(Originally published content from the Daily Iowan website Comments Section unedited for punctuation, spelling or grammar)

-In Response to Jacob Prall’s “Privatizing MEDICAID Runs into Deep Trouble, As Expected” Originally Published 7/20/16

Laurie Fein

In a period of less than 6 months, providers and clients alike have been forced to deal with 5 different processes for a single Medicaid program. And that is just part of the problem. Each of these organizations, and their respective processes, has their own issues. Who has time for that when you are trying to navigate on behalf of your clients or yourselves? This conglomeratization has done so much damage that I don’t know how Medicaid will ever recover. It worked swimmingly until January. Now, many providers have stopped taking Medicaid or new Medicaid clients. Clients can’t find providers. Providers are closing their doors or cutting services. This kind of damage can not be fixed easily. But, the greatest damage may be the destruction of trust in Iowa’s Medicaid program. And who pays for this? Sure, providers pay. But the greatest casualties are with people who depend on Medicaid for services.

Barbara Delia

Central Texas College

In the 80’s when we lived in West Virginia, pharmacies closed due to delayed payments from Medicaid. In volunteering for the Reeve Foundation I worked on a solution for a woman in Idaho that can’t find Any doctor. She has a Spinal Cord Injury and a wheelchair provides her mobility. She’s a cancer survivor, has diabetes and lupus with no doctor. I called doctors in a 50 + mile radius of her and No doctor would accept anymore Medicaid patients. When I asked the clinic near her, why won’t any doctor treat her? She kindly explained that 17 doctors left the area in the last year due to the minimal payments from Medicaid. She said the clinic is at 40% Medicaid patients & if they go any higher they too will have to close. I live in South Carolina & need a tooth orally extracted since it split, has 3 roots, one which goes into my sinus cavity & my regular dentist isn’t comfortable pulling it with the sinus cavity involved. I have Medicare Advantage with United Healthcare and I can’t find an oral surgeon that will accept Medicare in any form, whether supplement or an Advantage Plan. This is due to reduced payments through Medicare so it’s not accepted. My state South Carolina, West Virginia or Idaho isn’t privatized, but through the government directly. I understand your frustration created by privatization, but in the 3 states I mentioned, the system turns doctors/dentists away from providing care. There has to be changes so everyone can get the needed care.

Jason Frerichs

Kirkwood Community College

I am a respiratory therapist at one of the CHI facilities. The Medicaid privatization has been horrible. We were unable to accept patients in the United group because the reimbursements were so low it wasn’t financially viable. The closing of the mental health facility in Clarinda (which is only 30 miles from us) has caused to have to keep psych patients for hours, sometimes overnight, until we can find a bed for them. We are not trained to care for that type of patient. If it’s someone potentionally violent and Adams County police officer has to come and stay with the patient. That means overtime pay which the tax payers cover. Braindead is a terrible governor.

-In Response to Helaina Thompson’s “Fighting the Modified Battle” Originally Published 7/20/16

Nathan Batalion

Founder, President at Healing Talks

Much of scientific opinion on this subject is based on a 17th century born mechanical model of nature that fails to deeply understand the nature of life. The predominance by scientists thinking this technology is safe is thus flawed. In my opionion it will turn out to be as dangerous before the end of the 21st century as nuclear energy turned out in the 20th.