We call the universal healthcare system we're fighting for "Medicare for All" because even though most people in this country have never heard of "Single Payer Healthcare," we all know Medicare. That's because, despite its flaws, Medicare has been a reliable, publicly funded system that seniors and folks with disabilities have counted on for 50 years. Unfortunately, if wall street bankers and healthcare
profiteers have their way, that could change. Here’s their scheme: The Medicare Direct Contracting program (which will be renamed “REACH” in 2023) pays third-party middleman called Direct Contracting Entities (DCEs) a flat fee to “manage” seniors’ care. DCEs could be private insurance firms or even private equity firms, and they are allowed to keep up to 40% of their Medicare payments as overhead and profits — a major incentive to restrict what they cover. Basically, seniors are signing up for a public health program only to find that their health is actually in the hands of a private company with a financial
incentive to cut corners on care. Even worse, seniors are enrolled in DCEs without their knowledge or consent.
We have the power to stop Direct Contracting in its tracks, but we need everybody to join the fight.
|
