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c_hawkthorne  ·  515 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Hidden audits reveal millions in overcharges by Medicare Advantage plans

A few legitimate questions, not trying to attack you or anything, just further understand your viewpoints.

(1) Why is this a medicaid reimbursement problem and not a manufacturer charging too much problem? It's almost certainly a bit of both and it's a disgrace your population isn't able to be served appropriately because of this, but I appreciate your insight. Insurance reimbursement in this country is atrocious.

(2) The article was about Medicare Advantage plans, not Medicaid. Medicare Advantage plans, for those who don't know, are Medicare (federal healthcare in USA for 65+), but run by private insurances. Couldn't this be a problem not of physician mismanagement, but private insurance to CMS mismanagement? The article is certainly framing it as an issue of insurance companies lying to the federal government about the patient's health to gain higher reimbursement due to the reimbursement rates differing on patient health.

(3) Have your views on Medicaid for all (we had that discussion a long time ago in chat) changed at all or do you still view that as the best option for a national healthcare system? And if you are still in the Medicaid for all camp, as I recall when we were discussing it all that time ago (my memory is shit and I could be misremembering), you'd mentioned if people want better healthcare they just have to move to new states. Do you still believe that part of it? My viewpoint has been that moving is difficult, a lot more so if you have social support but minimum wage job and low skills, the bulk of Medicaid members, that moving may be impossible and the Medicaid for All just works to keep those without the ability to leave in a worse position, a kind of white flight all over again. We haven't discussed this in a long time and I'd be interested to see if your views have evolved at all.