---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ambrose Lane Jr <ambrose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, Sep 3, 2021 at 3:31 PM
Subject: PART 3: The Medicaid Healthcare "Fiasco" It's More Messed Up than
You Know
To:
*Peace and Blessings. We will get through this.*
*As reported by WTOP News yesterday, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a "Public
Health Emergency" order
<https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/DCHA/UploadedImages/0ef6d554-2ce6-495b-ba82-d58e582e61a3/Mayors_Order_Declaring_Emergency.pdf>
under
the Home Rule Act that took effect Wednesday. That gives her roughly 30
days before Medstar Family Choice, a Medicaid Managed Care Organization
(MCO), will cease operations in DC, affecting about 65,000 residents. “The
reverberations from the loss of Medstar from the managed care program will
echo through the District’s entire health care system with a significant
and pernicious impact,” the order states.*
*The Health Alliance Network supported the Mayor's Public Health Emergency
order. But NOT what came after.*
*Yesterday, The Mayor issued three requests to the DC Council (see Medstar
attachment), asking that they consider approving a continuation of the
contracts of Medstar Family Choice, AmeriHealth Caritas DC, and
CareFirst/Trusted. The Health Alliance Network does NOT support the
continuation of the Medstar MCO contract. The DC Council has until
September 12th to act. If no action is taken, then the Mayor's 3 orders go
into effect. If a letter of disapproval is written (3 Council members are
needed) then they won't go into effect and another process begins. In the
meantime, the Mayor's Public Health Emergency order will expire. *
*THIS IS A HEALTH EQUITY ISSUE!! I am an appointed Commissioner to the DC
Commission on Health Equity!*
*DHCF Director Wayne Turnage has called Medstar a "bad actor" in the not
too distant past. Has Medstar Health done anything to shed that moniker?
Doesn't seem so.*
*The Health Alliance Network held a briefing last night with several other
DC organizations on this situation. We are moving forward on filing a
complaint against Medstar Health with the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human
Services Office on Civil Rights. We will be joined by these organizations
in our filing. If your organization wants to join us let us know asap!*
*Medstar Health is NOT "Too big to fail!" The callousness by which they
have bullied and put profit and revenues over the health of black and brown
DC residents is racist, discriminatory, and should not be tolerated by our
elected officials. What concessions did the Mayor/residents receive by
extending the contract? Was there (ever) a "quid pro quo?"*
*On Sept 1st, Councilmembers McDuffie and Silverman issued a letter to the
AG Karl Racine (see attached) requesting that his office investigate
possible antitrust law violations against Medstar.*
*Thus far, Medstar Health has:*
- *Violated it's Provider Agreement with the city;*
- *Terminated the contract with AmeriHealth;*
- *Terminated the contract with CafeFirst;*
- *Threatened to end discounted rates with Medicaid MCO program plans;*
- *Threatened the healthcare and health service access to thousands of
DC Medicaid residents;*
- *Possibly violated its Certificate of Need agreements;*
- *Possibly violated Title 6 of the Civil Rights Code;*
- *Possibly violated DC Antitrust laws;*
- *Put profit and revenues over people.*
*What the DC Council could/should do:*
- *Enact legislation that compels hospitals "in order to do business in
the District of Columbia" to enter into contracts with DC Medicaid Managed
Care Organizations (MCO's). There is precedent for this--there are laws
governing the contracting of minority CBE's where certain businesses HAVE
to subcontract a certain percentage to Certified Business Enterprises
(CBE's)*
- *Establish a Commission to study implementation of an entity similar
to Maryland's "Cost Control Board" and/utilize best practices from around
the country.*
*This problem has many more solutions than what has been presented, but for
now, we'll never know. Hasty actions and a lack of collaboration on
determining a consensus solutions approach in the name of
a created emergency has left the Council, the City and residents few
options. And of course, NO community VOICE! But that's why the Health
Alliance Network SPEAKS! *
*"There's never a wrong time to do the right thing." -M.L.K.,Jr.*
*WTOP News:*
https://wtop.com/dc/2021/08/health-care-services-for-dcs-medicaid-patients-under-threat/
*DC Hospital Association statement:*
*https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/DCHA/UploadedImages/0ef6d554-2ce6-495b-ba82-d58e582e61a3/DC_Health_Associations_Joint_Statement_on_Mayoral_Health_Systems_Emergency_Declaration_Medicaid_Managed_Care.pdf
<https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/DCHA/UploadedImages/0ef6d554-2ce6-495b-ba82-d58e582e61a3/DC_Health_Associations_Joint_Statement_on_Mayoral_Health_Systems_Emergency_Declaration_Medicaid_Managed_Care.pdf>*
*OUR NEXT MEETING IS MONDAY SEPTEMBER 13th 12:00 - 2:30 pm! Join us! ZOOM
LINK below!*
*Health Alliance Network/Ambrose Lane Jr is inviting you to a scheduled
Zoom meeting on September 13th at 12:00 noon.Join Zoom
Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/89181191918
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89181191918&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1631128568596047&usg=AOvVaw3gi_N8N1wD5q48PLyCuBak>Meeting
ID: 891 8119 1918One tap mobile+13126266799,,89181191918# US
(Chicago)+19292056099,,89181191918# US (New York)Dial by your
location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New
York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)*
*Ambrose Lane, Jr., Chair*
*Health Alliance Networ*k
(202) 374-6226
--
*Visit us online at: www.deanwoodcitizens.org
<http://www.deanwoodcitizens.org>*
*Become a member: https://www.deanwoodcitizens.org/join-now
<https://www.deanwoodcitizens.org/join-now>*
*Join our email list: //www.freelists.org/list/deanwoodcitizens
<//www.freelists.org/list/deanwoodcitizens>*
Attachment:
2021-09-01 Letter from CM Silverman and CM McDuffie to AG Racine w attachments (002).pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document
Attachment:
CA24-0251-Introduction (Medstar).pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document
