Stop Denying Payment of Emergency Services for Medicaid Patients

• van: Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Washington State Medical Association, Washington State Hospital Association
• ontvanger: Washington State Legislature

  The Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA) plans to stop paying for all emergency department visits for Medicaid patients when HCA deems those visits “not medically necessary” in the ER.  The HCA is pointing the finger squarely at Medicaid patients and distorting the issue to deny care to people with real emergencies.

  Please join us in asking the Washington State Legislature to enact the physician-developed plan that will save millions of dollars while still protecting patient safety and access to quality care. 

  Putting a faceless bureaucrat between a patient and physician to determine what is a true emergency is dangerous and sacrifices patient safety.  Washington State’s emergency physicians have proposed an alternative plan that protects patient safety and access to quality care.  The plan was developed by the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (WA/ACEP), Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), and Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA). 

  The physician-developed plan would save money by:

  ·       Reducing ED visits for narcotic-seeking behavior

  ·       Increasing access to primary care and reducing ED “misuse” by collaborative use of next-day or same-day visits to primary care

  ·       Creating a “Generics First” initiative spearheaded by physicians to voluntarily develop a statewide drug formulary

  ·       Instituting an extensive case management program to reduce inappropriate ED utilization by frequent users

  ·       Tracking emergency room visits to reduce ED shopping.

  Sign our petition as a voice against bureaucrats getting between physicians and patients and a voice for our state’s most vulnerable receiving the emergency care they need.