States Rights still exist with the state exchanges. The Red States have chosen to treat the Health Care Exchanges as a penalty rather than an asset to the people of their states. Red States are not in support of the exchanges and it shows. Rather than demanding quality exchanges that compete for best OUTCOMES they only ask there are barebones provisions.
The problems Republicans such as Ms. Black speaks about is not from the federal law, but, the lack of will and ability of the state exchanges.Possible the worst of the State Exchanges is Missouri.
September 28
By DAVID A. LIEB
The Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri residents (click here) can begin enrolling Tuesday for health coverage offered through a new online insurance marketplace. But patients searching for insurance may want to practice some patience...
The private sector is not convinced it is in their best interest to participate in the State Exchanges, so in many Red States they simply don't participate and in the case of Missouri, they actually seek to cause citizens concern of their only option.
BJC HealthCare (click here) is one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States, delivering services to residents primarily in the greater St. Louis, southern Illinois and mid-Missouri regions. With net revenue of $3.6 billion, BJC serves urban, suburban and rural communities; and includes 13 hospitals and multiple community health locations....
Missouri's Health Care Insurance Exchange originally had one company participating, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Anthem was not providing BJC (Barnes-Jewish) as a provider for their 'in network' policy. Excluding BJC from 'in network' providers scared people because it is a Level 1 trauma center. The BJC health care system also houses St. Louis Children’s Hospital which is vital to pediatric medicine in the state. Needless to say there have been many worries about access and outcomes.
Just a couple of days ago Coventry joined the Missouri exchange. It is sure thing for them. Coventry is offering BJC as a provider. Anthem put themselves out of favor now that Coventry is participating.
BJC Healthcare’s 13 hospitals will (click here), in the end, be available for residents who buy insurance on the federal health care exchange in Missouri.
Officials for BJC and the insurer Coventry Health Care Missouri both confirmed Friday afternoon that Coventry would offer BJC, Missouri’s largest hospital network, as a provider here.
Earlier this week, the Post-Dispatch reported that brokers had been told that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri would sell only individual exchange plans that excluded BJC as a health care provider. They said Anthem was unable to reach agreement with BJC on costs. The insurer had declined to discussed its policies....
This is the gamesmanship the Red States participate in for the benefits of Wall Street and their strain of politics. The problems people are running is not the Affordable Care Act, but, it's application at the state level. Those finding frustration with this new law need to complaint to their state legislators, not their federal representatives. It is the lack of political will, the inefficiency in state governments and lack of state infrastructure that is the problem. The federal law has nothing to do with it. Citizens might want to investigate state level corruption in preparation of the health care exchanges. The opportunity to have a smooth beginning on October 1st was given plenty of time and attention by federal agencies.
