posted
I missed part of this on the news...but what I gathered is that some states are limiting Medicaid patients (maybe Medicare, I don't know) to only 4 meds .. to save on state costs.
Anymore than that, and you have to pay out of pocket. They said you can appeal, but a physician being interviewed said they never accept the appeal.
More to come in the future!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I saw this too. There was a list , quite long, of states that were thinking of limiting drugs. great.
Posts: 211 | From In my house | Registered: May 2007
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posted
How about the two that allow me to sleep? I guess those count "for keeping me alive?"
It's quality of life that we need, not just a few pills that keep us alive.
The whole issue is scary to me. I know I won't have the money to pay out of pocket in the coming years.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Rivendell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19922
posted
I would hope that Federal Law could override that.
Its ridiculous. Only the weathly can get good healthcare.
Posts: 1358 | From Midwest | Registered: Apr 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I wish they would not think of those covered by Medicare as "takers" - no one is "on" Medicare. We pay for Medicare coverage. It's an insurance policy.
It seems illegal to limit prescription coverage. It's should be comparable to other insurance plans of a comparable tier.
I also think MD reimbursement needs to be on the same level as other insurance policies. No wonder so many doctors have to drop those with Medicare policies.
Even regarding Medicaid, it's a policy - coverage - for those in a certain position through no fault of their own.
All that said, though, I've not taken a pharmaceutical for many years. Never could get a LL doctor for a protocol, though, or I may have been on several.
I would like to see all insurance plans also cover naturopathic care, key supplements and the like. But the pharmaceutical companies can't make money that way so they would never allow their insurance bed-partners to do that. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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I would like to see all insurance plans also cover naturopathic care, key supplements and the like. But the pharmaceutical companies can't make money that way so they would never allow their insurance bed-partners to do that. -
-
We can dream, can't we?
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Rivendell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19922
posted
Lymetoo
It is all very frustrating and no easy solutions.
Always the problem is greed and power - if not corporations, then governments, or both.
I guess we just need to evolve.
I won't hold my breath on that one.
Posts: 1358 | From Midwest | Registered: Apr 2009
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
tutu - In your subject line you mention medicare and medicaid but I see nothing that states medicare (social security) drug benefits will be cut.
From what I can tell, it is medicaid drug benefits that are apparently being clamped down on according to Kaiser Health News which as far as I can tell is where the news story originated. I wonder what their agenda is because they always seem to have one.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
a family member is on medicaid and so far all i see is them giving him drugs to space him out...not make him better
they even refuse xrays when i am sure he needs a hip replacement. i dont know. its a wierd way to help someone. with a hip replacement he might be able to work like he wants to.
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
Gee Thanks government. You get What you Vote for
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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quote:Originally posted by TerryK: [QB] tutu - In your subject line you mention medicare and medicaid but I see nothing that states medicare (social security) drug benefits will be cut.
From what I can tell, it is medicaid drug benefits that are apparently being clamped down on according to Kaiser Health News which as far as I can tell is where the news story originated. I wonder what their agenda is because they always seem to have one.
- I wasn't sure since I only heard the last part of the interview. So I wasn't sure if they were only talking about Medicaid or Medicare also.
At any rate, it makes me fear the future if we have more governmental control over our health care.
From the article:
Other states with Medicaid drug limits are Arkansas, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. ..(and Illinois)
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I agree tutu. I have been very afraid for those of us who can't be helped with the typical treatment guidelines because it seems that is a very big component of the Obama health plan.
More people will be covered but we will get less care. Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
First we had insurance companies running the show, now the government.
Though really, it's STILL the insurance companies since they wrote the plan.
Guess I'd better shut up.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Rivendell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19922
posted
The problem I see is that the insurance companies want to keep their huge profits and hurt those who need the insurance the most. And, unfortunately, I think our government Medicaid and Medicare programs take their cues from the insurance companies.
It is always greed and power.
And I am concerned about keeping the freedom to use supplements as I CHOOSE.
But, I spent years without any healthcare and I can say that is criminal.
People should not lose their homes or lives because of no coverage or poor coverage. And my goodness they should be able to take all the drugs they need to stay healthy.
We need to have more "compassion". We (I mean the human race, especially those running the show.)
Is compassion a better word, Lymetoo? Don't want to offend anyone.
Luv you too!
All you need is love, love. All you need is love.
Posts: 1358 | From Midwest | Registered: Apr 2009
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
This is scary. People have medicaid because there is no other way for them to afford necessary healthcare. So if their doctor prescribes life sustaining medications, they need the medication. If they can't afford the medications they will end up sicker and in the ER then in the hospital for costly complications or death...
What we really need is more primary care doctors so that these people can have PCP instead of having to go to the ER for care. This would save the USA tons of money.
When people get triaged at the ER they could be educated and assigned a new PCP. "Mr. Runny Nose, this does not appear to be an emergency situation. We will see you today and refer you to a new PCP. Next time you have runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, please make an appt with your new Dr. Allergy PCP". Right now doctors (around here) are not accepting new patients with medicaid. So the patients have no where to go except the ER or costly urgent care centers.
Also, we need more psych facilities to treat people. Insurance needs to cover physician visits and medications. There would be less crime, people would be able to hold jobs, people would need less band-aide meds if they were treated properly. Ethically. Empathetically.
Our society has lost compassion and empathy for one another. It's so sad.
Just so you know, I love you all my LN friends Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Amen, sammy. We need people to have MORE access to doctors, not less. It's crazy how they all end up in the ER instead. I always wonder why they don't go to an Urgent Care. Does that not work, either?
I was in the ER last Saturday and the lady across the hall was there for treatment of a bad cough. She had bronchitis. Emergency? Don't think so!
Many doctors will quit or not enter med school if they won't make enough to live on or pay their school debts. So I fear that we could make things worse. We need a BETTER plan.
Rivendell.. compassion is a great word! I think we all have compassion for each other... except those who have never been SHOWN compassion, perhaps.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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