If you're someone who talks to me frequently, you've probably heard me ranting in the past week about insurance companies and doctors offices and the way they do their billing and coding. Basically, the problem boils down to being charged extra to ask simple questions at well baby exams, and I'll post about it in more detail once it's resolved.
Anyway, I'm still a little angry about the whole thing, and just when I thought my opinion of the health insurance industry couldn't get any lower, I received an email from my friend Grace, urging me to sign a petition to support the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act.
When I had both my babies, I was allowed a minimum of a two day hospital stay. Had I delivered via Cesarean section, my stay would have been a minimum of four days. But did you know that many insurance companies won't pay for hospitalization for mastectomies? A mastectomy is surgery to remove a woman's breast because she has cancer. A mastectomy should not be an outpatient procedure, anymore than newly delivered moms and their infants should be forced to go home if they're not medically ready.
This bill was originally introduced over ten years ago by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, and received approval from the AMA in 2001. The Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act would require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48 hour hospitalization following a mastectomy.
You can read about Congresswoman DeLauro's legislation here and you can sign the petition here.
One in eight women will suffer a breast carcinoma in her lifetime. Many of them will opt for mastectomy. Sending them home just hours after surgery? Not good enough. Sign the petition.
Anyway, I'm still a little angry about the whole thing, and just when I thought my opinion of the health insurance industry couldn't get any lower, I received an email from my friend Grace, urging me to sign a petition to support the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act.
When I had both my babies, I was allowed a minimum of a two day hospital stay. Had I delivered via Cesarean section, my stay would have been a minimum of four days. But did you know that many insurance companies won't pay for hospitalization for mastectomies? A mastectomy is surgery to remove a woman's breast because she has cancer. A mastectomy should not be an outpatient procedure, anymore than newly delivered moms and their infants should be forced to go home if they're not medically ready.
This bill was originally introduced over ten years ago by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, and received approval from the AMA in 2001. The Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act would require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48 hour hospitalization following a mastectomy.
You can read about Congresswoman DeLauro's legislation here and you can sign the petition here.
One in eight women will suffer a breast carcinoma in her lifetime. Many of them will opt for mastectomy. Sending them home just hours after surgery? Not good enough. Sign the petition.
Posts
2 comments:
I think people should have a choice. I always hated being in the hospital for any reason, and had an early release after my daughter was born. I would have been fine to go home just an hour or two after she was delivered, but was thrilled to be "allowed" to leave after 25 hours, the soonest my doctor would approve.
Patients know more than people give them credit for. I'd much rather be home and in my own bed taking care of myself unless there are complications. But everyone should be able to choose for themselves, with their doctors advice (based on his expertise, not fear of not getting paid) what is best for them.
I think people should have a choice too. And I also went home early after the birth of my second child. But anyone who has ever had a mastectomy will tell you how painful and frightening it is. Removal of a breast is major surgery. And ANY patient, even those receiving routine surgery, should be fully recovered from anesthesia before they are sent home. We don't even send dogs home at work following a routine spay until they are fully awake.
Post a Comment