Soylent Green by cartoonistx
Posted on 08/16/2010 8:09:18 AM PDT by Nachum
Two organizations not known as members of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy are worried that President Obama's recess-appointed Medicare czar won't allow the government health care program to cover two FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs with proven records of extending patients' lives.
The FDA approved Provenge, which is used to fight prostate cancer, and Avastin, which is used to delay the spread of breast cancer after it appears elsewhere in the body. The problem is that Dr. Donald Berwick, the man Obama recess-appointed as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, appears to be considering denying Medicare reimbursement for patients using Provenge and Avastin.
The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance explains the problem: "Medicare must cover therapies that are 'reasonable and necessary,' while the FDA is instructed to approve drugs that are 'safe and effective.' Because of the conflicting federal coverage and approval requirements, there are some non-FDA approved drugs (called off-label drugs) that are paid for by CMS. However, with respect to Provenge, it appears that CMS is arguing that while the treatment is safe and effective, it may not be reasonable and necessary. For the first time, an FDA approved anti-cancer therapy may not be covered by Medicare."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
My mother is a life long democrat on Avastin.
She is already unhappy with the democrats’ $600 billion in Medicare cuts in Obamacare.
This article may make her vote Republican for the first time in her life.
Democrats want you to die sooner rather than later because slow death costs them too much.
Looks like we’ve found another “death panel”.
This guy IS the Death Panel Czar!
Sounds like the czar needs to form a PANEL to make this life or DEATH decision for us all.
But Sarah Palin was nuts for talking about Death Panels, at least according to the SRM.
Looks like Nazi’s all over again. Kill off the expensive weak and build a super race of slaves.
death panel bookmark.
But I don't see many alternative plans to cut Medicare spending.
Sooner or later, we will have to cut down Medicare benefits to a good deal less than they are now. Many services now covered by Medicare will have to be paid for out of pocket.
Any conservative candidate who claims otherwise is a liar, and a coward.
Affordability is a factor that cannot be ignored.
If any individual in the management of the organization (on the board, not just an employee like a CEO) receives income from the organization they don't qualify for those rates under postal rules.
Bet they spend half a mil a year on postage. Bust 'em good!
This guy is starting out with the life and death stuff ~ and so are you.
It's not at all the position to take if you want the rest of us to trust you.
We need some sort of panel to decide what is ‘reasonable and necessary’ in these life or death situations. I wonder what we can call this panel?
What a complete thief.
Not just a deceitful mass murderer wannabe, but but a felon if anybody did the slightest investigation.
What a complete thief.
Not just a deceitful mass murderer wannabe, but but a felon if anybody did the slightest investigation.
Soylent Green by cartoonistx
Questions is: do voters want to pay the taxes to proved very expensive end-of-life treatments which provide brief (a weeks to months) life extension?
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