Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Talk Isn't the Only Thing That's Cheap

I'm composing a letter of appeal to Caremark, or Blue Cross, or whichever tentacle is denying claims this week, but I'm not very optimistic. Back when my mother was alive, her HMO seemed to do a cost/benefit analysis. It was costing them a lot of money to provide care for her, and it wouldn't cost them a dime to let her die.
The ostensible reason for denying Karen her oral meds is that they've only been approved for cancer patients. According to the Newshour with Jim Lehrer, though, as much as 80% of drugs are used off label. I think that the real reason might be that her medicine is expensive and letters of denial are cheap.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous2:05 PM

    It has to be appealed as they always want to know if you will follow though. It is a game that insurance companies play. Or a new person in charge of denying claims to save them money. But don't think that socialized medicine will be any better! Then it will be survival of the healthiest! C

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