Category: News and Views
Some of you may have heard about the proposed cuts to TennCare. What you may not know is, for people who have more severe disabilities, these cuts will be FATAL. Here is a link to an article about the cuts in the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jan/17/state-officials-ask-for-medicaid-cuts/
Just to give you an idea, the cuts would mean a $10000 cap on hospital stays per year, 8 out-patient visits, and the complete elimination of occupational, speech, and physical therapy, along with hospice care. It would also mean the end of the Med here in Memphis (for the full story, see the link below), along with who knows how many other hospitals across Tennessee.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jan/29/med-cuts-would-kill-us/
For people who have severe disabilities, a $10000 cap on hospital stays could be used up in less than a week, and a limit of 8 doctor visits could be reached in two months. One such person is a very good friend of mine and a fellow volunteer here at the Center, whose name I won’t reveal for confidentiality reasons. She is 32 and has had diabetes since around the age of four. Her diabetes causes a condition called gastroparesis, which causes her stomach to shut down completely about four or five times a year. This results in her having to stay at the hospital for extended periods. The condition is getting worse, and her best hope is an Enterra—a stomach pacemaker. None of us want to think about what will happen if the TennCare cuts are approved and implemented before she is able to have the operation. The following is a link to an impassioned letter to the editor, written by her father:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/feb/03/letters-to-the-editor-wednesday/?partner=RSS
As a part of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, I’m working to spread awareness about the dire effects of the cuts and to persuade legislators to oppose them. I also had the opportunity last week to go to Nashville for Disability Day on the Hill and speak to several legislators in person. The response was mixed, and the day was emotional for all of us from the Center who went. I would like to ask all of you to please call your legislators, find out where they stand about the cuts, and try to persuade them not to support the cuts. If you’d like to know more about the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, the site can be found at
http://www.thcc2.org
We have a health care reform conference on March 6 at Bridges in Memphis, information about which can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=458930050231
Also, please take a moment to share this with your friends. People’s lives are at stake, and one of those people might be someone you know. In the words of the assistant director here at the Center, “These cuts will affect the poorest of the poor and the sickest of the sick. It seems like lately all the cuts are coming down on the backs of people with disabilities.”
Thank you,
Becky S
becky@mcil.org
I don't follow American politics, so have never heard of this, but it sounds absolutely horrible. I thought that this Obamacare thing was supposed to bring America closer to socialised healthcare, something which I feel is a must. How on Earth can this be justified? I mean, they're taking away from thepeople not giving to them. I sincerely hope you win your fight and that your friend will be okay.
Thanks, I hope so too.
Yeah, I was listening to a report about national health care reform this morning, and from what I gather, Obama is doing his best. He's just facing some strong opposition from the Republicans. The Democrats are working on strategy, however.
What a shock that is...this sucks for these people who are seriously disabled.