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Tag(s): Fear; Justice Department
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November 27, 2007 at 11:33:23

Headlined on 11/27/07:
Dammit, Why Won't They Just Die?

by William Cormier Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Based on an article I found in the New York Times, and personal experience, the title of this piece seems to mirror the attitude of the government - and also seems to filter down to individual physicians. I’m disabled myself, and also care for my own Mother who has colon cancer, heart problems and a colostomy, and she wouldn’t be alive today if we hadn’t moved her out of Florida - and now I’ve found that even though health care seems to be much better in Georgia, we still have a long way to go:

In Hospice Care, Longer Lives Mean Money Lost

By KEVIN SACK

CAMDEN, Ala. — Hundreds of hospice providers across the country are facing the catastrophic financial consequence of what would otherwise seem a positive development: their patients are living longer than expected.

Over the last eight years, the refusal of patients to die according to actuarial schedules has led the federal government to demand that hospices exceeding reimbursement limits repay hundreds of millions of dollars to Medicare.

The charges are assessed retrospectively, so in most cases the money has long since been spent on salaries, medicine and supplies. After absorbing huge assessments for several years, often by borrowing at high rates, a number of hospice providers are bracing for a new round that they fear may shut their doors.

The locally owned, for-profit agency, which serves about 60 patients, mostly in their homes, had to repay the government $900,000, or 27 percent of its revenues, from its first two years of operation, said Tanya O. Walker-Butts, a co-owner. Its profits were wiped out in the time it took to open the demand letters, Ms. Walker-Butts said. MUCH MORE

The above cited article demonstrates that to fund this war in Iraq, the government will stoop to anything to cut expenses and halt the bleeding of our economy, and now it appears that even lives don’t matter either, especially if they have already fulfilled their obligation to society, worked their entire lives, and now require assistance. The Medicare system is built so individual companies can profit, not necessarily the patient themselves.

As far as physicians go in this matter, not all Doctors are complicit, but the few that are shock the conscience of anyone that takes the time to look deeper into the matter. I’m not going to re-hash my Mother’s medical issues, but imagine my surprise when on her last emergency room visit, the ER Doctor called her primary physician to inquire about how much of her intestine had been removed; the first answer was they didn’t know, and then the ER Doctor asked them to send over her Florida post-op records so they would have a better understanding of the situation. The Doctor’s Office replied that they never received copies of her Florida medical records, even though we signed the HIPPA forms so they could be retrieved. I was standing there as ER personnel stood with their mouths agape - and I believe we were all wondering how you treat a cancer patient with a colostomy without even knowing for sure they had cancer except on my say-so… The burning question is how do you effectively treat a cancer patient without even retrieving their past medical records?

The Georgia Composite State Board Of Medical Examiners asked me to file an immediate complaint, which I haven’t done yet (I find it extremely hard to trust any government entity in these days.), as I’m worried they might cover-up the incident, and wonder if an Attorney would be better - that is, if she doesn’t die first.

William Cormier

http://justanothercoverup.com/

I am nothing more than a patriotic American that is doing whatever I can to further the cause of democracy, the rule of law, and am absolutely outraged on how the Bush administration is defying our Congress, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights! Footnote: I write in a style that I believe is appropriate in today's world where we can't trust the Mainstream News Media, and rather than concentrating on one article alone, which may or may not receive the exposure and emphasis it should, I prefer to meld several relevant stories together, that each taken alone may not expose the entire situation, but when taken-in as a whole, tend to give the reader a better understanding of the subject. One article or story alone does not represent the "Big Picture" - but when several are effectively tied-together it often reveals a trend or broader view of the subject matter that is important to completely understand any given situation. http://justanothercoverup.com/

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7 comments

I am nothing more than a patriotic American that is doing whatever I can to further the cause of democracy, the rule of law, and am absolutely outraged on how the Bush administration is defying our Congress, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights! Footnote: I write in a style that I believe is appropriate in today’s world where we can’t trust the Mainstream News Media, and rather than concentrating on one article alone, which may or may not receive the exposure and emphasis it should, I prefer...

to see more of bio, click on member name
William CormierI am nothing more than a patriotic American that is doing whatever I can to further the cause of democracy, the rule of law, and am absolutely outraged on how the Bush administration is defying our Congress, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights! Footnote: I write in a style that I believe is appropriate in today’s world where we can’t trust the Mainstream News Media, and rather than concentrating on one article alone, which may or may not receive the exposure and emphasis it should, I prefer...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Footnote:

I think it’s important to note the State Board Of Medical Examiners advised me to find her another primary care physician in another county, and I will as soon as our Social Security comes in; with gas prices the way they are now, and food costs spiraling out of control, those on a fixed-income have a hard time just feeding themselves and finding the gas money to attend the many Doctor appointments and constant trips to the pharmacy. Our health care system is miserably broken, and those without the money or influence are bound to suffer in a system that desperately needs to be revamped.

by William Cormier (116 articles, 5 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 289 comments) on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 12:02:01 PM

Concerned citizen and recently retired activist with an MA in Public Policy from an Ivy League school. Born-again Christian believer who is also a progressive and believs in the separation of church and state.
memaryConcerned citizen and recently retired activist with an MA in Public Policy from an Ivy League school. Born-again Christian believer who is also a progressive and believs in the separation of church and state.

Watch Sicko

Mr. Moore documents health care in other developed countries and I went green with envy. Whatever criticisms people might have of the film, he is 100% accurate about how other developed countries approach healthcare and other public "goods". Here in the US leaders such as Tom DeLay and Mr. Bush have told us citizens of the US have no right to food, shelter, adequate healthcare or even public education.

by memary (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 70 comments) on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 1:40:30 PM

Barbara H. Peterson is retired from the California Department of Corrections, where she worked as a Correctional Officer at Folsom Prison. She was one of the first females to work at the facility in this classification. After retirement, she went to college online to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Business, and graduated with honors.

The most valuable thing she received from her time with UOP was a realization that her life's passion is writing. Now her business degree sits in her d...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Barbara PetersonBarbara H. Peterson is retired from the California Department of Corrections, where she worked as a Correctional Officer at Folsom Prison. She was one of the first females to work at the facility in this classification. After retirement, she went to college online to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Business, and graduated with honors.

The most valuable thing she received from her time with UOP was a realization that her life's passion is writing. Now her business degree sits in her d...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Mom

Hi William,

I quit my job several years ago to take care of my elderly mother. She has since passed, but her story is relevant. When she reached the age of disposal, her doctors at Kaiser in California worked hard to get rid of her.

When she got sick from the drugs she was given by her doctors, I took her to the emergency room only to be given a suppository and told the problem would go away. It didn't go away. The ER finally accepted her when she threw up on a doctor. By then she had to be admitted to intensive care.

She survived the ordeal through prayer and diligence on the part of her friends and only relative - me. When I followed the rules and took my complaint to the appropriate department in Kaiser, I received a letter that dismissed my complaint. The entire thing was covered up. The department that was supposed to help me forged documents, substituted doctors' names, falsified appointments, and whatever they had to do to cover the incident up. I knew this information was false because I had accompanied her to every single doctor's visit.

I finally took her to Oregon because the state has a program that licenses relatives as "relative caregivers." I wish I could say the problems stopped there, but they didn't. The only way she could receive care was to eliminate all of her assets because if she didn't, they would be subject to confiscation.

After she passed away, I received a letter demanding anything left of her assets. I called and told them I would be happy to pack her clothing and drop it off at the nearest office, along with a few boxes of diapers and her false teeth. I haven't heard from them since.

by Barbara Peterson (46 articles, 80 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 416 comments) on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 3:29:31 PM

I am a professional life-extensionist and liberty promoter who practices what I and husband, Paul Wakfer, preach. More detail about both of us - philosophically and physically - at http://morelife.org/personal/

When the comment time period has closed at OpEdNews.com, readers are welcome to post their comments/questions at MoreLife Yahoo after meeting the posting requirements of that group, sent to all new members upon joining. All archived messages, however, are available to anyone....

to see more of bio, click on member name
Kitty Antonik WakferI am a professional life-extensionist and liberty promoter who practices what I and husband, Paul Wakfer, preach. More detail about both of us - philosophically and physically - at http://morelife.org/personal/

When the comment time period has closed at OpEdNews.com, readers are welcome to post their comments/questions at MoreLife Yahoo after meeting the posting requirements of that group, sent to all new members upon joining. All archived messages, however, are available to anyone....

to see more of bio, click on member name

Keep Your Own Records

I won't comment on anything excspt "I was standing there as ER personnel stood with their mouths agape - and I believe we were all wondering how you treat a cancer patient with a colostomy without even knowing for sure they had cancer except on my say-so… The burning question is how do you effectively treat a cancer patient without even retrieving their past medical records?"

The solution I have to this - and recommend to others - is to keep a copy of all records of treatment for myself. My husband Paul does the same. Getting a copy only takes making the request of the doctor's/clinic's office staff or the hospital record room (or ER) - signing some form and possibly paying for copying may be required although I've never been charged. As for hospital records, I have my entire hospitalization record from the 2-1/2 day stay (with ER admission and OR) due to a kidney stone back in January 2003. I also get my optometry records.

Doing this kind of record keeping for one's self is empowering. You can read what has been written and become knowledgeable, though doing some research will be necessary if you are not well familiar with the health problems or concerns that you have or those of someone for whom you are caring. (I and Paul also select and arrange for our own laboratory tests and we maintain a large spreadsheet of all results going back to the early 90s. These test results are a major part of self-monitoring our individual health which we take care of ourselves, using a physician only when we decide consultation is beneficial to us or when government restrictions on access to certain modalities make it necessary. http://morelife.org/personal/health/)

**Kitty Antonik Wakfer

MoreLife for the rational - http://morelife.org
Reality based tools for more life in quantity and quality
Self-Sovereign Individual Project - http://selfsip.org
Self-sovereignty, rational pursuit of optimal lifetime happiness,
individual responsibility, social preferencing & social contracting

by Kitty Antonik Wakfer (14 articles, 3 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 99 comments) on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 4:59:05 PM

I am nothing more than a patriotic American that is doing whatever I can to further the cause of democracy, the rule of law, and am absolutely outraged on how the Bush administration is defying our Congress, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights! Footnote: I write in a style that I believe is appropriate in today’s world where we can’t trust the Mainstream News Media, and rather than concentrating on one article alone, which may or may not receive the exposure and emphasis it should, I prefer...

to see more of bio, click on member name
William CormierI am nothing more than a patriotic American that is doing whatever I can to further the cause of democracy, the rule of law, and am absolutely outraged on how the Bush administration is defying our Congress, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights! Footnote: I write in a style that I believe is appropriate in today’s world where we can’t trust the Mainstream News Media, and rather than concentrating on one article alone, which may or may not receive the exposure and emphasis it should, I prefer...

to see more of bio, click on member name

I actually documented Florida fairly well

In fact, I was hoping that in publishing it, those who are about to become seniors would understand the importance of being vocal advocates of health care reform:

My Mom’s Medicaid Nightmare: Updated - A turn for the Worse

http://justanothercoverup.com/?p=203

Is there a Problem with Lunesta? Updated with Disclaimer.

http://justanothercoverup.com/?p=219

Unfortunately, this has been an up and down ride that belongs in a carnival - not the end of someone's life that deserves far better than what she's getting. The hospital where she receives her care has been exemplary, at least in my belief, and it's them that I thank for her being alive today. Problem is, there's only so much they can do and they aren't responsible for Doctor's that practice therein.

William Cormier

by William Cormier (116 articles, 5 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 289 comments) on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 7:11:47 PM

I'm 61 years old, fear the computer even though I am stuck before the screen. I fear cyber-hacking by the government or vigilantes. Few activists know where each other live or even meet. So mail, email, phone calls and cyberbills secretively not paid, would leave most in cyber dark, even physical dark, if the electric bill were marked unpaid.

Ron Paul understands freedom best, and gets young people to be activists. Obama and Huckebee realize that al Qiada specifically is a threa...

to see more of bio, click on member name
RichardKaneI'm 61 years old, fear the computer even though I am stuck before the screen. I fear cyber-hacking by the government or vigilantes. Few activists know where each other live or even meet. So mail, email, phone calls and cyberbills secretively not paid, would leave most in cyber dark, even physical dark, if the electric bill were marked unpaid.

Ron Paul understands freedom best, and gets young people to be activists. Obama and Huckebee realize that al Qiada specifically is a threa...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Massive Difference in Death Rates

I want to bring ups a different problem. I had a landlord who was Jewish and somehow got himself convinced that being so he was supposed to be stingy.

When he got sick, I went to the corner store for him several times to get something and he gave me a dime tip. I learned that I was Jewish, despite mixed ancestry and background, from the tirades against those stingy Jews my roommate spouted out about when he was talking about my landlord. A lot of people tried to get his money including a contractor and his wife. To get me out of the way, once while putting in new floors in the hallway it looked wet, but stuck like nail polish and I had to keep my head out of the window so as not to gag. Another incident was the smoke alarm seemed not work after he and the landlord came to tar the roof overhang, me watching the whole time. Actually I discovered later after my 2 a.m. call to 9/11 was misinterpreted, as a report of a fire, that it somehow worked as a new fire alarm, and thus didn’t go off every time I slightly burnt something. A psychiatrist gave me some kind of drug that made me less fearful, and feeling that everything was hopeless and that I didn’t mater.

The punch line is that years later after five times saving my landlords life by calling an ambulance at the right moment. He was again sick. But I had been hit by a car and a new handyman was running errands for him. After for some weird reason the curtains were drawn so I couldn’t see. I finally yelled in, if you don’t open the door, I’ll call the police. But the handyman who was fixing the front doorbell all morning said his girlfriend had a key. But he wouldn’t give me the number or go with me to the pay phone on the corner. I finally strung my phone down the stairs hooking several phone cords together. He announced talking to both of us, she didn’t have the key but had power of attorney. But he wouldn’t get off the phone. So I ran to the pay phone and hysterically called the police. But no ambulance came. Later, again hysterically talking to 9/11, I was told by the dispatcher, apparently the same dispatched, that someone called just before I did, and thus his call tool precedence.

He was dead and everyone forbidden to enter until the coroner came. When the ambulance came for the body four hours later, I ran downstairs, and his girlfriend came crying ten minutes later , meaning the handyman had his cellphone with him the whole time.

Years earlier American Express Traveler’s checks refused to reimburse my travel’s checks because I used them for security not travel. I can imagine all the elderly people who tried to use traveler’s checks to keep pushy relatives at bay. Also elderly people near death often rack up massive credit card bills, all insured in order to be cancelled when they die.

I think, if someone would do a statistical analysis of people who were taken care of by people who would have a lot to gain is that person died sooner rather than later, and those cared for by those who had a financial gain if that person lived as long as possible, they would statistically find a massive difference. A friend’s mother as soon as she was forced to hand over all her assets to incredibly, a Catholic nursing home, soon died.

I think someone would find a massive difference between the life expectancy of elderly people who have much to offer those around them by staying alive and those who have much to gain from their early demise -- relatives, doctors, nurses and governments. Germany in the 40's was different in degree, not in the direction it was going.

RichardKanePA ( @ a o l . c o m, ) RamblingsFromTheHornetsNest.blogspot.com

by RichardKane (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 29 comments) on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 12:16:37 AM

57Yo m I'm a "been there, done that! Bought the tee shirt,to hide the scars!" type of person Ive workedï¿½many jobs fromï¿½a chicken slaughterer to managing a branch of a multinational and many jobs in between.Raised in colonial PNG Left School 16,Grad Hi school 22 Night School, University 36ï¿½ BBus (majored in Psyche and Marketing), Dip Comp prog and project Mmnt.at 50 I've been in 48 different community org ,23 on board with 18 prez or deputy prez.First social campaign at 17 for the aborigine...

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Andris57Yo m I'm a "been there, done that! Bought the tee shirt,to hide the scars!" type of person Ive workedï¿½many jobs fromï¿½a chicken slaughterer to managing a branch of a multinational and many jobs in between.Raised in colonial PNG Left School 16,Grad Hi school 22 Night School, University 36ï¿½ BBus (majored in Psyche and Marketing), Dip Comp prog and project Mmnt.at 50 I've been in 48 different community org ,23 on board with 18 prez or deputy prez.First social campaign at 17 for the aborigine...

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So that's where he came from

And Americans hate anything socialized ( includeing Medicine). We have our problems but nothing like I read and seethat Americans have. If there was ever justification for Hyperbolic criticism (which I regularly oppose) the US health system is it.

We have an ongoing issue with an American Dr who lied about his compentency and was implicated in e numbers of deaths. Now I know how this Dr can live with himself having been raised and conditioned by a system that isn't simply broken it smashed to toxic smitherines

by Andris (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 532 comments) on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 7:22:54 AM

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