It’s hard to follow the discussions with so many signing on as Anon.

Many more employers are not offering good health benefits to employees, as what we saw in the past, forcing more and more to join this notch group. Many co-pays and up front payments exceed what people can possibly afford to pay, making the notch group bigger. Many more people are bieng denied medicaid making your notch group bigger, so yes, this is a very significant number of people you talk about as though they dont really matter.

Well the guidelines I gave you are STANDARD guidelines, and apply in almost every single state. So, I dont know where you are, but in almost ALL states either you do need children in the home, be pregnant or be disabled to get medicaid, which does nothing to address preventative care and long time medication treatment for this notch group.

I also find it odd that it is me, a layperson, who is trying to convince you, a physician, to have compassion for patients who need medical care. That fact has not just somehow bypassed me. It also seems strange that when someone gives advise that one of you dont agree with then you somehow think you can change facts by getting a few buddy’s in here who go on the attack with you. Yes, there is strength in numbers, but why do you want to not face facts of how serious of a situation the numbers in your NOTCH group are?

Im also very happy that you live in an area where you have 3 free clinics where you can send your patients to that can receive care. I do have to wonder why that would ever be necessary, since where you live, most everyone, can get medicaid? but, dont confuse (which you already have) where you live with how it is in all areas because there are many areas where there are not your free clinics. Or they are to far away for someone to get to.

I can think of no place where the politics is worse than in being employed for the dept of job and family services. Thats why I said i “use” to work there. It is an absolute nightmare trying to get through all the red tape and getting help for the one’s who truly need it.

Oh yes, Im a little bitter. You bet….When I have seen unwed mothers show up with their sixth child and get treated like some damn queen and handed everything she possibly wants. 700.00 food stamps/mo, free medicaid for all, free housing and many many times brand new housing, coutesy of you and me!..And then a 50 yo person who worked all their life comes in with various medical conditions and we are trained to treat them as though they are aliens and talk down to them and deny them everything. To insist they go to social security and spend years fighting for disability when what they really need is monthly prescriptions for chronic illnesses.

Yes, our system is broken. I dont know how to fix it any better than you. but, I will be damn if I continue being a part of something that is so unfair to those who have a real genuine need. While at the same time handing it all to one’s who have absolutely no medical problems who are more than able to work but are rewarded for the hours they spend on their backs and not the ones they spend doing a REAL job.

Amen. Why is it that so many want to believe that we have absolutely no clue about the work we do; Every. Freaking. Day?

“You guys wnat everyone in the world to believe that medicaid is availble for people that it is not available for.”

You really don’t read very well do you. I talked about the notch group and how it is getting shafted several times. No argument it is a problem.

“so it is possible that some states have different and conflicting guidelines, ask them what everyone of their guidelines are”

ding, ding, ding. You answered your own question. There are differences from state to state. The feds are the main payer here. The states administrate. I will say it again. I have aided (with case manager/social worker) in many people people getting medicaid. They didn’t have kids and they were not on disability. They did qualify based on income/assets. That’s the truth. If you think your previous employment for the county makes you a better judge than me, then believe whatever you want. I don’t really care and I am certainly not interested in trying to change your preconcieved notions. Also, as anon 06:04 pointed out there are federally funded centers that offer care for those that don’t qualify for medicaid. In my city there are three such centers and they provide care on a sliding scale based on income. I have also referred to them on a regular basis in my hospitalist days. The problem is the system is patchwork and people fall through the cracks. Especially the notch group. That is the biggest group that needs to be addressed. Now rant away.

PS: You might actually try reading the link you cut and pasted.

I refer patients to them all the time. They provide comprehensive preventative care.

This is what it says.

“What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a federally-funded, state-run program that provides
medical assistance for individuals and families with limited
incomes and resources. It pays for your health care costs,
including doctor’s visits and eye care

How do you qualify:

Qualifications are different from state to state.
You “can” qualify if one of more of the following statements are
true.

* You have children and a limited income.

* You receive or are eligible for Supplemental Security
Income (SSI).

* You’re a pregnant woman who meets income

Other requirements. For example, a family of four making
$23,225 a year or less qualifies.
* Your family’s assets are less than $2,000.

* You receive adoption assistance or foster care assistance.

SCOPE OF SERVICES:

* Inpatient hospital services
* Outpatient hospital services
* Prenatal care
* Vaccines for children
* Physician services
* Nursing facility services for persons aged 21 or older
* Family planning services and supplies
* Rural health clinic services
* Home health care for persons eligible for skilled-nursing
service
* Laboratory and x-ray services
* Pediatric and family nurse practitioner services
* Nurse-midwife services
* Early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment
services for children under age 21

How do you apply?
Contact your local Social Security, Welfare, or Department of
Human Services office.

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaidgeninfo/“

I hope you paid attention to number 2 on that list of gualifications. It states “You receive or are eligible for Supplemental Security
Income (SSI).”

you do know that to receive or be eligible for SSI one must be totally and permanantly disabled? You must apply for it through social security and prove your disability.

So unless you have children in the home (or you are pregnant)you will have to prove a total disability to even be allowed to apply.

Maybe at one time a person didn’t have to be disabled to get medicaid but they do now. If you doubt that then test it. Go to your county department of job and family services and try to apply and don’t just read that you may have to meet other guidelines rather than just low income,also, these guidelines are mandated by state so it is possible that some states have different and conflicting guidelines, ask them what everyone of their guidelines are. make sure to ask, if you have no under age dependants at home, if you can get medicaid if you are not disabled.

It is comical that you are tyring to convince people of this, when I actually worked there and absolutely know what the guidelines are. You are outdated in your information.

I didn’t start this conversation so why would finding a solution be my responsibility personally? I just came here to correct wrong information.