As I have worked with many of you during this time, I wanted to personally explain my reason.
Two days ago, I received a certified letter from Denise Kaestner, IMGMA President. This letter basically scolded me for being “unprofessional”, because I posted an article on my PERSONAL blog. An article that was signed personally by me and INCLUDED a disclaimer in the first paragraph stating: “As a disclaimer, the views and opinions presented in this document are solely those of this author”.
This article portrayed my ongoing communication with the IME (Iowa Medicaid) regarding their retrospective claims recoupment project. The intent of this article was to allow providers to see the injustice of this project, and provide facts. It did reference IMGMA, as a matter of information, nothing more. The purpose of this article was to inform Iowa providers to the situation and give them information to use in the appeal process. It was not my intent to damage IMGMA in any way. The article was very factual, and has been re-posted. Any reference to IMGMA will be removed.
This writing offended Jennifer Vermeer, Director of the Medicaid program. Honestly, I’m glad she read it, and she should have been offended. The actions of the IME regarding this issue remain to have legal question.
I was offended by the IME’s actions regarding the entire retrospective recruitment program.
I was offended, as all providers should have been that the IME lied to us regarding how there were going to review and recoup on previously processed claims going back to 2007.
What I am most offended by, was the fact that the IMGMA board took the action of sending a letter to me scolding me, probably the only person in IMGMA’s history who has done more for Iowa providers on insurance and reimbursement issues than anyone. However, they they did want me to stay on the committee - I declined. I not only resigned from the Insurance & Reimbursement Committee, I also dropped my IMGMA membership.
The letter from the IMGMA board indicated to me that, as an organization, IMGMA is weak. They became submissive to Iowa Medicaid, the carrier with the most administrative burden and the lowest reimbursement.
I can not support an association that has no backbone. I believe everything in my article was on target. The only item questionable was the acronym I used to describe what the IME was doing to Iowa providers – and honestly, I think I was right on target with that too. In case you hadn’t seen the article, I came up with the acronym of “M-RAPE” (Medicaid Retrospective Administrative Payment Execution).
The political correctness that is epidemic in today’s society is appalling. When we start censoring the people who shine a light on situations, we become sheep. I won’t be a sheep.
I will continue my advocacy work for my practice as well as other health associations, I just have removed my connection with IMGMA. I will continue blogging as time permits and the Medicaid article has been re-posted.
In case you want to keep up with my blog, you can find it at: www.mitchdsm.blogspot.com
I’ve enjoyed the work I have done for the IMGMA membership and will continue my advocacy to that regard….
And if I need to be occasionally “offensive”, it will most likely be because it was warranted!
Mitch
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