By Henry Kahn, M.D.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Letters, Oct. 28, 2024
Itās true that rural communities suffer when insurance payment practices erode patient care (AJC Opinion, Oct. 20).
Two years ago, the Atlanta Medical Center stopped serving its inner-city patients for similar reasons. Hospitals, doctors and patients across Georgia struggle to survive in an environment dominated by commercial insurance plans called āMedicare Advantage.ā
By contrast, some of us elders are fortunate to get care through the federal program of nonprofit, traditional Medicare. This is a nationwide, universal plan in which all hospitals and doctors participate. When we need care, we arenāt burdened with long waits for prior authorization, frequent denials of payment or restricted panels of doctors and hospitals. These burdens are an āadvantageā only for the profits of the commercial plans. They can offer free sneakers and lower premiums because privatized plans receive 22% more funding than traditional Medicare for covering similar beneficiaries.
The government should redirect its funding from the privatized plans to improve the benefits of traditional Medicare.
Dr. Henry Kahn is a retired primary care physician.