Froth Slosh B'Gosh

Some Bad News

The Frothling was diagnosed with Lyme disease.  While Lyme is easily curable in its early stages, the longer it goes untreated, the harder it is to treat.  She started exhibiting symptoms three weeks ago.  Since it was the weekend, we were directed to take her to Children's Hospital, which, as an aside, was acquired by The Evil Empire about a decade ago.  Mrs. Froth took her, and I stayed home to watch Frothette and Pumpkin.  They didn't get back until 0300 Monday, with nothing known, but blood drawn for labwork.

I asked Mrs. Froth if The Frothling was prescribed antibiotics as a precaution, as the symptoms seemed similar to Lyme.  She told me no, but she called the next day to request antibiotics, and was told to wait for the test results.

The test results were back on Wednesday, positive for Lyme.  And there they sat.  No phone call to us, no call to our PCP, no call to the rheumatologist that we were directed to make an appointment with.

When the Frothling saw the rheumatologist eight days later, and the symptoms were described, he immediately said, "Oh, that sounds like Lyme."  He was told the hospital ordered blood tests, but we hadn't gotten the results yet.  The doctor called the hospital, and learned that the results came back over a week ago, but were "misplaced."

The rheumatologist said the bite could have occurred up to 2 months ago.  We're probably still in the window where the month-long antibiotic regime will clear the infection, but there is a chance it won't.  The rheumatologist was shocked that the hospital didn't prescribe the antibiotics that night.

So yesterday, the hospital called and spoke with Mrs. Froth, and admitted that mistakes were made.  I, for one, will be consulting with an attorney next week.

Socialized Medicine For Me...

But not for thee!  "Mr. King said that he was not really worried about the outcome of the case, King v. Burwell, because as a Vietnam veteran, he has access to medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs." 

As Mr. King is a veteran, I agree that his health care SHOULD be not only subsidized, but totally covered.  Its a shame he can't see beyond his own priveledge. He gets government provided health care, but how DARE anybody else get it!

The Evil Empire Checked (Temporarily)

Some good news in the ongoing UPMC/Highmark donnybrook.

 UPMC must continue to see Highmark's Medicare Advantage members on an in-network basis as the two sides negotiate terms on disputed payments, a judge ruled today.

UPMC quickly issued a statement saying it will appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.

Commonwealth Court President Judge Dan Pellegrini, in granting a motion filed by the state, said UPMC would remain an in-network provider for Highmark Medicare Advantage Plan members for the duration of the five-year consent decrees signed last summer.

He also ordered that the two Western Pennsylvania health care giants make no change to their business relations, "no matter how small," without court approval.

Frankly, I think all relations between health care providors and/or insurance providers should be subject to court approval.  Playing with peoples' lives for profit is not nice.

 

Dental Fun

Spent the morning in the chair having my gums sliced open to clear out an infection and have some bone grafting done.  Thankfully, I have decent dental coverage, so I can afford the procedure, even though my out of pocket costs will approach $3,000.00.  Without insurance?  I'd never be able to afford it.

The stupid thing is, this was all potentially not necessary.  I've had good coverage for over 20years.  Prior to getting my current job, I had no dental insurance at all once I graduated college.   As a result, I got out of the habit of going to the dentist.

Had I gone to the dentist once I was insured, its likely I wouldn't have had to endure what I went through today (and get to go through again in a few weeks for the other half of my jaws).

I can imagine that many people who went without health insurance for years, but have it now thanks to the ACA, may endure the same thing, as long neglected or undetected health problems will now get treated.   

Funniest Right Wing Mem EVER!!

So, this is making the rounds of the right-wing tubes...a restaurant adding a TWENTY CENT surcharge to a $22.74 check (including taxes).  This has to be the STUPIDEST argument against the ACA I've ever seen.  So, decent healthcare costs less than an iced tea?  Less than a chicken sandwich?  Less than a chili cheese dog?  A fraction of the tip on this check??  SIGN ME UP!

Employees?? What Employees?

UPMC blames its non-existent employees for compromising sensitive patient data.

So Let Me See If I Have This Straight

UPMC pays non-medical personnel so little that some of them must go to food pantries to get enough victuls for themselves and their families.  Rather than pay those employees enough so they do not have to go to food pantries, the Evil Empire instead sets up its own in-house pantry and encourages its employees to donate food items to it, so employees wont have to go to the "outside" food pantry.

That's about right, isn't it?  How much money does UPMC president and CEO Jeffrey A. Romoff make heading up this so-called "non-profit?"  Six million dollars a year?  That'll buy a lot of macaroni and cheese for the pantry!

Seriously, why doesn't UPMC just issue scrip to their employees and open a company store?

The Mind Boggles

Mittens says the U.S. must do more to rein in healthcare costs, while praising Israel's health care system.

"Do you realize what health care spending is as a percentage of the GDP in Israel? 8 percent. You spend 8 percent of GDP on health care. And you’re a pretty healthy nation," Romney told donors at a fundraiser at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, speaking of a health care system that is compulsory for Israelis and funded by the government. "We spend 18 percent of our GDP on health care. 10 percentage points more."

Do I need mention that Israel has a socialized medical care system?

Wingnuts Say The Darndest Things

The hysteria on the right over the Supreme Court upholding the ACA is a thing to behold, but for me, the winner of Teh Stoopid goes to Rand Paul who stated:

 "just because a couple people on the Supreme Court declare something to be ‘constitutional’ does not make it so."

Er, actually Rand, it DOES make it so.  That level of idiocy is going to be hard to top.

Also, Rush Limbaugh is so upset he says he's moving to Costa Rica...which has universal, taxpayer financed health care.

That Sound You Heard....

...shortly after 10 this morning was the sound of millions of wingnut heads exploding in unison.

The US Supreme Court has said President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare reform act is constitutional.

Congressional Republicans vow to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but I cannot see such a bill making it out of the senate.  Even if it could, it would never garner enough support to sustain an veto override.