Posted on 04/19/2014 9:40:27 PM PDT by grundle
MOUNTAIN VIEW (KPIX 5) – While open enrollment for coverage under the Affordable Care Act is closed, many of the newly insured are finding they can’t find doctors, landing them into a state described as “medical homelessness.”
Rotacare, a free clinic for the uninsured in Mountain View, is dealing with the problem firsthand.
Mirella Nguyen works at the clinic said staffers dutifully helped uninsured clients sign up for Obamacare so they would no longer need the free clinic.
But months later, the clinic’s former patients are coming back to the clinic begging for help. “They’re coming back to us now and saying I can’t find a doctor, “said Nguyen.
Thinn Ong was thrilled to qualify for a subsidy on the health care exchange. She is paying $200 a month in premiums. But the single mother of two is asking, what for?
“Yeah, I sign it. I got it. But where’s my doctor? Who’s my doctor? I don’t know,” said a frustrated Ong.
Nguyen said the newly insured patients checked the physicians’ lists they were provided and were told they weren’t accepting new patients or they did not participate in the plan.
And Nguyen says – while the free clinic isn’t technically supposed to be treating former patents they signed up for insurance, they can’t in good faith turn them away.
Dr. Kevin Grumbach of UCSF called the phenomenon “medical homelessness,” where patients are caught adrift in a system woefully short of primary care doctors.
Those who can’t find a doctor are supposed to lodge a complaint with state regulators, who have been denying the existence of a doctor shortage for months.
Meanwhile, the sick and insured can’t get appointments.
“What good is coverage if you can’t use it?” Nguyen said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com ...
The issue here is that they keep replenishing their numbers with illegals.
That's coming.
I’m being told by doctors that while the codes are standardized, interoperability between the records software isn’t...so they still can’t send your records to another doctor if he doesn’t have the same software package.
“The liberal solution will be to close the free clinics because, after all, everyone now is required to have Obamacare.”
Will be? There are already provisions to fine not-for-profit hospitals that don’t get approved for such care.
They’ve got their damned “free health care;” what makes them think they need a doctor?
Point. Voter ID needs to be enforced from sea to shining sea already!
Yep. But your records sure as H*** got sent to the Government!
Good fix!
More like an 80 - 20 split.
You've got to get a Med Sup PPO and find a doctor who will give referrals.
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Who KNEW socialism produced shortages? Surprise.
We are seeing the same thing as Medicare and Ret Military TRICARE LIFE. NO NEW PATIENT signs, 2 hrs on the phone to find a doctor to take it. Now new DOD MANDATE takes away our private Pharmacies. For either Base Dispensary or Express Scripts whose rep is horrid.
Which means I can’t refuse drugs I don’t want as I do at my private Pharmacy. And I am NOT paying for or accepting drugs I DO NOT WANT! Or take the risk my DAW, NO GENERIC synthroid comes in as a generic. That is a trip to the hospital for me. If it comes in late, or not at all, I am in HOT water, it is a Daily hormone that effects the entire body.
What next is 0 going to MANDATE over weight people to have gastric by pass? OR those with OP onto the POISON drugs that the FDA has issued warnings on, and doctors are ignoring? No thanks 1 brush with the side effects of Fosamax, and you won’t want the rest, they are worse.
That’s funny - and just how much will that cost?
In other words, Obamacare is useless and we will have to pay for services regardless of insurance! What a crock!
Dang, did you really say that! Are you veteran or just pretender?
My wife at 66 pays $163/mo. Open Heart Surgery would cost $0 with her plan F.
Actually, that sounds reasonable but not sure how out of date that is... Is she on Medicare and paying for supplemental insurance? Seems awfully low to me...
The people in the article are Vietnamese, no? I would have said “Mexico” had they been Mexicans. And what does that have to do with my being a veteran. I don’t get it....
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