Since absentee voting is now open for the November elections, I thought it was a good time to discuss an item on the ballot that directly affects you and your health care. The Initiated Measure (IM) 17 is a measure that would require all health insurers to include all willing and qualified health care providers on their provider lists. This measure allowing for patient choice, allows insured patients improved and less costly access to highly qualified and quality physicians that may be better suited or more familiar and convenient than those offered by the insurance company chosen by their employer.
The South Dakota Patient Choice website explains more (http://www.sdpatientchoice.org/explained):
“In some instances, a change of insurance may make it cost prohibitive for a patient to see their long-term provider. For example, if an employer selects a new group health insurance plan from a company that uses a closed network, an employee’s longtime primary care provider may be excluded from the network if he is not an employee of the hospital system that owns the insurance company that issued the new group policy. This results in the employee paying expensive out-of-pocket costs or finding a new, unfamiliar provider.
Under Initiated Measure 17, insurance companies would be required to open their networks to qualified providers who meet the insurance company’s requirements.”
Currently many patients are forced to use providers in insurance company networks or pay extra, and some are required to undergo unnecessary travel at their own expense. Voting Yes on IM 17 will allow patients the freedom to choose their own doctor as well as the following:
- Allows families to see doctors and other medical providers they know and trust.
- Cuts unnecessary re-testing by providers not familiar with case histories.
- Reduces probability of diagnostic or prescription errors.
- Eases unneeded travel.
- Virtually eliminates out of network personal medical fees.
- Increases competition, helping control spiraling medical costs.
IM 17 will require insurance companies to allow providers into their networks who meet their standards and agree to the insurance companies’ terms.
IM 17 is largely supported across the state of South Dakota as they feel having a consistent and on-going relationship with a provider is in the best interest of quality care. Supports include: SD State Medical Association, SD Orthopaedic Society, SD Optometric Society, SD American Physical Therapy Association, Independent Healthcare Associates, SD Dental Association, SD Chiropractic Association, SD Academy of Physician Assistants, and us here at Brown Clinic!
We encourage you to vote YES on IM 17, Patient Choice! You shouldn’t have to change doctors because your job or insurance changes!
For more information visit www.sdpatientchoice.org or check out the commercial of our very own Heather Lawrence, RN at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTZQTxF_mns&feature=youtu.be
