Ailing Houston boy a symbol of health-care crisis

[elehhhhna]

Battle to keep Houston boy insured as he fought cancer is poignant example of how bureaucracy can hinder care

Devante's insurance problems started while he was undergoing treatment for Stage 4 cancer at Texas Children's Hospital earlier this year.

His mother, Tamika Scott, knew the Medicaid coverage for Devante and his two younger brothers was set to expire April 30. In Texas, families are required to renew their Medicaid and CHIP coverage every six months.

Scott submitted the paperwork two months before the April deadline, but officials say it sat unprocessed for six weeks because of a staffing shortage.

When someone finally looked at it, the worker determined Scott made too much money for Medicaid and instead qualified for CHIP, a program for the working poor. The application was forwarded to Texas Access Alliance, a private contractor that was put in charge of CHIP enrollment last year.

Scott said she tried tracking her application, but it was lost in the system. Repeated calls and multiple faxes got her nowhere. As the deadline passed, Scott realized her critically ill boy was without insurance coverage.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4261398.html

[ck4829]

1. Staffing shortage. Yeah sure, whatever.

Bunch of murderers.

[elehhhhna]

2. they failed to mention it's been CONTRACTED OUT and that's the

alleged cause of the staffing shortage. Bastards.

[ThomCat]

3. Exactly. They deliberately outsource this to the lowest bidder.

They know that the lowest bidder is going to be understaffed, and the staff they do have is going to be overworked and underpaid.

Then they act surprised when things like this happen. :grr:

That's like me deliberately punching you in the face, but acting surprised when your nose bleeds. Oh my, it's an unforseen problem. It's not my fault!

[area51]

4. kick. (n/t)