New Year's Resolutions for Healthcare

Happy New Year everyone. I hope 2012 brings you peace, happiness and prosperity. While I have my own personal and professional goals for 2012, I will give you my two cents on the top five ideal resolutions for our healthcare system.

1. It is resolved that our state lawmakers will pass new legislation to dissolve the six month and twelve month requirements for dental care and restorations from commercial health insurance plans. Presently, your average working person has to wait six months to get a cavity filled and twelve months to get a crown under the current dysfunctional dental health plans. These policies are plain ridiculous and crimes against humanity. How can our society allow individuals to live in pain and discomfort in their mouths until their dental benefits kick in at a later time during the year. There are two alternatives to bypass these stringent requirements: 1) Pay out of pocket to cover the high costs for treatments, and 2) Use a high interest credit card payment of 24 percent—that's right—to pay for your treatment. Care Credit is the standard credit card that many dentists use to help their patients pay for their dental care. GeMoney Capital owns this division in which the Massachusetts Attorney General has fined them for shoddy financial practices.

2. It is resolved that commercial health insurance plans offer more affordable rates and better services for employees; small businesses; and families. Currently, some commercial plans charge the average working family over $1,500 a month with a high deductible over $2,000; $30 co-pays; $800 for day surgery; and $1200 to be hospitalized. As a result, many people are cutting back on their visits to their doctors due to not being able to afford their co-pays. Also, some individuals are prolonging treatments that are not life threatening due to not being able to pay the high costs of their co-pays for day surgery and overnight stays in the hospitals.

3. It is resolved that the drug companies use a non-profit benefits manager to negotiate lower rates with pharmacies to dispense prescription medications to the public. Right now, drug companies use a for-profit benefit managers to negotiate rates with the pharmacies in which they make a BIG PROFIT against the public's interest.

4. It is resolved that state lawmakers pass new legislation to offer improved community based care as a viable option for individuals facing institutionized care in nursing homes. Let's face it your average person wants to live at home with services in place as opposed to living in a nursing home.

5. It is resolved that state lawmakers pass new legislation to mandate that commercial health insurance plans pay for intensive based mental health services for working and middle-class families. Right now, it pays for a child or teen to be poor and on Mass Health to receive the "bells and whistles" of intensive based mental health services at home. There are two loopholes for children on commercial health plans to get these services: 1) Be on a CHINS (Child in Need of Services) to get these services at home and/or 2) Be in th protective care of the Department of Children and Families to receive these services at home.

I welcome your comments. If you wish to become an advocate for improved healthcare, please contact Senator Moore and Representative Beaton to express your concerns.