Troy Talk
The Ugly Surprise of Out-of-Network Healthcare
You’re about to go “under” for a surgical procedure, and just before they administer the anesthesia, someone arrives at your bedside and says, “Mr. Smith, we forgot to mention it, but the anesthesiologist is not in your network. Don’t worry, though. Everything will be fine.” You wake up, go home, and a few days later, a bill arrives. It appears you’re going to pay an unanticipated $1,000-plus for that out-of-network doctor. Oh, no one told you the cost? Sorry. Maybe next time.
There should never be that kind of “next time” for consumers in New Jersey. Yet my example, if slightly exaggerated, actually occurs. According to the Consumer Union (as reported in press accounts), a Union City woman had to change the date of her surgery. When it occurred, the hospital had left the network, leaving her with a $20,000 bill. A Hamburg man underwent cancer surgery at an in-network hospital with an in-network doctor. One of the surgeon’s assistants was out-of-network. This patient got a bill for $9,000.
Celebrating a Mother’s Day That Never Ends
We have just finished celebrating Mother’s Day. During a church service recently, the celebrant reminded us that the second most celebrated holiday was Mother’s Day (pointing out, with a touch of humor, that Father’s Day slips to a deep 32 on the list). Figures, doesn't it fellas.
That said, we rightfully celebrated this holiday with our mothers in houses of worship or as a family get together with Mom, Dad, siblings and extended family. If our mothers are not with us, as is the case with my mother, Delores Singleton, they are still ever-present in our hearts and prayers.
Sexual Assault and the Evolution of Modern Law
Rape is a heinous criminal act. A perpetrator of such a despicable crime deserves public scorn and punishment to the fullest extent of the law. New Jersey’s rape statute contemplates a variety of factors, including the age of the victim, the victim’s relationship to the perpetrator and the level of injury sustained by the victim, which contribute to the seriousness of the offense and the degree of punishment. What is not explicitly accounted for in New Jersey’s statute, however, is whether sexual intercourse achieved by means of fraud or deceit is appropriately titled as rape. My proposal, A3908, is designed to engage that conversation.
The Tax Credit That Works for Working People
Financial planning is not only a critical component of business, it also applies to life. Whether you’re looking at business receipts or a family budget, how you plan often has a profound effect that reverberates throughout your financial structure. It also has a direct and often powerful impact on your future actions. I point this out because the state legislature is in the midst of reviewing Governor Christie’s budget, and I, along with my fellow legislators, are carefully examining his plan.
Sports: A Connection to Character
This week my son is finalizing his college football commitment and it got me to thinking about the impact that sports has on our lives. More specifically, the contribution that sports has in shaping our individual character and the lessons that we learn about ourselves by participating in athletic competition.
It’s the Head AND the Heart
It’s a quiz that most people would fail. Ask someone what they think healthcare “covers,” and they’ll probably reply that it refers to physical health, something related to our five senses. It’s an obvious and warranted association, but there is a larger connected issue here to which we pay far less attention: behavioral health. On its own, it’s critically important, and when combined with the physical side of the healthcare discussion, it takes on even greater dimensions.