Changing with the times

Washington Times ^ | 7/30/03 | Pamela G. Bailey

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Advances in lifesaving medical technology are occurring every day, yet seniors are being denied access to new FDA-approved treatments because Medicare does not cover these technologies.

A glaring example involves a breakthrough in the prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). A major four-year clinical trial demonstrated that implantable cardiac defibrillators can reduce SCD by one-third.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

They are looking to cut benefits by 27%. Thank God the House found the Cajones to let us buy our drugs via exports and offborder. For once, the powerful Drug Cartel lobbyists didn't succeed in holding taxpayers hostage. It's the first instance that Free Trade works for citizens instead of against us. (Spare me the argument that Chinese goods benefit me pricewise. The only thing cheap about them is the quality.)

[jazzlite]

Good post. The next thing they need to change is the ban on allowing people on medicare to pay for certain items if they need to. We have a friend on medicare who recently had knee surgery and wanted to personally pay for a different, better support hose than the doctor ordered. When she requested this of the pharmacist she was told that medicare would not allow him to allow her to purchase this on her own. His statement was something like this.."Mrs. Jones, the government doesn't care about people like you who have some means. Never, mind that you have spent your life paying taxes so that those less fortunate can have medical care. I see this problem every day." Evidently, if you are on medicare, you are not allowed to pursue medical care on your own if medicare is inadequate, which it often is. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.