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Limited care [Obamacare would limit treatment for people losing their eyesight]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | September 14, 2009 | JENNIFER OLBUM, DO

Posted on 09/14/2009 3:21:44 AM PDT by grundle

Regarding Charles Krauthammer's Aug. 29 column ("Obamacare 2.0: A Seductive Exit Strategy -- With a Catch"): I was pleased to see that someone finally did their research on a drug I use daily to save sight.

Lucentis injections have transformed the lives of the elderly who are unfortunate enough to have (wet) macular degeneration. We (ophthalmologists) have enthusiastically been able to help our patients maintain their independence as well as their dignity with this relatively new drug.

It is important to note that even now, according to my Genentec reps, the "Orwellian body" Mr. Krauthammer speaks of in Britain still limits these treatments to seven treatments per year per eye. In many cases this falls far short of the often-needed monthly injections in order to save and improve vision. In fact, seven per year may result in simply slowing the inevitable, allowing these frightened people to watch as their visions fades.

Mr. Obama's health-care plan limits these treatments to 14 per eye per lifetime if I read HR 3200 correctly (not an easy task). Again, this is often short of what is needed to maintain or improve vision.

I wonder if anyone in Congress would opt for this plan if they have a family history of this disease or suffer from macular degeneration themselves? Can anyone name a reasonable price for loss of vision?

(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: healthcare; hr3200; obama; obamacare

1 posted on 09/14/2009 3:21:44 AM PDT by grundle
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To: grundle
Bumping and thanks. I'saving this.

prisoner6

2 posted on 09/14/2009 3:24:11 AM PDT by prisoner6 (ACORN is nuts!)
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To: grundle

Also, look for the Fed/gov to claim that Mayos, Shriners hospitals, etc are now federal property, if this ‘’change you can live with’’ passes.


3 posted on 09/14/2009 3:53:24 AM PDT by Waco (OK Libs, stop emiting)
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To: grundle

Obama offers nothing for the people he only takes from them.


4 posted on 09/14/2009 4:55:57 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: grundle

It sounds to me like under Obamacare we’d get less care for more money. That’s neither cost-effective nor humane.

The only reason left for pushing it is to force tons of Socialism on America.


5 posted on 09/14/2009 6:40:15 AM PDT by RoadTest ( Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols - Psalm 97:12a)
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To: grundle
Can anyone name a reasonable price for loss of vision?

Whose money and whose vision? That's one of the insurmountable problems with socialized medicine.

Of course, the solution would be to simply pay for the additional treatments using your own money or supplemental insurance. Surely they wouldn't stop anyone from doing that.

6 posted on 09/14/2009 7:07:56 AM PDT by Darth Reardon
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To: grundle

bump


7 posted on 09/14/2009 7:46:19 AM PDT by lowbridge
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To: socialismisinsidious


Socialized Medicine aka Universal Health Care daily digest PING LIST

FReepmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this daily digest ping list (one ping per day of links to pertinent articles).




8 posted on 09/14/2009 10:59:09 AM PDT by socialismisinsidious ( The socialist income tax system turns US citizens into beggars or quitters!)
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