor adults, published Monday.
When Opioids Are Discouraged, Pain Gets Short Shrift
Physicians’ growing discomfort prescribing opioids — and the federal government’s efforts to curb prescription rates — has left those in chronic pain in the lurch, the Washington Post reports. Some are flying across the country to find a prescription, while others are turning to unregulated substances such as kratom.
“I am seeing many people who are being harmed by these sometimes draconian actions amid this headstrong rush into finding a simple solution to this incredibly complicated problem,” said Sean Mackey, chief of Stanford University’s Division of Pain Medicine. “I do worry about the unintended consequences.”
Filed under: General Problems
When the states,managed their Medicaid. It was,not difficult to find private doctors,that accepted Medicaid. Some doctors only accepted Medicaid for a few established or referred patients. But, if someone called and asked if they accepted Medicaid. They were told they did not. That is no longer an option.
With Medicaid Managed Care, the reimbursement rates are so low. Few private doctor accept it. Those that do are overworked and severely underpaid. Combine that with medical records where doctors type of a laptop instead of writing their follow-up notes by hand. There is no where near the information in medical records that use to be in them.
It makes no sense a doctor would deliberately leave out something specific because the doctor did not want to prescribe opiates. Doctors do not have to prescribe opiates to any patient. A patients medical records can have several diagnosis of painful conditions. That does not mean any doctor has to prescribe opiates.
It is solely about money,,thats it,,,only about money..Which leads doctors to alter/tamper w/medical records,,for example u will not see anymore new cases of chronic pain or chronic illness such as pancreatits,,Doctors will outright change medical records to state no scarring or no issue that could cause physical pain,just to avoid having to give patients long term medicine.Many doctors are tampering w/medical records now,soo the dea does not go after them also,All in the name of money,,,mainly there own,,they could give a rats ass about the forced physical pain they’ve have caused or the poor souls whom had been literally tortured to death.Until the U.S.A. recognizes ,forcible w/a lawsuit,.,that no-one has the right to torture another humane being via denial of access to effective physical pain control.Like Canada has done,,Like all of Europe has done,,as a matter of fact every country but ours has,,,by recognizing it is human rights issue and NOT about there pocket books,,more will die,,more will die in tortuous death,,brought about by our government employees on our dime!!!maryw
When states stopped handling most of their Medicaid cases. The quality of care drastically dropped. When states handled their cases. there were occasional denials. But, they were usually won on appeal. It was easy to get a hold of someone at the decision making level.. They would tell workers or recipients exactly what,was needed for a medication, device or service to be approved.
Now, it is impossible to nearly impossible to speak to anyone that has first hand knowledge of details. Let alone anyone that will take the time to look into a case. Then give useful specific information on how to be approved on appeal.
Sadly, with foster care children. There is rarely anyone to fight to ensure they receive the medical care they need and deserve. Everyone talks about the needs of foster children. But, that is as,far,as,it goes
They mention pain patient refugees and those who have decided to move over to Kratom, but once again, no mention of the suicides caused by denial of pain control or those who have moved over to street drugs, like heroin laced with clandestine fentanyl or clandestine fentanyl itself. And then they wonder why the rise in deaths from the latter. Well, until the acknowledge the climate that THEY created with a one-size-fits-all solution, it will continue. The death toll will continue to climb until they can no longer deny it. It’s absolutely reprehensible that it has to happen that way, when all they need to do is stop LYING AND DENYING.