Comments on: State Health Plan Reform? Start with Legislators http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/02/05/state-health-plan-reform-start-with-legislators/ The Progressive Pulse is a blog about the issues, debates, and people that affect North Carolina public policy. As with the organization that sponsors it, NC Policy Watch, its ultimate objective is to improve the quality of life in the state, in this case by promoting the development of an informed, energetic and progressive online community. The Progressive Pulse welcomes the contributions of interested people of all points of view provided they are of a reasonable length, have some relevance to issues of North Carolina public policy and abide by the common rules of online etiquette (i.e., please avoid inappropriate language and show a measure of respect for others --even the John Locke Foundation). To post a comment, simply click the comment line then provide your name and email. Your email address will not be collected or shared. If you would like to be contributing writer, please send your post to info@ncpolicywatch.com with 'blog' in the subject line. If the post meets with our criteria (has a progressive perspective and is relative to our state), we will publish it. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:32:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Lois Bernard, LCSW http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/02/05/state-health-plan-reform-start-with-legislators/comment-page-1/#comment-40713 Lois Bernard, LCSW Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:31:15 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=3250#comment-40713 I am a mental health provider who is also covered by the State BC/BS plan. My copay for a "specialist' has increased from $40 to $60 this year. This might not seem like a lot but since the Primary Care Physician copay is $25 this is NOT parity and will prevent many of my patients from continuing care with any specialists even those who are not mental health such as allergists. It appears this parity law will not affect North Carolina BC/BS participants in any way except to increase copays. Is this not so or is the plan merely increasing the copays until Nov 1 2009 when they will have to comply with Fed. Law? I am a mental health provider who is also covered by the State BC/BS plan. My copay for a “specialist’ has increased from $40 to $60 this year. This might not seem like a lot but since the Primary Care Physician copay is $25 this is NOT parity and will prevent many of my patients from continuing care with any specialists even those who are not mental health such as allergists. It appears this parity law will not affect North Carolina BC/BS participants in any way except to increase copays. Is this not so or is the plan merely increasing the copays until Nov 1 2009 when they will have to comply with Fed. Law?

]]> By: Marsha V. Hammond, PhD http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/02/05/state-health-plan-reform-start-with-legislators/comment-page-1/#comment-30918 Marsha V. Hammond, PhD Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:35:09 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=3250#comment-30918 So, regardless of this fine 'mental health parity law' which passed in 2008, with main sponsor Martha Alexander, there's no mental health parity for: BCBSNC Federal employee plans BCBSNC Advanta Plans BCBCNS 'State Plan' SO DOES BCBSNC HAVE TO ADHERE TO ANYTHING ASSOCIATED W/ MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AS GUIDED BY THE NC STATE LEGISLATURE? Marsha V. Hammond, PhD http://madamedefarge2scutinizingbcbsnc.blogspot.com/ http://madame-defarge.blogspot.com/ So, regardless of this fine ‘mental health parity law’ which passed in 2008, with main sponsor Martha Alexander, there’s no mental health parity for:

BCBSNC Federal employee plans
BCBSNC Advanta Plans
BCBCNS ‘State Plan’

SO DOES BCBSNC HAVE TO ADHERE TO ANYTHING ASSOCIATED W/ MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AS GUIDED BY THE NC STATE LEGISLATURE?

Marsha V. Hammond, PhD
http://madamedefarge2scutinizingbcbsnc.blogspot.com/
http://madame-defarge.blogspot.com/

]]> By: HealthCare-NOW http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/02/05/state-health-plan-reform-start-with-legislators/comment-page-1/#comment-30885 HealthCare-NOW Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:13:10 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=3250#comment-30885 I really doubt that the NC Legislature has the expertise to solve the medical cost/quality emergency here at the state level. if House Resolution 676 passes Congress then we wont need a 'State Health Plan', we will have Medicare 4 All Everyone In, Nobody Out! I really doubt that the NC Legislature has the expertise to solve the medical cost/quality emergency here at the state level.

if House Resolution 676 passes Congress then we wont need a ‘State Health Plan’, we will have Medicare 4 All Everyone In, Nobody Out!

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