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Judi Lynn

(160,219 posts)
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 05:36 PM Apr 2013

Gov't cuts might force NM Cancer Center to stop treating some Medicare patients

Source: Albuquerque Business First

Apr 4, 2013, 1:50pm MDT Updated: Apr 4, 2013, 2:14pm MDT
Gov't cuts might force NM Cancer Center to stop treating some Medicare patients

Dennis DomrzalskiReporter- Albuquerque Business FirstEmail | LinkedIn | Reporter RSS Feed
The Albuquerque-based New Mexico Cancer Center might have to stop treating up to 300 Medicare patients because of cuts to Medicare brought on by the federal sequestration budget cuts, the Cancer Center’s CEO said Thursday.

The cuts are in the form of lower reimbursements that took effect April 1 for expensive cancer drugs. Those 300 patients don’t have Medicare supplemental insurance coverage to help pay for the treatment, Cancer Center CEO Dr. Barbara McAneny said.

The Cancer Center is working with Lovelace Health System, which owns six hospitals in New Mexico, to get those patients treated at hospitals, McAneny added.

“We lose money whenever we treat Medicare patients, so we have always been losing money, and now we will lose even more,” McAneny said.


Read more: http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2013/04/04/nm-cancer-center-might-stop-some-service.html

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Gov't cuts might force NM Cancer Center to stop treating some Medicare patients (Original Post) Judi Lynn Apr 2013 OP
so the patients will lose their lives azurnoir Apr 2013 #1
Rationing of high-cost treatments also enlightenment Apr 2013 #3
Per Republican Healthcare Policy redstatebluegirl Apr 2013 #2
Perhaps it's time to bring OTC laudanum back. Trillo Apr 2013 #4
It's happening all over. Redfairen Apr 2013 #5

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)
1. so the patients will lose their lives
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 05:49 PM
Apr 2013

so that the Cancer Center doesn't lose money

Healthcare American style the best on Earth

enlightenment

(8,830 posts)
3. Rationing of high-cost treatments also
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 06:31 PM
Apr 2013

occur in other countries (those with decent, real health care systems) because the cost is so outrageous. What needs to be done is to put the brakes on the ability of Big Pharma to profit endlessly on their products. I'm not saying they shouldn't make a profit - just that the quantity should be weighed against the drugs' beneficial use to society.

It was nice to see the decision made by the Indian Supreme Court this week, which will free Gleevic from the stranglehold that its parent company has had on it with patent after patent. I realize that at its root the decision probably had more to do with protecting the Indian generic pharmas than any sort of true altruism, but at least it was a good decision.


edited to correct spelling
and edited again - because today I apparently cannot spell

Trillo

(9,154 posts)
4. Perhaps it's time to bring OTC laudanum back.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 07:27 PM
Apr 2013

It was used in the 1800s.

Corporations, who are doing the major polluting, and their investors, are all hiding their money "overseas", and its not getting taxed. Humans have ALWAYS taken care of their sick and dying elders.

If modern medical care has become too expensive, then bring back 1800s medicine. At least dying folks won't be in pain.

Redfairen

(1,276 posts)
5. It's happening all over.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 07:31 PM
Apr 2013

Here's a similar story from yesterday. It talks about different health care providers but it's the same problem.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022610892

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