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Home Front Economy
NY State Slaps Down Efficient Non-Government Health Provider
2009-03-04
The state is trying to shut down a New York City doctor's ambitious plan to treat uninsured patients for around $1,000 a year.

Dr. John Muney offers his patients everything from mammograms to mole removal at his AMG Medical Group clinics, which operate in all five boroughs. "I'm trying to help uninsured people here," he said.

His patients agree to pay $79 a month for a year in return for unlimited office visits with a $10 co-pay. But his plan landed him in the crosshairs of the state Insurance Department, which ordered him to drop his fixed-rate plan - which it claims is equivalent to an insurance policy.
Pro'ly is, but that's not the point of course ...
Muney insists it is not insurance because it doesn't cover anything that he can't do in his offices, like complicated surgery. He points out his offices do not operate 24/7 so they can't function like emergency rooms. "I'm not doing an insurance business," he said. "I'm just providing my services at my place during certain hours."

He says he can afford to charge such a small amount because he doesn't have to process mountains of paperwork and spend hours on billing. "If they leave me alone, I can serve thousands of patients," he said.
Plenty of other doctors have figured this out. Try it sometime with your private doctor: offer them $50 cash for a routine office visit versus doing the usual insurance paperwork.
The state believes his plan runs afoul of the law because it promises to cover unplanned procedures - like treating a sudden ear infection - under a fixed rate. That's something only a licensed insurance company can do. "The law is strict on how insurance is defined," said an Insurance Department spokesman.
And the Insurance Department is creative in how it applies a strict law ...
A possible solution that Muney's lawyer crafted would force patients to pay more than $10 for unplanned procedures. They are waiting to see if the state will accept the compromise. Still, Muney is unhappy because, he said, "I really don't want to charge more. They're forcing me."

One of his patients, Matthew Robinson, 52, was furious to learn the state was interfering with the plan. "The whole point is, he [Muney] found a way of paying his rent, paying his workers, and getting to see patients for the price," said Robinson. "How can the state dictate you've got to charge more?"
Boy howdy, there's the question. And the answer with the current government is obvious.

I don't know who originally said this but it's true: nothing, nothing moves faster than a bureaucracy that has been threatened.
Posted by:Anonymoose

#5  Change you can bereave in.

- Determination of health care distribution for only those of value to the state. Redneck Jim, standfast.

- Euthanizing of those considered infirm, incompetent, and of no value to the state

- Child rearing by communal action as directed by a central education authority

- Airing of only those subjects/shows/debates considered appropriate to the public well being (fairness doctrine) No Rush on this one.

- Guaranteed employment based on affirmative action program priorities.
Posted by: Besoeker    2009-03-04 12:13  

#4  Er, First Nation. PIMF.
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-03-04 11:05  

#3  Canada had a conniption fit when the Firt Nation (read Indian) reservations started installing MRI machines on tribal-controlled property...
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-03-04 11:05  

#2  The US needs an amendment to the constitution that allows a 2/3rd majority of states to suspend another state for callous and reckless behavior against the taxpayers of the 2/3rd majority. Under this rule NY would be the first state left standing alone...providing ample opportunity for the other states to admit one of the Mexican provinces...preferrably one with a Carribean view.
Posted by: Spiny Gl 2511   2009-03-04 10:36  

#1  Many doctors are now "jumping ship" from HMOs, Medicare, Medicaid and insurance bureaucracies, because they have found they can charge 50% less and make more profit by offering cash services.

But the bloated bureaucracies don't like competition.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2009-03-04 09:26  

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