Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Doctors Say Obamacare Rule Will Stick Them With Unpaid Bills
Kaiser Health News ^ | March 19, 2014 | By Roni Caryn Rabin

Posted on 03/19/2014 7:49:27 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

Doctors groups fear their members won’t get paid because of an unusual 90-day grace period for government-subsidized health plans and are urging physicians to check patients' insurance status before every visit.

“This puts the physician and their patients in a very difficult situation,” said Dr. Ardis Dee Hoven, president of the American Medical Association (AMA), which advised physicians Wednesday about how to minimize their risk.

“If a patient is being treated for a serious illness, that requires ongoing care,” she said. “The physician is having to assume the financial risk for this. That’s the bottom line.”

If an enrollee in a subsidized plan falls behind on their premium payments, the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover their medical bills for 30 days.

But for the next 60 days, insurers may “pend,” or hold off paying the claims -- and ultimately, deny them if the patient doesn't catch up on his premiums. That means doctors don’t get paid for their services. If the insurer ends up canceling the policy after 90 days, doctors can bill patients directly but may face difficulty collecting.

"The doctors get left holding the bag on pending claims," said Robert Laszewski, a former insurance executive and consultant.

(Excerpt) Read more at kaiserhealthnews.org ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 0carenightmare; abolishobamacare; abortion; deathpanels; failure; gop4obamacare; obamacare; obamacaredoctors; obamacarehospitals; obamacareinsurers; obamacarepremiums; rinocare; romneycare4all; socialism; zerocare
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last
ACORN Economics at work.
1 posted on 03/19/2014 7:49:27 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Thanks, Barack!


2 posted on 03/19/2014 7:51:21 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

So don’t accept Zero Care insurance.
Too bad for the patients.


3 posted on 03/19/2014 7:52:01 AM PDT by Kozak ("It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal" Henry Kissinger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

This same AMA and other medical groups ENDORSED Obamacare. I do not feel their pain.


4 posted on 03/19/2014 7:53:13 AM PDT by RoadGumby (This is not where I belong, Take this world and give me Jesus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
Hmmm. Is this the same AMA that worked so hard for the passage of this legislation? The group that blindsided its politically clueless membership, selling them and their services like that of slaves to the crude giant of Bureaucracy?

I'll just bet that the AMA's lobbyists had their bills paid on time.

Guess they didn't read the bill either.

5 posted on 03/19/2014 7:57:14 AM PDT by Prospero (Si Deus trucido mihi, ego etiam fides Deus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kozak

Saw a story where ‘Covered California’ patients are showing up at the doctors’ offices only to find a big notice at the reception desk that essentially says... “we don’t accept Obamacare”.

What is also interesting, the insurance companies are dragging their feet updating their lists of providers under these plans ... makes the plan look better with more docs, but when you arrive at the office, Obamacare card in hand, the docs have not signed contracts to provide care ... so happy hunting for a doc who will accept your insurance.


6 posted on 03/19/2014 7:59:52 AM PDT by Qiviut (It's hard to be a donk if you're sane & it's hard to be a pubbie if you have any integrity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
Everything is going according to the Cloward-Piven plan.

Wrecking things is so much easier than creating them.

7 posted on 03/19/2014 8:01:49 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The man who damns money has obtained it dishonorably; the man who respects it has earned it.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Doctors are rich! They deserve to be stuck with the bills! /S


8 posted on 03/19/2014 8:01:51 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

It’s why people are becoming tax lawyers and not doctors when Democrats get control and change laws.

This is another attempt for government to afford some to avoid their responsibility and to stick it to others.

I guess the government considers them the 1% that Democrats don’t like so they say “SCREW THEM”


9 posted on 03/19/2014 8:01:57 AM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Once again, we will follow Argentina or Bolivia.

Let’s have a doctors strike because the government doesn’t pay them. To see a doctor, you will have to pay money under the table.

Learn how people survive in the developing world. There is nothing new under the sun.


10 posted on 03/19/2014 8:05:08 AM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A CA Guy
It’s why people are becoming tax lawyers and not doctors when Democrats get control and change laws.

I read an interesting article recently. It said that if you have the ability to go to medical school, don't go to medical school. Go to dental school instead.

11 posted on 03/19/2014 8:05:22 AM PDT by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

Dentists are STARVING and most are doing what they have to for their teeth.
I know some great dentists and their offices are mostly empty. By the time they pay liability insurance, for office space and staff I think in this recession/depression they are screwed.


12 posted on 03/19/2014 8:07:17 AM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

If someone or something cannot do it’s job properly, FIRE THEM! So the government, it’s employees and certain programs need to be FIRED. OUT THE DOOR CHARLIE.


13 posted on 03/19/2014 8:08:45 AM PDT by jetson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RoadGumby
This same AMA and other medical groups ENDORSED Obamacare. I do not feel their pain.

exactly!!! too damn late to cry about it now...

14 posted on 03/19/2014 8:09:18 AM PDT by latina4dubya (when i have money i buy books... if i have anything left, i buy 6-inch heels and a bottle of wine...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

This is how you destroy what was a functioning but expensive health care system. Now it will be expensive and non-functioning.


15 posted on 03/19/2014 8:12:09 AM PDT by LowTaxesEqualsProsperity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A CA Guy
I know some great dentists and their offices are mostly empty.

my friend is a dental hygienist, and boy is she living the life... travels somewhere, Italy, Hawaii, Florida, Nashville, etc., just about every other month... makes her own schedule... always going out to dinner, wine tasting, etc... her hubby is a San Jose police officer, retiring within the next five years... sometimes she works three days a week, and other times she works seven days in a row... they live in the lovely Morgan Hill...

16 posted on 03/19/2014 8:14:13 AM PDT by latina4dubya (when i have money i buy books... if i have anything left, i buy 6-inch heels and a bottle of wine...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I’ve posted about this problem last year.

A doctor friend, who closed his private practice last June and went to work for a really big hmo was still getting the mail, he got as a private md. He told us about the extra 90 day delay in paying doctors, hospitals, labs and other medical providers that was coming 1 Jan 2014.

The Obozo Scare Czars were telling the doctors that repayment for bills would be at least 90 days late. This doctor didn’t know if that meant 90 days later than the normal 60 days late payment.


17 posted on 03/19/2014 8:15:24 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Too bad Obama does not take OUR borders as seriously as he does the Ukraine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Ha, ha. Yep, it will. But wait. The AMA supported Obamacare, so tough luck morons.


18 posted on 03/19/2014 8:17:29 AM PDT by Obadiah (I Like Ted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
Doctors Say Obamacare Rule Will Stick Them With Unpaid Bills

Too late to complain now, Doc, perhaps you should relocate your practice offshore, while you still have your license and can still leave.

19 posted on 03/19/2014 8:22:03 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it, and the Constitution and law mean what WE say.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

You Doctors supported it,you rubbed your hands waiting for those great big government checks and now as soon as reality hits you whimper.No sympathy.


20 posted on 03/19/2014 8:25:59 AM PDT by managusta (If You Can't Solve A Problem, It's Because You're Playing By The Rules.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson