Bawwww, we'll have to pay for poor people like this!

[xerox78]

In the Great Recession, Even Death Is Too Expensive for the Poor

Editor's Note: This story was written for New America Media as the first in a series of columns by Dr. Sanjay Basu called A Doctor's Word, exploring the impact of the recession on health care for poor people. It appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle's Insight and on SFGate.com.

Comments

[rosicrucian]

After working in the insurance industry I wish I could say this was an isolated incident. I worked processing medicare claims and I don't even want to say the percentage of people who needed their medications to survive that were denied time after time after time. The worst for me was Alzheimer's patients, I'm not sure why. Perhaps denying them their medication just seemed especially cruel for an already cruel fate?

I think MinnesotaCare (Minnesota's Medicaid program) limits to four prescriptions? I know they limit but I don't know the cut-off for sure. It's part of the reason that my doctor keeps me on relatively cheap/generic medications if he can, in case I go over. I need my meds to like, not die. You know. :\

Also, barely related:

"The health care providers who treat them routinely have to ask: How do you wish to die? Some of the dying--wanting to keep death at bay--repeatedly ask to participate in the latest pharmaceutical trials. Others have drawn up a "bucket list" of adventures for their final days. But more people have two simpler requests: to die at home instead of in a hospital, and to eat a decent last meal."

DOCTORS WHY YOU NO OFFER PALLIATIVE CARE MEASURES? It is the land between hospital and hospice and is the best of both options. Most patients can be at home, even! Though, really, I'm surprised they ask at all. Apparently doctors suck at caring about the wishes of dying patients. They tend to ignore them, actually. :\

[sephirajo]

I had MN Care for quite awhile and I was able to get all eight of mine. Maybe it varies case by case?

[belleweather]

Limiting the number of prescriptions is stupid from a cost-containment perspective, too. It pushes doctors to prescribe combination meds, which are often MUCH more expensive than the same medications in two separate pills, because if the Pharma companies put them in one pill it extends their patent protection. It's the sort of strategy that could only be thought up by a legislature.