A Superior Alternative to Medicaid Expansion

A Superior Alternative to Medicaid Expansion in Michigan -    August 12, 2013

I had the pleasure of attending a seminar in Lansing Michigan, on 8-12-13, regarding an alternative to Medicaid expansion.  Senator Patrick Colbeck, sponsor of Senate Bills 459 and 460, was part of a panel which included Dr. Rob Steele MD,  Dr. Matt McCord MD,  Nancy Jenkins- State Representative, Mr. Avik Roy, Senior Fellow – Manhattan Institute of Policy Research,  Mr. Tom Valenti – Blue Sky Health , a direct primary care service, (http://www.blueskydirect.org/ ) and Dr Josh and Dr. Doug of Atlas, MD (http://atlas.md/wichita/ )  a direct primary care service.

The short version of today’s learning was that there are alternatives to Medicaid expansion that expands access to a higher quality of health care for a lower cost than government run program such as Medicaid.  Approximately 40% of the total cost of today’s health care is consumed by administrative costs.  By eliminating the middlemen of expensive health insurance and the Federal Government, the monthly access fee for normal and preventative medical service is down in the $100 to $150 per month range for an adult.  I would encourage you to visit the web sites above to get a more concise idea of their concepts. Senate Bill 459 is all about the positives of patient centered care and reducing needless costs of large insurance companies, hugely burdensome federal bureaucracies and laborious new coding schemes.  This allows doctors to do what they do best:  taking care of patients and guiding them to wiser health choices while improving care and reducing overall costs.  One of the crowning benefits of Senator Colbeck’s approach is that it will benefit all ten million Michigan citizens and not just the 400,000 extra persons that the Medicaid expansion bill is projected to address. I urge you to contact your own State Representatives and Senators to vote yes on SB 459 and 460.  This vote could come as soon as August 27.

Bob Cushman

Precinct Delegate – Northville Township