Posted on 10/29/2018 7:27:22 AM PDT by Fitzy_888
Public heath insurance programs would be required to cover medical marijuana in New York if a new Assembly bill is enacted.
“Cost is the primary barrier to patient access in New York’s medical marijuana program,” reads a memo attached to the legislation. “Medicaid, other public health plans, and commercial health insurance plans do not cover medical marijuana, forcing patients to pay out of pocket. Some patients begin treatment only to stop due to inability to pay, while others turn to the black market.”
“For thousands of patients, medical marijuana is a safer and more effective medication than other drugs, especially opioids.”
The bill, filed on Monday by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried and 17 cosponsors, would add medical cannabis coverage to four publicly funded health programs—Medicaid, Child Health Plus, workers compensation and EPIC, as well as the largely publicly funded Essential Plan.
“For Medicaid and Child Health Plus, there would presumably not be federal matching funds until the federal government changes its policies, but New York’s Medicaid and Child Health Plus programs have always covered people and services for which we do not receive federal match,” the Assembly memo says.
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The stupid just won’t stop in my state...….DAMN!
looks like NY is getting ready to fund weed to all comers - how easy is it to fake a doctor’s note on need?
Would Hydroponic growing supplies become Medical Devices?
Taxpayer subsidized weed.
Ping.
Economically, this is funny, a circle jerk of sorts.
MJ is inherently a low-cost product, even under careful breeding and cultivation. It’s taxes, with the consequent licensing, high prices, and motivation for black market activity, that make legalized MJ expensive.
So, a bill like this will support the prices for legal medical MJ even more, increasing the regulatory supervision, the circular tax-flow, and the incentives to bypass the whole regime through the black market.
So silly.
If it’s easy to get opioids, and it is in my neck of the Upstate woods, it’ll be even easier to get weed.
It works better and is cheaper than synthetic drugs for many illnesses. Also far less addictive and toxic.
No reason it should not be included in insurance as with any other medication.
If you’re worried about some people getting “high”, the Rx pills are FAR worse in every aspect. More impairing, more toxic, more addictive. Heck, METH can be legally prescribed to kids with “ADHD” but this plant is seen as a bigger problem. The power of propoganda...
Cost? Every homeless junkie can find a way to pay for it.
Like the rest of the “doctors” and “health care providers”, now the marijuana industry is getting in on the act of using the stupid Liberals and their squishy sentiments (oh, we must “help” those “patients” who use marijuana) to INSURE the Marijuana gets its money MANDATED BY LAW to be picked up by the insurers - and passed on in higher premiums to the sheeple that believe the idiot Liberals.
If it’s easy to get opioids, and it is in my neck of the Upstate woods, it’ll be even easier to get weed.
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And the weed will be Free!! Free stuff, yippy!
The state isn’t circling the bowl fast enough for Albany.
Sigh.
So would they allow medical MJ only for those over 25 and under 26?
Way to Go, Stoners! You really thought this "legalize marijuana" thing through!
Are there any peer reviewed medical studies even supporting one medical claim about marijuana?
Considering how medical marijuana seems to be “prescribed” for every known ailment to man this would mean free marijuana for all stoner NYers.
I guess NY missed the recent report of auto accidents increasing in states that have legalized marijuana? Or do they really not care about the innocent people?
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