))
Alabama Medicaid Expansion with Dr. Madeline Eckenrode
Manage episode 477038088 series 3354311
Content provided by https://www.GetTherapyBirmingham.com. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by https://www.GetTherapyBirmingham.com or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
Alabama physician Dr. Madeline Eckenrode gives an insider's view of the suffering caused by the state's failure to expand Medicaid. Hear harrowing stories of patients with diabetes, substance use disorders and other chronic conditions who can't afford care. Learn how Medicaid expansion would lower costs and save lives. Most importantly, get inspired to join the fight for healthcare justice in your community!
Resources and Organizations Mentioned in Interview Advocacy Organizations Alabama Arise- Organization that does advocacy around issues affecting Alabamians, including Medicaid expansion
- Encourages Dr. Eckenrode to write her article about young adults losing Medicaid coverage
- Provides information about legislation and opportunities for civic engagement
- Helps people know when to lobby, who to contact, and when to show up at the state house
- Advocacy organization that works on criminal justice reform and other issues in Alabama
- Successfully advocated to end the practice of jail managers pocketing leftover food budget money
- Works on issues with broad, cross-partisan appeal
- Website where Dr. Eckenrode published her article about Medicaid expansion
- Main news source for Alabama
- Published an article about United Healthcare using algorithms to determine if people were using "too much" mental health care and denying claims
- UAB Medicine
- Where Dr. Eckenrode practices and did her residency
- Home of the STEP Clinic for young adults with complex medical conditions
- Specializes in treating young adults with complex medical conditions from childhood
- Treats conditions like cerebral palsy, spina bifida, organ transplants, lupus, etc.
- Student-run free health clinic affiliated with UAB
- Provides care for uninsured patients with conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes
- Cannot provide cancer screening or comprehensive services
- UAB clinic for uninsured patients with poorly controlled diabetes
- Provides free medications
- UAB assertive community treatment team
- Works with severe cases of psychotic mental illness
- Healthcare facility funded by Jefferson County taxpayers
- Provides services to uninsured individuals in Jefferson County
- Government insurance for low-income and disabled people
- In Alabama, primarily serves disabled adults and children
- Pediatric Medicaid coverage ends at age 19 in Alabama
- Alabama has not expanded Medicaid unlike many other states
- Has "pretty good prescription drug coverage" according to Dr. Eckenrode
- Government insurance primarily for people over 65
- Some people who are disabled can qualify before age 65
- People on dialysis automatically qualify for Medicare
- Private insurance company mentioned throughout the interview
- Various plans (state employee, federal, employer-specific)
- Private insurance company mentioned as "the enemy" by Dr. Eckenrode
- Largest employer of doctors in the country
- Uses algorithms to identify and deny claims for "excessive" mental health care usage in some states
- Extended postpartum care through Medicaid from 6 weeks to 12 months
- Legislation to make it easier for pregnant women to enroll in Medicaid in first 60 days
- Recent Alabama law allowing patients to see physical therapists without a doctor's referral
- Some insurers still requiring referrals despite the law
- North Carolina
- Arkansas
- Pennsylvania (mentioned as having no tax on groceries or essential items)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this episode are not neccesarily the views held by taproot therapy collective.
#MedicaidExpansion #AlabamaHealthcare #UninsuredPatients #ChronicIllness #MentalHealthAccess #SubstanceAbuseTreatment #PatientAdvocacy #HealthcareActivism #HealthcareCosts #HealthEquity #TaprootTherapyCollective #DrMadelineEckenrode
93 episodes
Share
