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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Breast Cancer / June 2006Most Recent Update
Aloha folks! I much appreciate all your prayers and thoughts, because I think they're working! A friend from another group has an SO who works at Washington University Hospital up in St. Louis, MO. It's a cancer research hospital. He put me though to a friend of his from Patient Advocate Foundation (who I had already called and was shut down), but he put her to WORK as a personal favor for me. She called a friend of hers ,somewhere, who called another friend of hers who works for the Department of Health for Pasco County (again, who I already tried and was shut down). This woman works at a little known foundation called, Healthy Woman Today. It's a state-run, but privately funded foundation started by a rich woman - that's all I know. Anyway, this person from this fund called a surgeon friend of HERS and I have an appointment this morning, supposedly for free, with Dr. Ferris who's office is right around the corner from me. I have to bring all the records I've accumulated so far and they'll supposedly help me out. If this doesn't work, the chain that started all this will take me up in St. Louis. I've been really sick all weekend, and as such, I'm wondering how I can make it in today, but I *have* to. I've got a fever, chills, sweats, nausea, shakes, vomiting and diarrhea. I just love being me. :~) Anyway, that point is moot. Fact is, prayers are doing something! It's amazing they work, isn't it? I love you guys. Thanks so much! kili > Aloha folks! > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > kili There is a program in Florida http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/bcc/ Established in 1994, the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program is a breast and cervical cancer screening program that provides reduced-cost or free mammograms, clinical breast exams and Pap smears to low-income, uninsured women between the ages of 50 and 64. The program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program serving 50 states, 14 Indian Tribes, and 7 territories. The program has 16 lead sites that ensure statewide access to services. Services Provided Through FBCCEDP: a.. Breast and cervical cancer screening exams (mammograms, Pap smears and clinical breast exams) are provided to uninsured and underinsured women 50 to 64 years of age, at or below 200% of poverty b.. Diagnostic exams are provided as necessary c.. Case management is provided to all clients d.. Outreach, public education and professional education is provided e.. Data is collected and utilized to assess program's effectiveness and quality f.. Treatment for eligible women may be paid by Medicaid With your symptoms you should be treated immediately. Present yourself to a emergency room. Tampa has a large teaching hospital and so does Orlando or any place in your state of Florida. They have to treat you....if your symptoms are cancer you need treatment ASAP. If they don't treat you they can loose all there federal funding which they wouldn't risk on you. Your husband has to go to the Medicaid office today with all your paper work. They can expedite you application and have it processed by the week's end. An assets you and your husband have will have to spent on your medical care, you will need the receipts. I can not emphasize how important it is that you application is completed. Your initial surgeon and hospital needs a call from your congressman if they accept federal funds, but that can wait until you get treatment. If they refused to treat you they needed to refer you to another hospital. That is the protocol. As far as St Louis, usually stated funded programs are only for state residents. I wouldn't get your hopes up. Alex > > Aloha folks! > > [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > states, 14 Indian Tribes, and 7 territories. The program has 16 lead sites > that ensure statewide access to services. Yeah, I know, but they won't take me at age 38. Funny thing is, Healthy Women Today, who got me my appt. for today, is part of the Department of Health in Florida. It just took personal favors of friends of friends of friends in order for this surgeon to see me. Keep your fingers crossed! kili > Anyway, this person from this fund called a surgeon friend of HERS and I > have an appointment this morning, supposedly for free, with Dr. Ferris who's [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > If this doesn't work, the chain that started all this will take me up in St. > Louis. Congratulations! This sounds like a really positive step :) Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for more treatment. Good luck today. Chantelle Hi Kili, I hope things work out for you. You should consider asking your Dr., either oncologist, surgeon or family practioner for a medication that may help you cope better - when I was diagnosed and was going through all the testing, I threw up and had diarrhea every day and just couldn't function. I lost 7 lbs. before I even started chemo. My family dr. prescribed xanac - very lost dose and not only did it help with the nausea and vomiting it helped me cope enough until my own resources kicked in. These symptoms may not be due to stress or anything psychological but I don't think it would hurt to see. Wishing you well Tamara > Aloha folks! > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > kili > Hi Kili, > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Tamara Thanks, Tamara, sounds just like what I'm going through. I put it down to stress and anxiety. It's now been 5 weeks that I haven't slept barely a wink; it's been tough. Thanks for making me feel better knowing that I'm not alone! kili > Thanks, Tamara, sounds just like what I'm going through. I put it down to > stress and anxiety. It's now been 5 weeks that I haven't slept barely a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > kili How is your Medicaid application going? Have you submitted all the paperwork? In my professional experience once an application is completed ( and verified by the hospital) your local hospital is a Medicaid provider , FLORIDA HOSPITAL ZEPHYRHILLS INC and can bill retroactively. http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/Consumer_Resources/index.shtml. The ball is in your court. If you have completed the application ask how long to process. Call the hospital and tell them the application is set. Ask the hospital to call and have them state you have a life threatening condition. Just to let all know there is a system for people who don't have health insurance and are poor. http://ahca.myflorida.com/Medicaid/flmedicaid.shtml http://ahca.myflorida.com/Medicaid/pdffiles/sos.pdf Even with insurance, there are times you have to deal with incompetent and uncaring hospital billers. When I was getting chemo, I got a call asking me how I was going to settle my bill. At the time I have 2 insurances. I called my insurance and they told me the payment was sent 15 days after the bill was submitted. I did forfeit my life because of a boob, I filed a complaint. There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to get care, if they deny you once you have completed all the paperwork, I would call my state representative. Good Luck ...get treatment Alex 4445 > > Thanks, Tamara, sounds just like what I'm going through. I put it down to > > stress and anxiety. It's now been 5 weeks that I haven't slept barely a [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > once you have completed all the paperwork, I would call my state > representative. Good Luck ...get treatment Alex I'm glad someone has suggestions for Kili. Her posts have been very distressing and doubly so when one hasn't a clue as to how to help. It's as if the medical profession has forgotten its basic purpose and only the almighty dollar rules. I made an appointment with a new doctor over the phone the other day and was asked for my insurance information at that time. Usually they wait until you get to the office at least. And the costs for medical care are appalling. $2000 for an overnight stay in a hospital where no treatment was required?!! $15000 for a simple lumpectomy - just the removal of a benign lesion! It's scary. Lois > And the costs for > medical care are appalling. $2000 for an overnight stay in a hospital where > no treatment was required?!! $15000 for a simple lumpectomy - just the > removal of a benign lesion! It's scary. They have to charge that much in order to make up for all the patients who don't pay. A hospital that goes broke has to close its doors.  SignatureJohn Richards > They have to charge that much in order to make up for all the patients > who don't pay. A hospital that goes broke has to close its doors. Great point. As a working person I pay taxes and increases in my health coverage to support the uninsured or underinsured population. Healthcare professionals need to get paid. People wouldn't go to the hairdresser or a lawyer and expect free services yet people expect a hospital to give them care and no questions asked. Of course, this does not give the hospital the right to be demeaning or rude, but I do think a fair question is how are you going to settle this bill. Many times, patients and families expect free care no questions asked. I think it is fair for a hospital to ask for a deposit OR direct the patients to file for Medicaid in a non urgent case. Many families don't want to file since they will have to give up the second home or sell some stocks. They complain about not getting Medicaid but haven't filed the application ( which is really a pain in the neck, something as painful as doing a tax return). My son works in the summer in a grocery store, many people who are self employed work part time to get health insurance. Places like Starbucks give part time workers benefits. It is all a matter of priorities. > > And the costs for > > medical care are appalling. $2000 for an overnight stay in a hospital where [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > They have to charge that much in order to make up for all the patients > who don't pay. A hospital that goes broke has to close its doors. I understand that and approve of it, if in fact those who are in imminent danger are served no matter what. But as Kili's experience demonstrates, that may not be the case. Still I think the costs should reflect some reasonable reality. During my overnight stay, I ate 3 meals, blood pressure and temperature taken 3 times and a nurse popped in now and then to check that I was still alive. I cannot fathom what resources I used that could approach a $2000 bill. I think we should be concerned as to whether medical costs are reasonable because we are paying the bills in the end, either through taxes or high personal insurance costs. Lois > I understand that and approve of it, if in fact those who are in imminent > danger are served no matter what. But as Kili's experience demonstrates, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Lois Here in the Northeast, $2000 is a visit to the Emergency Room. There are many costs the consumers don't see. For example to have an electronic medical record it costs millions of dollars in infastructre. Kili was not in imminent danger, according to Breast Cancer Specialists such as Dr Love, it is not an emergency, futhermore we do not know if she even has cancer. > Here in the Northeast, $2000 is a visit to the Emergency Room. That's terrifying! We, the Fishers, don't use our (UK) medical services lightly but I know many do. In a way, having to pay directly might make them think more. Mary > > I understand that and approve of it, if in fact those who are in > > imminent danger are served no matter what. But as Kili's experience [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > in imminent danger, according to Breast Cancer Specialists such as Dr Love, > it is not an emergency, futhermore we do not know if she even has cancer. The question is whether the millons paid for electronic medical records are justified. After all its just software, a glorified databank system. If the hospital managers do their shopping well this should keep a lid on costs.. The amazing prices quoted in this thread shine a new light on the question of how long people stay in hospital. Going home a few days after a bilateral mastectomy not only cuts the chance of infection (speaks volumes about hospital hygiene BTW) but also keeps the patients costs down. Who wouldnt empty their wifes drains if it was saving them (but not their insurance!) $2000/day..? Signaturemadiba > The amazing prices quoted in this thread shine a new light on the > question of how long people stay in hospital. Going home a few days > after a bilateral mastectomy not only cuts the chance of infection > (speaks volumes about hospital hygiene BTW) but also keeps the patients > costs down. Who wouldnt empty their wifes drains if it was saving them > (but not their insurance!) $2000/day..? Staying in hospital means different things to different people. I wouldn't want such surgery as an outpatient, in fact when I had a lumpectomy I was allowed to stay for a fifth night because I didn't want the physical and emotional shock of going home after such a trauma. I'm not sure, either, that all houses are free from infections :-) Mary > Staying in hospital means different things to different people. I wouldn't > want such surgery as an outpatient, in fact when I had a lumpectomy I was [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Mary Lumpectomies is day surgery. The purpose of being in a hospital is to get care you can't get elsewhere. With surgery and anesthesia ( nasuea and pain are well managed) techinques improved why does one need to stay in the hospital ..... surely not for emotional support. There are other systems in place to help women with this, pre op counseling, support groups, social workers, etc. VNA are able to visit you in your own home and give one to one attention. >> Staying in hospital means different things to different people. I >> wouldn't want such surgery as an outpatient, in fact when I had a [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Lumpectomies is day surgery. Not in UK - yet. It will come. > The purpose of being in a hospital is to get care you can't get > elsewhere. With surgery and anesthesia ( nasuea and pain are well > managed) techinques improved why does one need to stay in the hospital > ..... surely not for emotional support. Rest. Mary > > The amazing prices quoted in this thread shine a new light on the > > question of how long people stay in hospital. Going home a few days [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > allowed to stay for a fifth night because I didn't want the physical and > emotional shock of going home after such a trauma. -and here's me thinking you were as tough as nails Mary.. :-/ > I'm not sure, either, that all houses are free from infections :-) Precisely, no nationwide survey with ratings available, but if there is an infection at least its one's own bugs.. Signaturemadiba >> Staying in hospital means different things to different people. I >> wouldn't >> want such surgery as an outpatient, in fact when I had a lumpectomy I was >> allowed to stay for a fifth night because I didn't want the physical and >> emotional shock of going home after such a trauma. > -and here's me thinking you were as tough as nails Mary.. :-/ Heavens no, I'm human :-) >> I'm not sure, either, that all houses are free from infections :-) > Precisely, no nationwide survey with ratings available, but if there is > an infection at least its one's own bugs.. Not necessarily. Doors and windows are opened, visitors come in, there are other vectors for foreign infections. Mary > >> Staying in hospital means different things to different people. I > >> wouldn't [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Not necessarily. Doors and windows are opened, visitors come in, there are > other vectors for foreign infections. You're right of course, that was just a tongue-in-cheek answer.. Signaturemadiba > The question is whether the millons paid for electronic medical records > are justified. After all its just software, a glorified databank system. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > costs down. Who wouldnt empty their wifes drains if it was saving them > (but not their insurance!) $2000/day..? Maybe these exorbitant costs could be partially justified if the medical service was excellent, but a recent published study determined that though the US spends more on health care than any other country in the world, the quality of its healthcare delivery is only mediocre. An AARP comparison of the quality of healthcare among western European, Scandinavian countries and the US ranked the US near the bottom in a list of about 27 countries. As I recall, the UK came in one rank below the US with the Netherlands scoring at the top and the Scandinavian countries ranking near the top. I don't understand why the US remains so paralyzed on this issue. The US has been historically known as the 'can-do' country - 'can-do' on almost anything but high quality, reasonably priced and universally available healthcare. Lois > The question is whether the millons paid for electronic medical records > are justified. After all its just software, a glorified databank system. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > costs down. Who wouldnt empty their wifes drains if it was saving them > (but not their insurance!) $2000/day..? The integration of medical records has saved lives. But you need 24 hour IS support and decision making logic in the program. I don't know where you can get quality software cheap. Buying cookie cutter software often not the answer since you have to hire programmers to customize the software which is much harder when working with software when you don't have access to the original code. I mention software, but there are many hidden costs, the cost of equipment such as MRI and CT Scanners, Scopes for non invasive surgeries, quality improvement departments, billing departments, pharmacy costs, malpractice insurance, cost of nursing and medical secretaries. Hospitals are not "dirty" but the over use of antibiotics have made super infections and seems to be a problem world wide. http://www.link.med.ed.ac.uk/ridu/Mrsa.htm > > Thanks, Tamara, sounds just like what I'm going through. I put it down to > > stress and anxiety. It's now been 5 weeks that I haven't slept barely a [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > 4445 I can't apply for medicaid because they only help women over 40, but through friends of friends I got funding from an organization called Healthy Women Today. They normally only cover initial consult with the surgeon and diagnostics, but because this has been pushed through by doctor friends of mine, they're covering the entire thing. I had my consult with my secoond surgeon on Monday and I was supposed to be scheduled for a double lumpectomy on Friday, but I'm waiting to hear to see if the funding went through in time to make it to my appointment. BUT, it's on! I'm also working with a Social Service Advocate company who is doing their best to help me get disability so I can qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid will pick up any additional costs, if I qualify. So, the ball *is* rolling. Just waiting to find out when my surgery is. Thanks for everyone's well-wishes! kili > I had my consult with my secoond >surgeon on Monday and I was supposed to be scheduled for a double lumpectomy [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >Thanks for everyone's well-wishes! I'm so relieved that things are moving at last. It must have reduced your anxiety a bit. Keep on nagging so that you can get that operation on Friday. I will be praying for you. Geraldine > > I had my consult with my secoond > >surgeon on Monday and I was supposed to be scheduled for a double lumpectomy [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Geraldine Thanks, Geraldine! :~) kili |
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