October 23, 2019
Page 9
Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Portland
Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to
news@portlandobserver.com.
O PINION
MCS Still in
Business
Martin
Cleaning
Service
Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning
Residential &
Commercial Services
Minimum Service CHG.
$50.00
A small distance/travel
charge may be applied
CARPET CLEANING
2 Cleaning Areas or more
$30.00 each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(Includes: 1 small Hallway)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$50.00
Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area
and Hallway
Medical Debt and Surprise Medical Bills
I am all too familiar
with the problem
by a liCia
r iddle
We all know that people of color are dis-
proportionately impacted by health care dis-
parities. This truth also applies to problems
flowing from medical debt.
Studies have shown that nonelderly black
Americans are more likely to have past-due
medical debt than the national average. This
stems from a wide variety of sources not lim-
ited to wealth inequality, structural and his-
toric deficiencies based on race and the fact
that black people are more likely to be under-
insured or lack insurance.
Lingering medical debt can end up on
your credit report and lower your credit
score, which means you may not be able to
borrow for a mortgage or small business—
or you may pay more when you do borrow.
Credit report information can also be used to
determine whether you get a job or rent an
apartment and how much you pay in insur-
ance premiums.
In short, it is important that we address the
problem of medical debt burdens as a burden
to advancement by black Americans and one
way to do that is to stop the originators of
that debt. One solution I would like to sug-
gest to Congress: Stop the practice of sur-
prise medical billing.
Surprise medical bills — those unexpect-
ed and often pricey bills patients face when
they get care from a doctor or hospital that
isn’t in their insurance network — are a huge
problem for many Americans and can be a
major driver in the creation of a medical debt
burden.
As a mother of children with special
needs, I am all too familiar with the problem
of high deductibles and have been a victim
myself to a surprise medical bill for a service
that my insurance carrier decided was out-
of-network leaving me with the full freight.
Medical insurance is supposed to make
it easier and affordable for patients to see a
doctor or get medical care. Congress must
keep this in mind as they take up the issue of
surprise medical bills and legislative propos-
intentions about taking the surprise out of
medical billing, they would also make it
more difficult for patients to see a doctor. We
should look to proven solutions instead of
trying to treat a sickness with a cure worse
than the disease.
There are multiple issues that must be ad-
dressed as to how our country’s system is
working for black Americans but tackling the
surprise medical billing can take that issue
Surprise medical bills — those
unexpected and often pricey bills
patients face when they get care from
a doctor or hospital that isn’t in their
insurance network — are a huge
problem for many Americans and can
be a major driver in the creation of a
medical debt burden.
als that cap rates on reimbursements which
may create more problems than they solve.
Side effects of rate setting may include
doctor shortages, especially in underserved
and rural communities, as we have seen in
California after that state capped out of net-
work rates. Further side effects may include
a shrinking number of “in-network” options,
as insurance companies lower their costs and
maximize their profits thanks to the leverage
this system gives them over doctors and hos-
pitals.
While such proposals might have good
off the table while also helping on the issue
of medical debt. Congress should act and act
in the right way.
Alicia Riddle is a lifelong resident of Ore-
gon. After two decades of work within direct
behavioral services with children and adults,
she is currently a Trainee in the Leadership
in Education of Neuro-developmental Dis-
abilities program at the Child Development
and Rehabilitation Center at OHSU. She re-
sides in northeast Portland with her two sons
with special needs, who are both students at
Portland Public Schools.
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
Other Services) : $30.00
Heavily Soiled Area:
$10.00 each area
(Requiring Pre-Spray)
Area/Oriental Rug Cleaning
Regular Area Rugs
$25.00 Minimum
Wool Oriental Rugs
$40.00 Minimum
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Sofa: $70.00
Loveseat: $50.00
Sectional: $110 - $140
Chair or Recliner:
$25.00 - $50.00
Throw Pillows (With
Other Services) : $5.00
ADDITIONAL
SERVICES
• Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning
• Deodorizing & Pet
Odor Treatment
• Spot & Stain
Removal Service
• Scotchguard Protection
• Minor Water Damage
Services
Call for Appointment
(503) 281-3949