So this Dr. decides to cut out the insurance company as middle man and
deliver low-cost health care for thousands of people. In NY state,
that's a no-no.
STATE SLAPS DR. DO-GOOD
INSURANCE BUREAUCRATS REJECT $79 HEALTH PLAN
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042009/news/regionalnews/state_slaps_dr__d...
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.
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.
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.
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?"
RE: health care and market-based solutions (or maybe not)
wow ... wtf?
how much money are they going to waste prosecuting this guy?
On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 10:36 PM, TragicHipster <> wrote:
> So this Dr. decides to cut out the insurance company as middle man and
> deliver low-cost health care for thousands of people. In NY state,
> that's a no-no.
>
> STATE SLAPS DR. DO-GOOD
> INSURANCE BUREAUCRATS REJECT $79 HEALTH PLAN
>
> http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042009/news/regionalnews/state_slaps_dr__d...
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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?"
>
RE: health care and market-based solutions (or maybe not)
From: chris <>
To: PHL Syndicate <>
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 7:52:32 PM
Subject: RE: [syndicate]
health care and market-based solutions (or maybe not)
wow ... wtf?
how much money are they going to waste prosecuting this guy?
On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 10:36 PM, TragicHipster <> wrote:
> So this Dr. decides to cut out the insurance company as middle man and
> deliver low-cost health care for thousands of people. In NY state,
> that's a no-no.
>
> STATE SLAPS DR. DO-GOOD
> INSURANCE BUREAUCRATS REJECT $79 HEALTH PLAN
>
> http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042009/news/regionalnews/state_slaps_dr__do_good_157907.htm
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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?"
>
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RE: health care and market-based solutions (or maybe not)
that's nuts, yo. insurance companies are gonna be gunning for this guy. i dunno if it's really smart on his end, or really dumb. from a business end i mean. from a humanitarian end, it's very nice the service he's offering.
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