The new kid on the blog
As I approach my 28th year with The Roanoke Times, I am still a rookie when it comes to two things: Blogging and health care coverage.
So please bear with me as I attempt to cover the beat, and maintain this blog, as well as Sarah has done over the past five years.
Although a newcomer to the beat, I have produced stories in the past as a courts and general assignment reporter that touched on medical issues. I’ve written about prescription drug abuse, health care fraud, how the shortage of beds in mental hospitals caused a backlog of psychiatric patients in emergency rooms, and Carilion Clinic’s practice of collecting unpaid medical bills through thousands of court actions, sometimes mistakenly suing patients who should have qualified for charity care.
I’ve also done some feature stories, such as this piece about Carilion’s Physicians on Foot program to encourage patients to exercise more.
As I start the new beat, I’m looking forward to hearing your story ideas and suggestions.
December 12, 2012 - 6:08 PM
Hi Laurence,
I would find it fascinating to learn what has happened to private insurance rates in the Roanoke Valley since the ACA was inacted. I imagine there are a number of health insurance brokerage agencies who have had cost and coverage experiences since 2010 which might be helpful for the public to learn about.
@frank: Thanks for the question. I hope to address that topic, along with other ramifications of the Affordable Care Act, in the coming months as I become more immersed in the beat.
Any update on the LewisGale’s attempts for NICU approval? Have heard through the “vine” that the State Rep that keeps shooting it down is no longer in that role? Any truth to this and has LGMC since reapplied for approval?
Still don’t believe that the state won’t let this happen.
@bryan: Thanks for the question. I am checking on the latest and will keep you posted.
Hi Larry — Regarding ACA (Frank’s comment), doing a story now about rates is a bit misleading as the ACA won’t go into full effect until 2014. Not fair to compare apples to oranges.
Unrelated, I’d like to see “tougher questions” journalism when it comes to Carilion and Lewis Gale…. Both of these organizations are huge and impact so many people from economic, job, or health perspectives. Every now and then, serious issues are treated too much with kid’s gloves.