Second person denied AZ. Transplant coverage dies

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_transplant_coverage_death;_ylt=AsvEQxc7GH3uU3sLoKKa4NFzfNdF

[EyesofBlue55]

I myself am outraged that our govt is now taking control over the decision of who lives and who dies.I think the state of Arizona could look for different ways to save money and it not be at the taxpayers expense.Gov  Brewer should be ASHAMED !!!!!I dont see her being re elected!!!!! I feel for the people in AZ !!!!!

[Kathy73]

I don't think it has anything to do with our U.S. Government, but to do with the Governor of the State of AZ. My ex-husband was awaiting a liver transplant in AZ and because of this wasn't able to get it. He is now in end stage liver failure in MA and is past the stage of being eligible for a liver transplant.

[mikesimon]

It's the death panel we were warned about - it did come to pass.

[Willy50]

Mikesimon wrote;
"
It's the death panel we were warned about - it did come to pass."
------------------------------------------------------------------

I think we may have a winner.

Good post Mike.  Why it it that "family values" and honoring LIFE don't come into play in this situation?

W

[mikesimon]

Well, I guess it's just not convenient.
Really, it is unspeakably inhumane. It is utterly unjustifiable and exceedingly cruel.

Mike

[HectorSF]

PHOENIX – A second person denied transplant coverage by Arizona under a state budget cut has died, with this death "most likely" resulting from the coverage reduction, a hospital spokeswoman said Wednesday.

University Medical Center spokeswoman Jo Marie Gellerman said the patient died Dec. 28 at another medical facility after earlier being removed from UMC's list for a liver transplant needed because of hepatitis C.

Brewer and Republican lawmakers want to drop approximately 250,000 people from AHCCCS enrollment because of the state's continuing budget troubles and the impending loss of federal stimulus funding that has propped up spending on the Medicaid program.

"Brewer earlier Wednesday renewed her defense of the transplant coverage reduction but expressed a willingness to have it reviewed". "It's something that probably needs to be discussed," Brewer said. "Everybody is concerned about it, as I am. The bottom line is ... that was one of those areas that we could cut and we moved forward on that."...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That this could be "a mistake", (note that there are no experts on transplants or hepatitis in AHCCCS administration) but that it was one of the areas they could cut doesn't bid well for those of us who may be effected by the a reversal of the new healthcare bill that like minded colleges of Gov. Brewer have in mind for the future healthcare of Americans.

Their reason for denying coverage to patients with ESLD is based on the premise that a transplant does not cure Hepatitis C. While true on the face of it, it doesn't allow for the fact that a patient can live many years with HCV with a new liver and also has the extra time to treat with HCV meds to rid themselves of the virus. This is especially ironic as we will soon has STAT-C treatment which should greatly increase the likelihood of clearing the virus.

The only thing these patients are guilty of is having Hepatitis C induced liver disease and being poor. There but for luck go you and I.

Hectorsf  

[Kathy73]

"The only thing these patients are guilty of is having Hepatitis C induced liver disease and being poor. There but for luck go you and I."

Amen to that...Kathy

[EyesofBlue55]

Wonder how she would have felt if one of her family were infected????????????????And I dont think ANY transplant has its guarantees .HMMMMM????????????????? Very upsetting........................................................

[pcds]

If you have HCV and get a liver transplant, won't you still have hep C?

[Bill1954]

Hi Judy, HectorSF touched on this just above us:

“Their reason for denying coverage to patients with ESLD is based on the premise that a transplant does not cure Hepatitis C. While true on the face of it, it doesn't allow for the fact that a patient can live many years with HCV with a new liver and also has the extra time to treat with HCV meds to rid themselves of the virus. This is especially ironic as we will soon has STAT-C treatment which should greatly increase the likelihood of clearing the virus.”

-Bill

[HectorSF]

"Our first care is your health care"
ARIZONA HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

Janice K. Brewer, Governor
http://azgovernor.gov/contact.asp

Thomas J. Betlach, Director
602-417-4000 • tom.***@****

Marc Leib, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
(responsible for medical issues. He is an anesthesiologist NOT a hepatologist or transplant surgeon.)

azahcccs
801 East Jefferson, Phoenix, AZ 85034
PO Box 25520, Phoenix, AZ 85002
Phone: [phone]
www.azahcccs.gov

For those interested in contacting the people responsible for the decision to eliminate liver transplants for persons with HCV with medicaid coverage in Arizona see the info above.

Hectorsf

[Trish77]

"Really, it is unspeakably inhumane. It is utterly unjustifiable and exceedingly cruel. "

Nothing further to add to that.  That pretty much says how I feel about this.  Just absolutely gobsmacked.that this is happening in the U.S. of A.  Arizona state capital seems like a great place for a rally for World Hepatitis Day this year.  

[neptune235]

A Republican state legislator from, I thik, Minnesota, has independently studied the AZ state budget, legislative analysis, committee testimony, and has, on his own, come up with 26 different ways that Brewer could find the money in her budget.  26 different ways that do not increase spending one dime, and does not rob services from any one individual.

Mike's got it right when talking about the inhumanity.

I'm a bit gobsmacked that the Obama Justice Dept. under Atty. Gen. Holder has not stepped in under federal civil rights statutes to remedy this situation.

It is indeed appalling.

[fashion345]

Ahh,, Arizona,, the state where I reside.  Yes, so very discouraging and definitely not a fan of Jan Brewer.
Unfortunately she has quite a bit of support here.

It is embarrasing for those of us that live here.  Such a shame.  Gun control another big issue as I am sure many of you read about the horrific attempted assasination and mass murder that happened yesterday.  So very sad.