Some Central Texas medical providers opt out of Obamacare

[ashling]

Austin’s largest provider of cancer treatment won’t participate in health insurance plans offered though the marketplace set up by the Affordable Care Act, leaving some patients facing substantially higher medical bills.

The decision by Texas Oncology, which is also the largest independent cancer practice in Texas, is not unique. Other Central Texas health care providers, from smaller cancer treatment centers, to solo practitioners, to Austin Regional Clinic — one of the area’s largest physician practice groups — are holding off on joining some of the ACA networks because they are unsure how the law will affect them and their finances.

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/some-central-texas-medical-providers-opt-out-of-ob/nbnLh/?icmp=statesman_internallink_invitationbox_apr2013_statesmanstubtomystatesmanpremium

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Well, we wouldn't want to actually help sick people, would we,

if it means we can't buy a new BMW next year.

[Lithos]

2. I used ARC when I first moved back to Austin

After two sessions where I got less than 10 minutes with the Doc, I decided to find another provider.

L-

[ashling]

7. We were with them back in 97 - 98

We liked the Dr. We used there. Also went there when Melodie fell and broke a glass with her fall - lots of blood -
they were there for us then. Melodie also had some surgery with them.

[Ilsa]

3. Then they'll eventually be out of business, I bet.

They are unwilling to figure out how to get by in a new system. They don't sound like they're smart enough to handle difficult healthcare issues.

[DhhD]

4. They can bill the State directly as eligibility is not a factor.

Texas Legislature is out of session and the ACA is law. Rick Perry is going to allow the Rip Off of Texas Taxpayers if he does not accept the ACA Medicaid Expansion.

[pangaia]

5. How many poor doctors have you seen walkin' around?

[elehhhhna]

6. OUr experience with them was very bad.

They run up your bill with tests on equip they own (rent?) and are all about sqeezing your insurance company. They SKIP cheap diagnostics to jump to the PET scan. Told hubs he had lymphoma and jacked him around for months. He didn't have it.

Their office staff is ATROCIOUS.

They are to be avoided, imo. We have excellent hospitals and great docs here. Tex Onc ain't part of that.

[Rstrstx]

8. So basically they're going to stop accepting Blue Cross?

It's one of the biggest insurers in the state, the UT system uses them exclusively. Blue Cross is offering some really good plans on the exchange, they're not subpar or inferior, they're regular insurance plans just like everyone else gets. But whatever, Texas Oncology can do whatever they want, hope they don't let the door hit them in the ass on their way out of business.

The horror story lines are getting to the point where the bullshit is not only being polished, it's being served up as steak tartar. The amount of ignorance about the ACA and the exchanges is staggering, most low-income people are scared to freakin' death that they're going to have to pay $250 a month for insurance even if they're just making $1400 a month.

All these people don't have a clue how cheap they can get a policy for or think they'll have to take their employer's (often overpriced) policy. And I don't think the Republicans are doing this unaided, I really think businesses see an opportunity here to screw their employers over even more, they certainly aren't telling them they should go look on the exchange, or if they do they'll just pocket the money they used to be contributing to when they had their old policies. Kudos to Trader Joe's and a few others for having some integrity.