To the editor:

Traditions can be a good thing. There is a certain comfort in repeating patterns and doing the same thing, in the same way, year after year.

When it comes to health care however, tradition can often times mean a lack of progress. This is certainly true when it comes to the Medicaid system for our disabled and poor citizens. For years, bureaucrats administered this critical program. However, this past spring, the governor and lawmakers exercised their leadership by making the decision to modernize Medicaid.

Under the old Medicaid system, patients had little choice, limited access to physicians, and sparse care coordination. Medicaid Modernization remedies these ills. Patients now have a choice between three managed care organizations and dozens of new value-added benefits. Access to doctors, nurses, psychologists, behavioral health habilitation services and long-term care facilities has increased dramatically. Moreover, the percentage of improper payments has gone from 9.9 percent to 0 percent.

There has been a good amount of pushback from the old guard, certain newspapers, and those touting themselves as “progressives.” Despite this, all signs point to success for Medicaid beneficiaries and taxpayers alike.

Becky Kepler

Webster City