Is Medicaid a cash cow for special interests?

Days before her testimony before a Senate subcommittee, Dr. Eck returns to the Medical Freedom Report to talk with Michael Ostrolenk about how all-volunteer clinics like her Zaraphath Center treat the poor, at lower costs, with higher quality (and without federal money) compared to Federally Qualified Health Centers. FQHCs have multi-million dollar federally funded budgets but spend a significant portion on items not related to patient care, such as CEO salaries, travel, and physician recruitment. The Zaraphath clinic treats patients at an average cost of $13/visit while FQHCs averages are estimated to be between $160 and $280 per visit.  Dr. Eck estimates that the Volunteer Physicians Protection Act, which encourages doctors to donate their time in exchange for the state covering their malpractice claims, could save the state of NJ $2 Billion in its first year and balance the state budget.  This bill is receiving bipartisan support in the NJ Legislature.  It reduces government spending and improves access to health care for the poor.

Additional info: Read Dr. Eck’s latest article on this subject.