tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13503848.post2208353432696747955..comments2009-03-13T09:37:25.289-04:00CancerDochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705096018236984019noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13503848.post-27572056913507848262009-03-13T09:37:00.000-04:002009-03-13T09:37:00.000-04:00Bone marrow transplantation is a proven, effective treatment for aplastic anemia, in cases where immunosuppressive therapy (CsA/ATG) fails. Why punish a patient with that condition because he/she wasn't lucky enough to have a more prevalent, popular disease? And the costs for out-of-pocket payment for a transplant would be too much for just about anyone to afford (and as far as I know, aplastic anemia isn't a disease of the wealthy). I like your ideas, but simply eliminating payment for high cost treatments for uncommon conditions may be too simplistic. In societal terms, wouldn't you rather have cured an aplastic patient at age 25 - to cure a treatable disease, so that she can live a long life, raise her children and participate in the workforce?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13503848.post-87388037758500010442007-02-21T18:54:00.000-05:002007-02-21T18:54:00.000-05:00also check out what Oregonians are doing now to improve our health care system: Archimedes Movement www.wecandobetter.org<BR/><BR/>It's led by former Oregon governor (and ER physician) John Kitzhaber, who spearheaded the Oregon Health Plan.Paulanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13503848.post-51102784223192157112007-02-10T14:36:00.000-05:002007-02-10T14:36:00.000-05:00A coupla thoughts - check out the Physicians for a National Health Plan site. Also, HR 676 was reintroduced and referred to committee. It's Rep. John Conyers' single payer "Medicare For All" plan.<BR/><BR/>The current stats point toward healthcare insurance, HMO and other payer sources contributing up to 31% of ALL healthcare costs. With the for-profit healthcare insurance industry eliminated (not all healthcare insurance will be eliminated - there will always be options to purchase coverage for exclusions), the freed up funds spent supporting that on both the insurance and the rpovider side are more than enough to fund healthcare coverage for all Americans.<BR/><BR/>I blog about access, quality and patient advocacy, as well. <BR/><BR/>Your post is important because another effect of the extant non-system system is to place the burden of rationing and denying care onto the shoulders of the provider - physicians and nurses.N=1http://universalhealth.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13503848.post-20292213558021015552007-02-09T19:46:00.000-05:002007-02-09T19:46:00.000-05:00Fabulous post, wonderful summary of the state of medicine as seen from the trenches, and a great solution!TBTAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16555722791007332247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13503848.post-32277830119981331102007-02-06T16:45:00.000-05:002007-02-06T16:45:00.000-05:00Well said!<br /><br />I'm thinking I'll be ready to vote for you and Obama to straighten out some of the national mess...OTRgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12433339525588500502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13503848.post-32930474283981168002007-02-04T17:37:00.000-05:002007-02-04T17:37:00.000-05:00The first patient you described above, who needs help for a $10,000 chemotherapy treatment, might be able to get some assistance from a program run by a group called the Patient Advocacy Foundation. Their main purpose is helping people who have had insurance denials for medical treatment, but they now also have a program to help people who can't afford the copays for medical treatment, mainly for cancer.<br /><br />The URL is: http://www.copays.org<br /><br />They have some eligibility requirements, and don't offer assistance for every type of cancer, but the first page of that website does list the ones that they do help with. Perhaps this would be an avenue for your patient to look into.<br /><br />For the 76 year old man - I know in Penna. and New Jersy, each county has a local agency that helps seniors with Medicare insurance plans, helping them to figure out which plan works best for their needs. Probably in Maryland, there's a website for the state dept. of aging (or whatever it's called in your state), that lists where a person can get help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com