Help! Where would I find this info on Circumcision?

[Frootloop]

I need info on what New York state's medicaid program and other insurance plans (rough estimate) pays out each year in regard to circumcision. I haven't the slightest clue where to look.

I don't want to get political here, but I have to just a little bit to explain the situation -
Most New Yorkers probably know by now that our state has a HUGE budget deficit and our Governor is totally passing the buck to us taxpayers by raising taxes and adding in a bunch of other ridiculous ones such as the "Obesity Tax" and luxury taxes (haircuts, massages, movie tickets) to help close the gap.

NY is one of the many states whose Medicaid program still covers circumcision (but I have NO idea how much or where to find that info) and of course, most healthcare plans do as well.
Now, I know it's a long shot and chances are they won't pay much attention, or maybe not even read the emails but they're asking for the public to share our ideas. I don't know how the whole state budget/medicaid thing even works, but I plan on emailing and possibly even calling as well with information about the unnecessary spending on RIC. Like I said, it's a long shot, but it's worth a try, right????

So... I need to find figures and honestly, if anyone is good at writing letters like these, please PM me or even write them here. I'm sooooo not good at this stuff, but I'm going to do this no matter what!


Oh yeah, this is the website we were given to contact them. I'm going to assume that anyone can write in with some "ideas"!
And a toll-free number at 1-800-706-9995.

[TCA2008]

I think it is great for everyone to be suggesting this budget cut to their state governments - I mean, with states cutting so many important programs, tax payers should not have to fund unnecessary circumcisions.

ICGI did a report on 2004 that had some figures, but we really do need updated figures.

I'd like to suggest you ask the Medicaid office directly for those figures. Call them up, ask them what number to fax a freedom of information request inquiring what the amount of money NY Medicaid spends on neonatal circumcision in 2008, or the latest year they have the number for. The neonatal circumcision codes are usually 54150 and 54160. So a simple request like:

" to NY Medicaid office:

As a NY citizen, I am requesting the following information, based on the freedom of information act, please provide to me at the address below:

2008 NY Medicaid expenditure for code 54150, newborn circumcision, using clamp (or most current year data is available for)
2008 NY Medicaid expenditure for code 54160, newborn circumcision, surgical excision
2008 NY Medicaid expenditure for code 54163, circumcision repair"

If Medicaid offices across the country begin to get a lot of requests for this type of data, they may just start to reconsider funding it. If you are able to gather this data, please share it.

In the meantime, while waiting to get accurate data, continue to suggest eliminating Medicaid coverage for unnecessary circumcisions - do it in e-mails, calls, and regular letters - the more requests they get, the more attention this issue will receive.

Thanks!

[Dave2GA]

It is also a good idea to write the Medicaid director directly to suggest dropping coverage to save $$ for other more important uses. Further letters to the members of the Appropriations Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee of both the House and the Senate in your state is a good way to get them thinking. PM me if you want me to send you copies of what I sent to the Georgia bureaucrats and legislators this year.

[Frootloop]

Thank you both very much for the ideas
If I do find out for sure what medicaid paid out for circs, I will let you know.

[Night_Nurse]

I don't know exactly how it works in your state but for my own state I was told to contact the Health and Human Services office. That they maintain records of how many hospital circs were performed in a given year and the money paid out for the procedures (in my state there are four billable codes for circ). I was told this info was available under the open records acts (due to it being state funds used) but that the state sometimes charges a fee to gather the info for you.
Hope that helps.

[georgia]

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