Latest news with #AnchorMedical
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RI's dentists are at the breaking point; Trump eluding deportation
With the recent announcement of Anchor Medical's closure, Rhode Island is witnessing the inevitable outcome of years of unheeded warnings about our collapsing health care infrastructure. Dentistry is on the same path ‒ and we're dangerously close to the breaking point. For years, dentists have sounded the alarm about inadequate insurance reimbursements. Compared to our neighboring states, dentists in Rhode Island are paid, on average, 30% less ‒ some rates are over 50% lower. These disparities aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet; they're the root of a growing access-to-care crisis. Delta Dental of RI and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI have failed to keep pace with regional standards for nearly two decades. This stagnation has real consequences. Rhode Island struggles to attract new dental professionals as seasoned dentists retire. The result? Months-long waits for appointments, especially for oral surgery and pediatric care. The issue doesn't stop there. Because dentists in Massachusetts and Connecticut can offer more competitive wages to dental assistants and hygienists, Rhode Island practices are losing essential staff ‒ further straining our system. And perhaps most troubling: fewer dentists are able to participate in the state's dental assistance program. Without fair reimbursement, many can no longer afford to serve Rhode Island's most vulnerable patients. The time to act is now. What once were warning signs are now full-blown alarms demanding immediate action. If reimbursement rates don't change, dentistry in RI will sink just like another anchor. Dr. Andrew 'Andy' Gazerro, West Warwick The writer is a 28 year practicing dentist, president of the Rhode Island Dental Association, and a former member of the American Dental Association Council on Dental Benefit Programs. Donald Trump was recently overheard telling El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, 'Homegrowns are next. …You've got to build about five more places.' By 'places' Trump meant more prisons like the notorious mega-prison in El Salvador known as CECOT. By 'homegrowns' he meant native-born Americans who have committed crimes. Some Trump officials have suggested that Trump's deportation plans may be expanded to include 'homegrowns,' especially those who have been critical of Trump. If that happens, it should include our most famous native-born convicted felon. He would be easy for ICE to find. He lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC. Gordon Rowley, Wakefield Every day my inbox fills with emails from the Democratic National Committee begging for money to help them fight President Trump's billionaires. Enough! The Democratic Party is funded by the wealthy, same as Republicans. Democratic 'leaders' don't pursue real solutions to our economic problems because they won't bite the hands that feed them. Everyone knows that. Maybe they think that because their billionaires are less nasty than Republican billionaires it's okay. However, either way you cut it the rich don't care about us. Trump won because the Democrats ran a "stay the course, things are basically fine" campaign. Things are not fine and they haven't been for decades. Most of us can't afford rents or mortgages, health care, child care or higher education. Those of us who grew up middle class remember that our parents or grandparents had more disposable income and less debt with just one working spouse than we do with two. For the less fortunate, things continue to grow more desperate. If we want real change ‒ a government and economy dedicated to widely shared prosperity and the nurturing of human potential ‒ we need to take to the streets and demand it. With their anti-oligarchy tour Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have demonstrated that they understand this. My money is going to them, not the DNC. We can't rely on the Democratic Party to save us. Steve D'Amico, Seekonk Secondhand smoke is killing people. Workers at casinos that still allow indoor smoking are at elevated risk. I have worked at what is now called Bally's in Lincoln since 1979. During my workday, my clothes would accumulate the stench of secondhand smoke to the point that I would need to launder them every day. I retired at age 63, due to health reasons at my doctor's request. When you inhale secondhand smoke you are inhaling over 7,000 volatile organic compounds, of which at least 70 of them are proven to cause lung cancer, respiratory illness, heart attacks and more. These chemicals include formaldehyde, benzene, naphthalene, and acetaldehyde. According to the American Cancer Society, exposure to secondhand smoke increases the chances of developing lung cancer by 20%. Imagine, if you will, what that number would rise to if you are there to maintain your livelihood 40 hours per week for years! Proponents of smoking indoors at casinos would argue that revenue would decline if there was no smoking on the casino floor. This is, in most cases, a fallacy. The cost of insurance, absenteeism, cleaning, and lawsuits add up. Recent surveys suggest that the second most important factor when choosing a casino is a 100% smoke-free environment. In my personal experience at Bally's, I notice that the big spenders are more often non-smokers than smokers. Joseph Morin, Coventry In response to the Trump Musk Demolition Crew, John Anderson ('Trump Fixes Problems, Democrats Do Nothing,' Letters, April 20) says about President Trump 'He might fix the problem, he might not. But he's doing something.' Mr. Anderson admires the devastation this administration is causing as it fires civil servants and abolishes programs that feed the starving and aid the suffering. I am a retired master plumber and I wonder if Mr. Anderson might have a leaky faucet or a slow drain somewhere. I can come over with my chain saw and sledge hammer, my acetylene torch and jackhammer. I'll tear out every pipe and open walls, rip out the water service to the street and toss out his sinks and toilets. It might fix the problem, it might not. But at least I'll be doing something. Richard Donelly, Providence If I were ever the target of antisemitism, I could write with more authenticity about the current confusion. Criticizing the elected leaders of Israel is not in itself antisemitism. Antisemitism is chanting 'Jews will not replace us' and affirming the chanters. Attacking synagogues and worshippers within is antisemitism and much more. Saying "Hitler should have finished the job" and affirming those who say it is antisemitism. If I criticize elected leaders of our own country, that does not mean I hate the United States, but rather, it is love. Lawrence H. Bradner, Providence It's that time of year when kind individuals, such as yourselves, can help the less fortunate in your area. How? By leaving non-perishable food by your mailbox or on your porch, to be picked up by your local letter carriers or their helpers by 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 10. Each year, for the past 33 years, on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers from all 50 States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, deliver mail and pick up non-perishable food left by their postal patrons. This yearly venture, known as "Stamp Out Hunger," is the biggest one-day food drive in this country. All the non-perishable food that will be picked up in each individual city or town will be delivered at the end of that day to their local food pantries. For instance, in our town of Bristol, the food will be gladly accepted at the East Bay Food Pantry, on Wood Street. According to Jocelyn King, the pantry's food program manager, the items that they desperately need are; cereal, pasta, rice, jelly and canned ravioli. You can make a difference. All you need to do is to inspect your cupboards and donate non-perishable food that is NOT outdated. Or, purchase non-perishable food at your favorite grocery store and place it near your mailbox or on your porch by 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 10. Your postal carrier, or helper, will do the rest. Please make a note so you won't forget this very important day to help your area's needy. Thank you and, together, we can make a difference in someone's life. Gerry Payette, Bristol The writer is an East Bay Food Pantry volunteer and retired USPS letter carrier. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI's dentists are at the breaking point; Trump eluding deportation | Letters
Boston Globe
29-04-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Amid R.I. primary care crisis, Governor McKee unveils $5m plan to recruit, retain doctors
Yet, nearly 25,000 adult and pediatric patients were informed that their doctor's office, Anchor Medical Associates, would be shutting down this year. That's on top of the Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up Related : Advertisement In response to Anchor's impending closure, McKee said he plans to file a budget amendment to accelerate a proposed review of primary care provider rates. Under this review, rate increases, which have been advocated for by patients and health care executives for years, may not be enacted until July 1, 2027, according to Kristen Pono Sousa, the state's director of Medicaid. 'I don't think primary care in Rhode Island has two years to wait,' said David Gellis, a primary care physician and the CEO of Advertisement The governor said a data analysis would need to be completed in order for the state's Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner to recommend rate increases for primary care providers. However, organizations such as the 'Share the data with us,' said McKee. 'I haven't seen it.' Governor Dan McKee on Tuesday released a modest plan with short- and long-term solutions to assist Rhode Island's struggling primary care system. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Even with higher reimbursement rates, patients in neighboring Massachusetts are still traveling out of state to find care, and Responding to McKee, some Rhode Island state officials voiced concerns that waiting another two years to raise provider rates could lead to further problems in the state's health care landscape. McKee is 'hanging his hat on promises of future studies and reviews, demonstrating a deep misunderstanding of the issues at hand,' said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha in a statement Tuesday. Advertisement Arches Medical has taken on at least 2,000 of Anchor Medical's patients, Gellis told the Globe, and is offering jobs to some of Anchor's providers. But it's a costly endeavor for practices, he said. McKee also announced Tuesday that the state would provide $5 million in grants for primary care practices, to support the recruitment and retention of providers and increase 'access and capacity' to serve patients. Interested practices can receive a maximum of $375,000 each. Applications are due May 16. 'If that gets into people's hands quickly, that will be significant in the short,' said Gellis. When asked how quickly his practice would need to receive those funds to help bridge a gap, Gellis said, 'Now.' Neronha, who has been increasingly critical of McKee on health care issues, called the grant program 'incremental' and 'vaguely defined,' saying that it will pay administrative costs 'rather than increasing reimbursement to primary care physicians.' Anchor Medical has been in business for 25 years, employs 22 providers and had offices Lincoln, Providence, and Warwick. State officials said they did not know how many patients had successfully found a new provider, citing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or Despite Anchor's 'positive reputation' and diverse payer mix between public and private payers, Secretary Richard Charest, who oversees the R.I. Executive Office of Health and Human Services, said Anchor's closure was 'primarily due to internal operational challenges.' When asked for more information by a Globe reporter, Charest said only, 'they had no liquidity in the end ." Advertisement McKee also filed a budget amendment to require hospitals, nursing facilities, health care centers, behavioral health clinics, large physician practices and other providers to submit quarterly financial reports to the state. He said these reports will create an 'early warning system' that will allow the state to solve issues with financially troubled health care organizations 'before they reach the point of no return.' Alexa Gagosz can be reached at
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
McKee announces steps to bolster RI's primary care system
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee held a news conference Tuesday morning to announce steps the state will take to strengthen its primary care system. McKee's office said he will lay out a series of short and long-term actions, which include addressing the impact of the Anchor Medical closure and finding ways to prevent future interruptions in Rhode Islanders' health care. Resources available for patients losing Anchor Medical providers The governor will be joined by members of his Health Care System Planning Cabinet. Watch the news conference live in the player above. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
McKee proposal could prevent future medical provider closures
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Gov. Dan McKee is hoping to establish a new early-warning mechanism in an effort to prevent the sudden closure of medical providers. This comes as approximately 25,000 patients with Anchor Medical Associates struggle to secure a new doctor before its practices close for good this summer. McKee's proposal would require hospitals, nursing facilities, health centers, behavioral clinics, physician practices and other providers to submit quarterly financial reports to the state. He described it as a 'a critical step in protecting access to care for all Rhode Islanders.' 'This new reporting requirement is designed to be an early-warning mechanism – not a punitive measure,' he said. 'By collecting financials on a quarterly basis, the state can engage providers earlier to preserve stability, promote solvency and avoid disruptions in care.' The goal is to improve transparency and support early identification of financial risks that may threaten continuity of care, according to McKee. 'We owe it to the people of Rhode Island to protect their health care access — and that starts with understanding where risks lie and addressing them before it's too late,' said Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Richard Charest. RELATED: Resources available for patients losing Anchor Medical providers Thousands of Anchor Medical patients are facing months-long wait lists for new practices, which is why a number of providers are opening their doors to those who are in dire need of a new primary care physician. Arches Medical told 12 News more than 1,500 former Anchor Medical patients are making the switch to their practices. 'Rhode Island has been behind the eight ball for a while with respect to primary care reimbursement,' said Dr. Gregory Allen, a primary care physician with Arches Medical. 'It's difficult to recruit and retain physicians in this state.' MORE: Patients push back as Anchor Medical prepares to shut down Though it's a step in the right direction, Allen believes McKee's proposal isn't enough to safeguard the state's health care system. 'I think what would be most helpful is if there could be some direct support for primary care in the state,' Allen said. In the meantime, Allen said he's focused on assisting the Anchor Medical patients who are desperately searching for new doctors. 'We're trying to do the best we can to help,' Allen said. McKee is also requesting a review of the state's primary care reimbursement rates through his proposed FY 25-26 budget. If passed, that review would be due in late 2027 and not take effect until 2028. NEXT: RI doctors seek solutions as Anchor Medical closure looms Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RI doctors: Solutions needed as Anchor Medical closure looms
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Much like an injury, doctors from the Rhode Island Medical Society say the state's doctor shortage needs to be addressed now, or it will only get worse. 'Unfortunately, I think we're in a state of emergency with this,' Dr. Mariah Stump, the society's vice president, said Friday on WPRI 12's Newsmakers. Brown University researchers estimate the state needs at least 300 doctors to keep up with demand, but doctors and patients are concerned about looming closure of Anchor Medical Associates. The health care group serves roughly 25,000 patients. In a letter earlier this month, Anchor Medical said it was closing because it was struggling to replace retiring doctors and that insurance reimbursement rates were not keeping up with growing costs. '[Doctors] say, 'I can go across the border and make 30% more,' Dr. Stump said. 'In that ballpark.' Resources available for patients losing Anchor Medical providers During an interview with 12 News earlier this week, Gov. Dan McKee said he would be open to raising reimbursement rates in Rhode Island, but not before the state conducts a review. 'That's the first step to doing something,' he said. 'You have to get the information before you can actually determine what the remedy is.' If the budget item passes, recommendations for the review would be due in 2027. But Dr. Thomas Bledsoe said studies have already been done to examine the effects of raising the reimbursement rate, and he believes the state needs to act. 'The emergency is that the 25,000 [patients] is really the tip of the iceberg,' Dr. Bledsoe said. House Speaker Joe Shekarchi is among those looking for a primary care physician. While he said the state needs to take steps to keep doctors, he acknowledged that this year's budget is tight. 'The majority of my caucus want to see any money put into primary physician reimbursement rates,' he said. On Friday, McKee announced he's adding an item to the budget in response to the recent closures, which would require health care groups to report their financial status on a quarterly basis. 'This new reporting requirement is designed to be an early warning mechanism,' he said. McKee: State working to help Anchor Medical doctors, patients McKee said he's also included other measures in the budget aimed at supporting doctors. 'We put some funding in for docs that want to stay here, making sure that they help them with some of the costs of education,' he said. The state is also looking into creating a medical school at URI, but Dr. Bledsoe said that could take decades. 'To think that there's a whole second crop of potential faculty in Rhode Island to staff the medical school, I think is a reach,' he said. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
