State Rep. Martinez seeks extension of Medicare open enrollment

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New Mexico Business Weekly

State Rep. Martinez seeks extension of Medicare open enrollment
New Mexico Business Weekly by Dennis Domrzalski, Reporter
Date: Thursday, November 15, 2012, 2:41pm MST

New Mexico state Rep. W. Ken Martinez, D-Grants, has asked federal Medicare authorities to extend the open enrollment period for Medicare recipients in New Mexico, saying they need more time to find new doctors or health plans because of the failure of Lovelace Health Plan and ABQ Health Partners to agree to a new contract.

“The failure of their contract negotiations and subsequent split of the health insurance plan and physicians’ group has left more than 100,000 in New Mexico in limbo – requiring them to either to find a new doctor or find a new insurance plan in a short amount of time,” Martinez said in a letter sent Wednesday to Marjorie Petty, director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Dallas office.

“Of these 100,000 patients, more than 32,000 are Medicare members. This means that health care of our most vulnerable population is at risk of being disrupted,” Martinez, who is the House majority leader, wrote.

The contract between Lovelace and ABQ Health Partners, a physician’s groups with 184 doctors, ended Nov. 8. Since then Lovelace members who had ABQ Health Partners doctors, have had to find new doctors or switch health plans.


Read more: http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2012/11/15/state-rep-martinez-seeks-extension-of.html

[McCamy Taylor]

1. Proponents of "managed" Medicare take note.

[marybourg]

2. The name "Medicare Advantage" has disappeared

and newer Medicare eligibles are being led to believe that Medicare IS the managed care plans. And HHS appears to be compliant in this.