I would like to offer a “tip of the hat” to my friends at The Idaho Freedom Foundation. In an article published two days ago, the authors Fred Birnbaum, Ronald Nate PhD., and Niklas Kleinworth outline in a policy paper entitled MEDCAID IN IDAHO: A POLICY PRIMER the predicate, the unfulfilled promise, the financial house of sticks upon which this very important program to help take care of those on the margins may soon implode.
Some suggestions to help secure the futures of those who truly need to be served in some way were offered— not because they chose to not be able to take care of themselves, but because they can’t. The article points out that up to 1/3 of those people receiving benefits don’t currently qualify. This plus the gaming of the system by providers who receive over $100 million of transfer payments and who as described in previous articles of mine and in previously cited Medscape articles use supply chain shenanigans—some would call them kickbacks but I don’t, and creative Coding including Covid diagnostic Codes as primary entries in the diagnostic ledger in clinic notes and problem lists, is at least worthy of curious inquiry by our legislature and maybe even an investigation or two if any “red flags” pop up.
The authors of THE PRIMER have impeccable academic and real-world experience—more so than anybody else I have read in our State in the field of public policy and government affairs—specifically in the field of governance. They are to be respected and listened to too.
I wrote a post at the bottom of the article, but failed as they did in their writing to offer a solution to the issue, I raised about the now-bankrupt Idaho Health Information Exchange. Compared to $4 billion in the Budget for The Idaho DHW $27 million doesn’t seem like much—but to people that are everyday citizens like me and whose taxes paid for the Exchange it is a lot of money and we deserve a reckoning.
I have a suggestion. I think the Governor should appoint a committee headed by Dr. Ted Epperly to investigate the lost $ 27 million. On issues regarding medical policy and economics, there is little common ground between me and Dr. Epperly.
He is a respected member of the medical community, and his reputation would add credibility to the Commission findings.
This may be the tip of the Iceberg, but it is a start.
Thanks again IFF for (finally) joining the fight. Like a modern-day Lafayette, you finally made it to the party—please stay till the end.
