PASSE problems

TO THE EDITOR:

The Arkansas legislature created a model of organized care (Act 775, PASSE: Provider-led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity) in order to address health care needs of high needs Medicaid beneficiaries. Arkansas Medicaid spends $1 billion per year, and this program designed to improve services while saving money. However, as parents of one of those beneficiaries, we know the program has not worked. We’ve had to battle this new system for 18 months now for our son to continue receiving medically necessary services he’d received for several years (prior to the PASSE). There is not ONE service that the PASSE continued to provide without a fight. It’s been a scary time. We’re sad to report that our son’s services have not improved, and the only way the PASSE is saving money is by denying or delaying medically necessary services for our state’s most vulnerable population.

There is a contract between DHS and PASSE providers that is not being honored. Unfortunately, third party beneficiaries (our son), cannot legally enforce the contract. We’ve reached out to DHS to enforce it, and they have not. We’ve reached out for help from every member of the following legislative groups numerous times:

■ Arkansas Legislative Council

■ ALC-Administrative Rules and Regulations

■ Public Health Welfare & Labor Committee-House and Senate

We’ve received no help from them at all. It would be nice if these legislators would take their jobs seriously (especially during election season) by: passing corrective legislation, responding to pleas for help from Arkansas citizens, and providing oversight of government programs. Even if they don’t care that people like our son are being underserved, shouldn’t they care about the $1 billion in Medicaid spending lining the pockets of PASSE providers rather than meeting the needs of Arkansans?