Cenpatico Blog

To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. – Thomas Paine

I can’t help but now wade into the controversy that has become a nasty and mean spirited debate on healthcare reform.  First of all, let me say that like most Americans I still do not understand why we need a public government insurance option.  It just isn’t making any sense to me.

Look, I hope that everyone is on board with the idea that no American citizen should go without healthcare coverage. I believe my industry is on board. The problem is the solution that is being offered in the form of a government run entity. The proponents of this government plan keep touting that it will “increase competition” and “keep insurers honest.”  Let me address those two issues from my perspective of a CEO of a managed behavioral healthcare company.

1) “Keep insurers honest.”  First, I have to tell you, I find this argument personally insulting.  I am a licensed psychologist who until 10 years ago was a provider, treating consumers with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.  The insinuation of the “honesty” argument is that I wake up everyday putting profits before the needs of over 1 million consumers under my responsibility.  At 52 years of age, I have spent my entire life dedicated to the cause of ensuring that the behavioral health needs of everyone are met to the greatest extent possible.  Second, managed care is one of the most regulated industries, except for maybe the airlines industry, that I have ever seen.  I am audited and regulated down to the font size of my letters to consumers.  I am audited by accreditation agencies, various Federal agencies such as CMS, the SEC, as well as state agencies.  There is nothing hidden or invisible about what my company does, and yes, the auditing includes my financials.

2) “Increase competition”.  Pardon me?!  Then who were United and Magellan Health Services who I bid against for recent contracts?  In a recent bid, we were included in a field of FIVE competitive bids for a state behavioral health contract.  There is plenty of competition now, trust me; in fact a public option, in my opinion, would actually kill competition especially for smaller companies like mine.  A company is going to need to have deep pockets to compete with the price fixing practices of a government run public health entity. As a smaller, but growing company, I cannot compete against the Cignas, Aetnas and Uniteds of the world if there is a public option.  What will happen is consolidation of the healthcare industry into a few behemoths. Anyone remember AIG or the consolidation of the banking and finance industry? Or the bail outs?  So I ask you my intelligent and informed reader, why this same consolidation would not happen in the private healthcare industry in order to “compete” against a public healthcare solution?

Don’t get me wrong, I think the entire healthcare industry could be more efficient and that there is still unnecessary waste and fraud.  But let’s fix the current system, and get everyone covered.  We do not need yet another government bureaucracy.

Oh, and let’s please debate this without screaming and name calling. I’ve never felt compelled to spread outrageous lies not supported by facts, nor to accuse those who don’t agree with me of being “Nazis” (talk about the diminution of the holocaust, one of the darkest chapters in human history).  I am ashamed of how this debate has been conducted and regardless of how passionate you feel and where you stand on this issue, abusive behavior and screaming don’t make your argument.

-Sam Donaldson

CEO Cenpatico

These are personal views and not those of Cenpatico or any persona or entity affiliated with Cenpatico.

This entry is filed under Blog.

The Cenpatico National Advisory Council is reaching out to individuals who receive services from Cenpatico, their family members and community advocates who may be interested in participating on our National Advisory Council.  The membership of our Council will include one or two individuals from each State where we do business.

The Council will combine the skills, abilities and background of each Council member to contribute their wealth of knowledge and expertise for the ultimate benefit of the communities we serve.

Individuals who receive services, family members and community advocates play a significant role in shifting the current system to a recovery-oriented system.  By including family members and individuals in the planning, evaluation, research, training and service delivery, Cenpatico will be working with you to ensure that we are meeting the spirit of the President’s New Freedom Commission Report on Mental Health in involving individuals and family members fully in orienting the behavioral health system toward recovery.

For more information regarding the National Advisory Council please contact Tom Kelly, Recovery and Resiliency Advisor at 866-495-6738 Ext. 26120 or tkelly@centene.com.

This entry is filed under News.

Effective immediately, Jason Harrold, current President and CEO of OptiCare Managed Vision, Inc., has been appointed to Senior Vice President of Centene’s Specialty Business Unit. Mr. Harrold will assume the leadership role over the specialty companies previously held by William Scheffel. Mr. Harrold has been President of OptiCare Managed Vision for nearly ten years.

Jonathan Dinesman has been appointed Vice President of Government Relations. Mr. Dinesman previously served as Vice President, Business Development – State Affairs. In his new role, Mr. Dinesman will oversee Centene’s Government Relations office in Washington D.C. Prior to joining Centene, he was with UnitedHealth Group in Washington.

Shannon Scales, Senior Director of Internal Audit will take on the lead management role of the Internal Audit department in St. Louis. Ms. Scales has served in the Internal Audit department with increasing responsibility for more than six years.

Michael F. Neidorff, Centene’s Chairman and CEO, commented, “We are extremely fortunate to have these talented individuals, especially as healthcare dominates the national stage. These appointments reflect the value of our succession planning program. With their expertise, Centene will continue to grow its high-quality, accessible healthcare solutions.”

This entry is filed under News.

Since 2005 the I.C. Hope – Don’t Duck Mental Health Program is committed to educating students about the importance of mental health.  I.C. Hope’s mission is to define mental illnesses in terms that students can understand and erase stigmas that may become roadblocks to seeking help.

Some of the issues tackled by the I.C. Hope program include bullying, teasing, peer-pressure, diversity, making new friends, eating disorders, self-esteem, suicide prevention, ADHD, and much more.

Cenpatico supports this program by underwriting all their handout materials. Kansas Provider Relations Specialist, Jeanie Kimball, presented a check for $2000 to Carrie Ewing of I.C. Hope.  We are proud to partner with a program that aligns with our philosophy of supporting Recovery, Resiliency and Results for individuals at risk, or suffering from, behavioral health disorders.

This entry is filed under News.

Currently in the United States over 500,000 children are in the child welfare system.

Almost one third will be there for three years or more.

Children in the foster care system have a 25% chance of homelessness after the age of eighteen.

Over 270,000 persons in prison in this country were once in foster care.

Children in foster care have twice the rate of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder than veterans of the first Gulf War.

These statistics are included in the powerful awareness campaign Raise Me Up (www.Raisemeup.org)   created by the Casey Family Programs in 2008 and have shocked many people who are unaware of the issues surrounding children in the child welfare system.  While many of us are aware of the prevalence of abuse and neglect in this country, there is a belief that once these children are removed from their home, society has provided a safe haven where they can grow and flourish as a normal child until they can either be returned to their biological families or be adopted.   This unfortunately is not the case for many children.  One of the most common factors among children who are unable to go to a permanent home (what the child welfare world calls permanency) is unstable behavioral health symptoms.

Despite the efforts of many states to address this issue by funding multiple services and treatment options the problem persists, leaving state systems, providers, advocates and stakeholders frustrated and confused.   Child welfare administrators and regulatory entities can’t understand why children aren’t improving with all of this care (therapy, medication, residential treatment).  Providers often point to the actions of caseworkers, state policy makers, licensing or regulatory entities, schools or foster parents for limiting the effectiveness of treatment.   Advocates and the judiciary feel caught in trying to advocate for children and trying to resolve problems that are evident in their communities.   So what is the real problem here and how in the world would managed care do more than add another layer to the existing problems?

In the standard world of behavioral health managed care  services to be successful, we would ensure that members have access to high quality treatment services, that treatment is necessary and appropriate, and  information is gathered, analyzed and shared to promote positive outcomes for members and our contracting entities.  When children are our members in the traditional managed care environment, we look to their parents or guardians to make informed decisions about care alternatives that are the best interest of the child.

In the child welfare world, we do all of the above but the guardians (legal and/or influential)  of these children are state policy makers, caseworkers, foster parents, judges and others who form a system of care that effects every aspect of the child’s life – including their behavioral health treatment.  In no other population is this system perspective as important as in foster care.   Every action within this environment impacts the other part of the system.  Therefore, treatment can not be seen as an isolated intervention to the child when the “family” of caregivers and stakeholders is critical to its success.   In Foster Care, the emphasis on coordination, communication and integration is a primary function of our mission.  Understanding all parts of the system of care for foster children allows our management efforts to promote a partnership and shared vision for the positive outcomes for our members.  We have the unique advantage of seeing the system from a different angle and thereby helping our partners to align their strategies for mutual success.

In our Foster Care program, we have placed a concentrated effort on participating in system review activities with providers, stakeholders and policy makers to share our expertise in children’s behavioral health.   We have also provided training and consultation to all parts of the system from the judiciary to caseworkers to individual foster parents to promote best practices and facilitate the sharing of information.   This “partnering” effort has created the opportunity for Cenpatico to be part of an exciting initiative to improve the future for some of our most vulnerable members.

Stay tuned for additional program updates from the exciting world of foster care.

- Marsha McMann, MSW , Director Foster Care

This entry is filed under Blog.