Comments on: Medicare and denying access to drugs http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/12/medicare-and-denying-access-to-drugs.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/12/medicare-and-denying-access-to-drugs.html#comment-82072 Anonymous Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:08:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/12/medicare-and-denying-access-to-drugs.html#comment-82072 Luke,<br/><br/>I agree that you are wrong. Doctors and Hospitals are not obligated to provide free care for people at the risk of a lawsuit if it is non-emergent. Zevalin and Bexxar are given as an outpatient after a BM biopsy proves less than 20% of the bone marrow is involved. <br/><br/>This is the beginning of rationing which had to start somewhere. Next stop--transplant medicine.<br/>b Luke,

I agree that you are wrong. Doctors and Hospitals are not obligated to provide free care for people at the risk of a lawsuit if it is non-emergent. Zevalin and Bexxar are given as an outpatient after a BM biopsy proves less than 20% of the bone marrow is involved.

This is the beginning of rationing which had to start somewhere. Next stop–transplant medicine.
b

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/12/medicare-and-denying-access-to-drugs.html#comment-82066 Anonymous Fri, 07 Dec 2007 23:35:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/12/medicare-and-denying-access-to-drugs.html#comment-82066 I disagree, Luke. Per the article, if the hospital does not offer the treatment to Medicare patients, it can't provide that treatment for anyone regardless of insurance. It sounds like hospitals will simply refuse to offer the treatment if it's not financially viable. It doesn't sound like they're required to provide this treatment, so how could they be sued?<br/> So now medicare is screwing with the care of patients who don't even have medicare.<br/><br/>That's messed up. I disagree, Luke. Per the article, if the hospital does not offer the treatment to Medicare patients, it can’t provide that treatment for anyone regardless of insurance. It sounds like hospitals will simply refuse to offer the treatment if it’s not financially viable. It doesn’t sound like they’re required to provide this treatment, so how could they be sued?
So now medicare is screwing with the care of patients who don’t even have medicare.

That’s messed up.

]]> By: Lukehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/12/medicare-and-denying-access-to-drugs.html#comment-82061 Luke Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:38:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/12/medicare-and-denying-access-to-drugs.html#comment-82061 Here's what happens next (based on the UK's NHS and the cases surround cancer drugs there)...<br/><br/>Some cancer patients get in the press for not being able to obtain drugs. Enterprising attorney 'helps them out' with a pro bono (with backend compensation) suit, regardless of the efficacy of the treatment the patient wants. If it costs $50,000 and stands even a remote chance of affecting any patient, it'll have to be provided.<br/><br/>The hospital being sued will settle or lose and have to provide treatment. Other patients will then see their care drastically curtailed, and prices will rise, to subsidise these patients.<br/><br/>Rinse and repeat. Here’s what happens next (based on the UK’s NHS and the cases surround cancer drugs there)…

Some cancer patients get in the press for not being able to obtain drugs. Enterprising attorney ‘helps them out’ with a pro bono (with backend compensation) suit, regardless of the efficacy of the treatment the patient wants. If it costs $50,000 and stands even a remote chance of affecting any patient, it’ll have to be provided.

The hospital being sued will settle or lose and have to provide treatment. Other patients will then see their care drastically curtailed, and prices will rise, to subsidise these patients.

Rinse and repeat.

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