New Mexico seeks copays from Medicaid patients

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

New Mexico seeks copays from Medicaid patients
October 26, 2016 4:39 PM

By MORGAN LEE
Associated Press

SANTA FE, N.M. —



New Mexico is pursuing federal authority to charge medical co-payments and some other costs to patients enrolled in Medicaid health care for the poor and disabled, the state Human Services Department secretary told lawmakers on Wednesday.

Secretary Brent Earnest said "nominal" co-payments and other charges would provide a small economic incentive to steer patients away from wasteful expenses, such as the use of emergency room services for routine care.

Earnest said the agency has not yet established copayment prices for Medicaid services and certain prescription drugs, or determined how much money the state might save over time.

Federal rules limit cost-sharing on Medicaid to patients who are not in extreme poverty. The state wants to exempt children and pregnant women, along with Native American patients who typically receive Medicaid benefits through Indian Health Service and tribal health care facilities.

Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article110685522.html#storylink=cpy

[Hugin]

1. Well, now! Since one must be totally indigent to qualify for Medicaid around here.

How is that supposed to work? Idiots!

Another winning Idea from the Governor's Office.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupidity! Argh!

[elmac]

3. Michigan has a similar setup

where they charge very small co-pays, usually a dollar or 2 for meds or services, mostly nothing. Also, health insurance companies basically run the program so once signed up you need to join a health care network. its was the only way the repugs would go along with it. As I understand it seems to be a good system as it stands, pretty much like any other medicaid though I'm sure the repugs will begin to dismantle it, bit by bit.

[McCamy Taylor]

5. Copayments prevent ER visits for tylenol.

Something we used to see in the days before nominal copayments for HMO patients. Or the no copayment woman who needed a dose of Motrin for cramps and did not want to buy it. Or the no copayment woman who called an ambulance to take her the ER in the middle of the night for a blood pressure medicine refill. Or people who need a note for taking off work.

Even a small charge will prevent people from overloading ERs with silly things like these. A small coyament will not prevent people who have real emergencies from going to the ER.

[MyNameIsKhan]

8. Untrue, if system keeps good care of citizens at primary care level, ER visits will be minimized.

[OKNancy]

9. Very true. My daughter was an EMT until recently. She got cynical real fast

She told us that many people use the emergency room when they could easily wait and go to a doctors office the next day. She said they used the ambulance as a taxi service. She worked nights and got calls just like what you wrote.

ETA: Many if not most of her calls were alcohol, meth or other drug related and those who are mentally ill or with low mental capacity.

[Hugin]

11. There are better less regressive ways to deal with this problem.

Than to put an unnecessary financial burden on people who don't have anything to begin with.

What's wrong with handing out a $0.05 Tylenol? I think we can afford it.

[Hugin]

12. "Judge holds HSD secretary in contempt of court"

A little more about this prize Martinez Administration appointee, "Brent Earnest".

September 28, 2016

"A federal judge ordered New Mexico Human Services Department Secretary Brent Earnest held in contempt of court for failing to comply with orders in a long-running food aid case.

The order from U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Gonzales came down on Tuesday afternoon. The contempt order came in civil court.

'It’s extremely rare for department officials to be held in contempt by federal court,' Sovereign Hager of the Center on Law and Poverty explained.

'It’s a very bad and serious thing, especially for low income people who need these programs to live. It is serious and is a huge consequence.'

In addition to the contempt order, earlier this year the court appointed a special master to oversee food and medical aid benefits programs at HSD. That special master will answer to the court, not to HSD, and will be tasked with bringing New Mexico’s benefits processing into compliance with federal law."

Much more at link: http://nmpoliticalreport.com/95414/judge-holds-hsd-secretary-in-contempt-of-court/

[Docreed2003]

14. Nominal copays....by the legislatures standard

In my professional experience, the patients who can least afford it often pay the highest copays. To force Medicaid patients to pay 50, 25, or even 10 dollars out of pocket is just a travesty. Why do politicians hate the poor and punish them for their predicament? I suppose because they can, smdh

[Sunlei]

15. I don't think our Federal non profit medicaid system should allow States to charge people anything.

[PasadenaTrudy]

16. NM seems to be

in a downward spiral. Hope things improve in the future 😔