Commentary

Where does the Arkansas bandwagon lead?

0 | Apr. 02, 2013 | Commentary

As additional states consider adopting Arkansas' proposed approach of placing its Medicaid expansion enrollees into the state's health insurance exchange, I started wondering where this all leads. Can we blend two very different types of market forces? Which providers will participate in an exchange that also includes Medicaid enrollees? Who needs the states anyway?

Sister Therese: Keep tax credit for low-income families

0 | Apr. 01, 2013 | Commentary

Those receiving the earned income tax credit are usually younger working families who are not homeowners. My experience says that these working parents are most often working full time in jobs that pay $20,000 to $35,000 a year. Typically these are not jobs that pay mileage or have expense accounts. The $300 refundable credit allows these parents to make car repairs or get new tires, pay off credit cards and medical bills, and buy their children new shoes.

A solution to a nearly ubiquitous problem with risk adjustment

0 | Mar. 27, 2013 | Commentary

We know that patients with more diseases are more expensive and have worse health outcomes. Consequently, almost every observational study in health services research, every health system performance measure, and every payment to third parties uses risk adjustment for comorbidities. The underlying assumption is that patients that are coded as sicker are always, in fact, sicker. That assumption is wrong.

Much ado about Arkansas and Medicaid expansion

0 | Mar. 12, 2013 | Commentary

Can a state elect an Essential Health Benefits-based plan for its new Medicaid enrollees? Can the state contract with private plans to deliver services to its new Medicaid enrollees? Can the state offer those new Medicaid enrollees a choice of plans, providing enrollees with assistance in selecting the appropriate plan? Yes, yes, and yes.

Rep. Crum: Reasons for opposing Medicaid expansion

1 | Mar. 07, 2013 | Commentary

Our national debt threatens our national security as well as vital programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. With bipartisan recognition that these three programs must be reformed, is it wise to borrow more money to fund Medicaid expansion at this time?

The danger of private incentives in public services

1 | Mar. 01, 2013 | Commentary

The National Health Service does not suffer because it is tasked with providing health care to all of the British people. It suffers when a lack of adequate regulation and supervision allow abuses to go unchecked. And those abuses cost as many as 1,200 lives.

Working together for a successful KanCare transition

0 | Feb. 17, 2013 | Commentary

Poor and disabled Kansans rely on Medicaid for medical care, nursing homes, home health, and long term care. Most importantly, if Kansans have issues navigating the program, we want to make sure their questions are answered quickly, so that they get the care they need.

Rep. Ward: Medicaid expansion essential for healthier Kansas

0 | Feb. 14, 2013 | Commentary

The expansion of Medicaid has been attacked for costing the state too much money. In reality not expanding Medicaid will cost all of us significantly more money in higher health insurance premiums and lost economic opportunity.

Well-intentioned policies do more harm than good

1 | Feb. 11, 2013 | Commentary

Gov. Sam Brownback and legislators in Kansas must make an important decision this legislative session. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2012, Kansas must decide whether it will vastly expand its Medicaid rolls. Adding hundreds of thousands of Kansas residents to Medicaid is the exact wrong policy for our state.

The cost of not expanding Medicaid

0 | Feb. 06, 2013 | Commentary

There are costs. And then there are costs. Going to the hospital for an overnight stay will cost you something out of pocket, even with good insurance. But not getting health care because you’re uninsured might cost you your life.

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