The fiasco began when a provider became an insurer
Now that the Supreme Court has ruled in UPMC’s favor (July 19, “Court Rules on Highmark, UPMC Dispute”), this “playground” dispute has landed squarely on the laps of every policyholder of a Medicare Advantage plan. The “golden years” are difficult enough without these two giant nonprofits, which we indirectly subsidize, causing a disruption in the continuity of our health care when we are in the final quarter of life.
When our government permitted a nonprofit health care provider to go into the health insurance business, this fiasco began.
Some of the things we now deal with because of the legislators’ blunders are as follows:
1. Your insurer now decides if you should have surgery and from whom.
2. The insurer, not your doctor, decides what drugs you should take.
3. I have been told it could take months to get a pre-authorization for surgery.
The grand finale is that now, withthis ruling, Highmark Medicare Advantage policyholders will be barred from using most UPMC facilities after July 1, 2019. In my opinion, Pennsylvania legislators created this mess, sothey need to step up and fix it.
All Highmark policyholders need to call their legislators immediately and demand that legislation be created to correct this problem. JERRY ROPPO Economy “government of the people, by thepeople and for the people”?
Since they are fond of quoting Holy Scripture to justify their actions, here are two passages of Holy Scripture for them to ponder.
“Where were you when I formed the foundation of the world. Tell me if you understand (know so much)” Book of Job 38:4.
“God blessed them and said be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.” Not destroy it. Book of Genesis 1:28. WILLIAM S . BACKA
Swisshelm Park
“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing. ... You will know them by their fruits.” The fruits of PG editorial director Keith Burris are becoming easier and easier to predict. He recently donned the disingenuous mantle of the people’s open-minded, moderate shepherd and cajoled “we people” to don a more moderate mindset — such as his own (July 15 column, “Destroying What We Came For”).
He extolled the virtues of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh (never mind that he’s yet another extreme, conservative, Ivy League elitist), while insisting the noble course of action is to grant a fair and impartial hearing — and then, of course, confirm. Mr. Burris had
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the audacity to call out Sen. Bob Casey on his stand against the nominee, completely ignoring the fact that Sen. Pat Toomey did no less in refusing, along with his Republican colleagues, to even consider the eminently qualified Merrick Garland, a true moderate. Wouldn’t it have been nice if his own GOP had acted in a responsible manner when President Barack Obama’s nominee was up for consideration? Why no outcry fromBurris’ camp then?
And how about the pathetic “Hey, look at me, I went to a Neil Young concert — doesn’t that prove I’m one of you?” No Mr. Burris, it doesn’t. Note: “n’t” included purposely. GENE WATSON
Moon