Re: Medacaid/Medicaid

[Guest guest]

What a HOT topic....

I doubt if Dr R ever made this a " split second decision " No medical

profession would do that. I thought it was for other reasons...such

as the HOSPITAL was no longer taking Medicaid patients.

I doubt that he is equipped to do your surgery in his office.

The real " BEEF " is with the government......not the health

profession.....take it up with the proper officials as to why they

pay MUCH LESS for procedures than bonafide insurance companies.

That is the REAL problem and has been for decades.

I have seen the decisions that are forced upon the population that

has a limited acess to care......yes I said that.....their acess IS

limited...........Sure they can walk in to any emergency room..but

just like the gal (pinkrose I think..said)... " trying to find a

doctor " I think she meant a Primary Care Physician. It is HUMILIATING

for a person to have to call and BEG for someone to take them because

they dont have " regular insurance " Our counrty needs to wake

up......when they figure out that in the long run PREVENTATIVE care

and increased access to care saves A LOT OF MONEY..........maybe they

will do something. By the way I do think that most people will agree

that preventative care....ie Weight Loss surgery for Morbid

Obesity....for example IS Cost saving. So are immunizations and ,

for that matter no mother should ever have to make the decision

whether her child gets a decent meal or a trip to the doctor for an

ear infection.

Sorry I got off on a tangent here. This is a sore subject with me.

,

a nurse that has SEEn the discrimination done to those that " have "

and those that " have not " and I am sure not blaming it one Doctor. He

is a pioneer in his field,not a miracle worker. Call ,write your

congressman/woman today....they have email too!!!

n a message dated 5/12/00 4:24:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> dcp0702@g... writes:

>

> << In reference to the recent Medicaid posting and Dr. Rutledge's

attitude:

> > I read the post too, several times. From my understanding her

insurance

> > denied her the MGB/WLS. Then she was referred to Medicaid.

Medicaid is

> > secondary to her insurance. And besides, what does it matter

as to

> > whether it is Medicaid or not? Should Medicaid, Medicare, and

> Vocational Rehab patients not get same treatment as others? Is

there

> something that would

> > make them less important or less creditable? I have also to

question the

> > fact that Doctor's have a choice as to whether or not to accept

Medicaid

> > patients once they are so far into the process. Why advertise

that you

> > accept them, tell them they are approved, tell them the pay

rate will be

> > accepted, then tell them suddenly at the time of scheduling

surgery, that

> > he has decided not to do them? He plainly states that he would

do the

> > surgery for nothing, because of how it helps people and makes

them

> happy. Why would he say that in clinic in Jan of 2000? Then have

the

> attitude in May of

> > 2000, that Medicaid doesn't pay enough for him. That is very

> contradictory, and

> > very disconcerting to me. >>

>

> I missed the posting on this subject , my computer has been on the

blink...I

> know I will get some flack from the group, but oh well...this does

concern

> me, for several reasons, such as, I have been searching this

surgery for 8

> months, and

> i have just been approved for disability and i have just recieved

> medacaid...I have just in the last 2 months e-mailed Dr. Rutledge

and Debbie

> (personally)

> and was told that ( they do indeed take medacaid,) and they gave

me step my

> step

> instructions on what to do to get the ball rolling. I have been

working real

> hard in trying to find a doctor to support this surgery. I have

copied the

> manuel and giving it to different doctors, and have had my blood

work and

> other tests done. I do not think that it is fair to just stop

taking

> medacaid

> patients without a notice...shoot, I will speak my mind... it just

seems

> like

> now that business is picking up, that the doctor does not ( need )

his

> medacaid

> patients anymore... if this surgery was truly about caring about

others, and

> not about the money,, then this would not be an issue....medacaid

was not a

> problem before the business got busy,,,so why is it now ??? I was

told 2

> months ago that medacaid would pay for this surgery by the doctor

> himself...and was told what i needed to do, and what paperwork to

send in...I

> think it is very rude, selfish and cold hearted to do this to

another human

> being......i do not see anything caring, trusting or supportive in

someone,

> who could shatter someones dreams and hopes, by denying them

surgery because

> of some insurance that they were taking at one time, but decided in

a split

> second to stop taking, is this really about caring about people or

is it

> about success and money????? michelle

[Guest guest]

Count me in too!!!

have it!!! This is so sad!! Maybe if we get everyone on this list together,

we will be able to do something.. But, we need EVERYONE!!!! Not just the few

of us who have Medicaid.. I don't think we should be penelized just because

we cannot afford " real " insurance!! We are already discriminated against and

penelized so much in other ways.. And no.. we should NOT have to choose

between a meal or a doctor!! Tell me what i can do, and i will try my

best!!!