Dr. Eric Voth has long been considered by conservatives the go-to Doctor for state questions. As an internist and lead practitioner at Stormont-Vail Topeka, his prior testimony has been praised by Republicans repeatedly. When speaking about issues of marijuana reform, Dr. Voth, a longtime advocate of strict laws has received praise from Republicans who welcomed that position. In January, Senator Pilcher-Cook referred to him as “unquestionably qualified” praising his experience and tenure at Stormont Vail.
In Topeka today, the Doctor had a different set of advice for the Senate Health Committee Republicans, and that advice could be boiled down to one word: “nonsense”.
Kansas Republicans had advanced a bill aimed at introducing Step therapy, a procedure by which new patients are introduced to generic prescription drugs first, and only if those drugs are unsuccessful are they “stepped up” to other, more expensive treatment options.
In testimony before the panel today, Dr. Voth made his opinion clear: “How much time do you think Doctors have?” he asked the panel, noting that the current methods by which doctors must clear prescriptions for patients is “really a game” that doesn’t save any money, wastes treatment hours, and can harm patients.
While Dr. Voth’s rebuke of the plan kicked off the senate health meeting, he wasn’t alone with harsh words on a Republican plan aimed at saving Kancare — the state’s private medicare program — money.
In continuing his testmony, Dr. Voth offered noted that, the bill in it’s current form impacted psychotropic drugs, and that alone should cause concerns.
Prior to the hearing, several were unsure about that element, including Senator Jim Denning (R-Johnson County) who had introduced the legislation. In a question raised by Senator Laura Kelly (D-Shawnee County), a state reviser confirmed that yes, in fact, mental health drugs would also be covered under the Step program, as it offered no prohibitions against such, only changing a rule.
Dr. Voth noted that his Topeka based facility, Stormont Vail was “overwhelmed” thanks to the lack of bed space available in Osawatomie, and the Step treatment program applied to mental health care would be “potentially very dangerous”, finally noting: “Doctors know their patients. We consider many variables that a program can’t.” He finally asked the committee: “Insurers will not share with us their algorithm of what they will accept or deny, if you want to do this, we need to know the rules.”
While Doctor Voth led off the opponents opponents of the bill, he wasn’t alone with serious concerns over the care provided. Susan Crain Lewis from Mental Health MidAmerica referred to the program as “Fail First”, noting, "This will have a long term cost to Kansas, not just healthcare. Law enforcement and public safety will suffer."
The committee didn’t just face advocates from outside of the building, however, as moving testimony offered by fellow Republican Representative Sue Boldra (R-Hays) delivered personal testimony in relation to her own daughter’s experience with Step Therapy.
Boldra’s deeply personal discussion of the dangers of badly managed treatment led to the discussion of her niece, currently bedridden due to policies, according to Representative Boldra, like those the committee is trying to enact. “Do not do this”, she offered; noting that her niece, due to changes in drug regimen and fights with insurance policies was currently bed ridden. “This is more than a monetary cost, there is a cost here of our own humanity.”
Vicki Hiatt, Democratic Challenger to Mary Pilcher-Cook, noted that what was being proposed in the state house today seemed oddly familiar:
"Kansans have repeatedly rejected the establishment of government 'death panels’," Hiatt said."This proposal takes us down a dangerous path, and should be rejected," she said.
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