Health Advocacy

Medicare: Lawsuit charges government with denying care to thousands of chronically ill

San Jose Care Resource Guide: Yes,  we sometimes have to sue Medicare, i.e. our government, to get proper care.  Here is a link to the article in the  Chicago Tribune. This article was brought to our attention by Ernest A. Wahrburg, BA(PSY), MSW, LCSW (NC & NY)/LinkedIn

Quoting the Chicago Tribune: “…The  Center for Medicare Advocacy, which filed the lawsuit with Vermont Legal Aid on behalf of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Parkinson’s Action Network, Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation…”

So what is the Center for Medicare Advocacy? Seems like a large well organized pro-Obamacare health care advocacy site. In fact one one their article’s title is “HEALTH CARE REFORM DOES NOT CUT MEDICARE BENEFITS” ….

So why are they suing Medicare, A.K.A, the (Obama) government?

Quoting the Tribune, quoting them,

“…Under the law, Medicare is obligated to provide health care and therapy that are “reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury,” according to the legal complaint. Yet through the years, program administrators have decided that services will only be reimbursed if patients show signs of getting better, the complaint notes…..”

San Jose Care Resource Guide: This Medicare policy, of course, choose to ignore that , for many  chronically ill, not getting worse is the name of the game!

San Jose Care Resource Guide: Fact is, bombast or not, liberal government will cut and/or weazzle out of social obligations like anybody else….Particularly when the group targeted for cuts does not seem politically significant. I.e. the disabled….The Obama admistration will rather spend our healthcare money on worthy  causes like

See our previous posts on the topic

• With Medicaid waiver, California dives into health care reform (stateline)
• Multiple sclerosis and it’s Financial Burden: Comments on the Guardian’podcast
•  HealthCare: California’s Gov. Brown’s proposed steep healthcare cuts
• Ways The New Health Law May Affect You in 2011 (KHN)
• Health Care Law Should Help With Jail Inmate Treatment (thecrimereport)
• Medi-Cal and Gender Reassignment Procedures

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Lupus and Fluorescent Light: Energy Saver CFL Bulbs Emit Ultraviolet light

San Jose Care Resource Guide: In an politically correct era when women are sometimes asked  not to wear perfume to an event, because of  concerns of allergic and other reactions, there is a very real dilemma.

Hidden Costs Of Energy Saving: the everpresent single enveloppe CFL Bulb

San Jose Care Resource Guide: Here is a link to a story by a Lupus patient   published in the spokesman.In a Nutshell:  lupus patients can react negatively to the Ultra Violet (UV) light that is generated by Compact Fluorescent Bulbs. and those bulbs are becoming the norm…

San Jose Care Resource Guide: This is comfirmed by this FDA  link, see the paragraph: ”..How close can we safely get to an operating CFL?..”  This FDA note is actually well done with some numbers to work with. Not all CFL emit the same UV amounts some are safer…

Read on the FDA note:     ”… As a precaution, it is recommended that these types [single envelop]  of CFLs not be used at distances closer than 1 foot, for more than one hour per day….

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Health Care Law Should Help With Jail Inmate Treatment (thecrimereport)

SJCRG: Very much in line with what we were posting about Democare’s priorities. Here is a link to the crimereport. So why it is becoming much more apparent that more hardship is coming in the middle class seniors’ way:

• Medicare Advantage programs are being ruthlessly trimmed, link to our post
• Doctors Medicare repayment is being delayed and cut, link to  (rrstar)

 Under the radical team Obama/Pelosi, money is  lifted from the US mainstream, and poured into their ideological pets: anybody,criminals included,  but the US middleclass !

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Seniors Need To Check Options As Medicare Advantage Plans Change, Drop Out (KHN)

SJCRG:   Obamacare’s havoc on senior citizens: Not just a concern anymore…

Link to Kaiser Health News (KHN) about the turmoil in Medicare Advantage

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Using the internet for health information (KevinMD)

SJCRG:Since we are in the business of care  and health  information, you can imagine that we wanted to see what Lisa Gualtieri, PhD, ScM had to sayon this topic  in the KevinMD blog. In a nutshell, Lisa interviewed two sisters Diana Cole and Carolyn Kingston about there use of the internet as a source of medical consumer information (out with the “patient” terminology, in comes the medical consumer..). The interview posted was with Carolyn.

Interview Bottom line:

• My health-related searches on the internet are usually very targeted, and directed toward answering a specific question rather than broad, generalized browsing.
• Did you talk to your doctor about your internet searches? No
  • SJCRG: People are still concerned about really discussing specifics of their treatments/surgery with their Doctors. Checking over their shoulder is OK, though. Truly some doctors might take umbrage, then again, some will not. Maybe that should be part of your criteria when choosing a doctor…

Keep in mind this is one person’s interview, but sounds pretty representative though.

Comments?

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Health Advocates, The Care Resource Guide, and the Healthcare System (AHRQ)

Care Resource Guide: AHRQ (Agency For Health Care Quality) Director Carolyn Clancy, M.D, has written a column recommending that patients arm themselves  with a health care advocate.

What does a  Health Care Advocate do?

Quoting her: “…A health advocate is a family member, friend, trusted coworker, or a hired professional who can ask questions, write down information, and speak up for you so you can better understand your illness and get the care and resources you need…”

Care Resource Guide: Well, guess what..This is precisely what we are trying to accomplish at the Care Resource Guide.  While we cannot accompany you to the doctor, we can provide background helping you understand your options, and inform you so you can better formulate your questions to the health professionals….

Please contact us through the “Contact Us”  form for providing with Health Advocacy on your health issues!

Remember we do not give medical advice.  Rather, we provide you with research background on your health issue to empower you in your discussions  with your health practitioner or care manager.

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