Parenthood

Miscarriage No Longer Considered “Emergency” For Medicaid Patients In Washington State

If you're poor, there's no need to go to the hospital just because you are losing a pregnancy.

The Republican Party is gung ho on the idea of reducing Medicaid costs to save the rich from having to pay their fair share of taxes.  So what would Medicaid rationing look like under their plan?

Probably a lot like Washington State.  In an effort to curb the cost of hospital visits by Medicaid patients, the Health Care Authority (HCA) has made a list of conditions that no longer are deemed “emergency,” and have allowed patients only three “non-emergency” hospital visits a year before they stop covering their claims.

One “not an emergency?”  Miscarriage.  Apparently bleeding out when you are losing a pregnancy and not sure if the baby is out or not isn’t worth a visit to the E.R. anymore.

Maybe poor women can get lucky and plan their miscarriages weeks in advance so they can see their primary care physician instead.