Dem Dr. Under Fire for Refusing to Treat THESE People

A bombshell report finds the medical practice of a Democratic candidate running in a must-win district rarely accepts poor children on Medicaid.

Now, Republicans are exposing the congressional hopeful, Dr. Kim Schrier, in a devastating ad campaign.

Joe Schoffstall, at the Washington Free Beacon, reports:
 

The Congressional Leadership Fund, a Washington, D.C.-based group backed by Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wisc.), released its first television advertisement today criticizing Schrier, a pediatrician at the Virginia Mason Medical Center who took a leave of absence to run for office, over the practice that will run in the Seattle market and on digital platforms in the district.

The criticism stems from Schrier’s practice turning away a majority of children seeking services on Medicaid.

In the state of Washington, Medicaid goes by the name of Apple Health, which provides preventative care services such as cancer screenings. Apple Health manages plans through five insurers including Amerigroup, Coordinated Care, Molina Healthcare, Community Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare.

The Virginia Mason Medical Center does not accept insurance plans through Amerigroup, Coordinated Care Corporation, Molina Healthcare, or Community Health Plans of Washington. The only provider on Apple Health that the center accepts is UnitedHealthcare.

Schrier faced withering criticism during the Democratic primary over the controversy.

Jason Rittereiser, a lawyer competing for the nomination, excoriated the pediatrician during an earlier debate, saying “Dr. Schrier, how are we going to trust that you are going to fight for health care in D.C. when you built a practice here that has refused to treat the vast majority of poor kids on Medicaid?”

Schrier is challenging Republican businessman Dino Rossi in the suburban Seattle district. 

RealClearPolitics lists the race in its most competitive, toss-up category.