Hey Claire: I have read this before under an article regarding pending leglislation. I just don't know how true it is; or perhaps I better put it that it may be true; but the bill would have to be passed. Senior Citizens have such a strong lobbying group and membership group that I believe they would be hard pressed to pass this bill. Your friend, lillian
On Saturday, July 29, 2000 at 08:45:52 PM, mol-cancer@lists.meds.com wrote:
> A letter to patients at the Whittingham Cancer Center in Norwalk
> Hospital in Connecticut where my oncologist is really shook me up. Have
> any of you heard about this? Do you think it's true? Here's the
> letter:
>
> We wish to inform you that the Health Care Financing Administration,
> a government agency that administers Medicare, has planned a major
> change in the way they reimburse chemotherapeutic drugs. As a result of
> this proposal, a physician will actually lose money as reimbursement
> will be below cost. This change, if implemented this fall, will result
> in it becoming virtually impossible for us to continue administration of
> chemotherapeutic drugs to you in our office. This will result in either
> your being sent to a large chemotherapy clinic or your being
> hospitalized for chemotherapy. This will be very detrimental to your
> health as well as to your care.
>
> Accordingly, we urge you to send letters to your senator and
> representatives and encourage them to block this effort. At the least,
> you should insist that a study be done regarding the impact ot these
> changes on cancer care before the changes are implemented.
>
> This idea is so ridiculous that I find it hard to believe. Have any of
> you heard about such an action? I'm hoping the Center's administrator
> is an alarmist. However, on the chance that there is indeed a proposal
> in Congress to this effect, I have done as the letter requested and sent
> a message to my senator and representatives urging them to prevent this
> from happening.
>
> I can't believe how short sighted such an idea is. Medicare will still
> have to pay for the drug if it's administered in a hospital PLUS the
> high cost of hospitalization of the patient. It's a real loser of an
> idea. Stupid, too! And I never use the word "stupid" lightly.
>
> But, to be on the safe side, please please write to your legislators.
>
> Claire
>
>
Lillian M. Jennings,,,
e-mail: firefly@islc.net
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