Mastectomy Bill in Congress - Your help is needed!

[shanti]

If you have not yet done this, it is really important, especially now that the Supreme Court has now made it nearly impossible for HMO's to be held accountable for their actions.

Subject: Mastectomy Bill in Congress

NOTE : WHEN YOU SIGN-UP, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ZIP CODE ONLY.....Other info is OPTIONAL....please pass this on to all your friends and family....

Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all women.

Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you are receiving this it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go and vote on this issue...and send it on to others you know who will do the same.

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home hours after surgery against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!!!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.


http://www.lifetimetv.com/reallife/bc/pledges/bc_mast_pledge.html

This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON. THANKS

[aden_nak]

1. No one should be leaving the hospital with "drainage tubes" still attached

That's just fucked up.

[havocmom]

6. My sister had the drainage tubes for over 2 weeks

She is lucky, her insurance allowed for daily visits from an Rn to clean and monitor the tubes. How many serious infections for those not so fortunate?

[Kanary]

7. It's not the only surgery where that happens

People going home much too early is more common than you probably realize.

And, "at home care" doesn't cover preparing meals. Doctors are ignorant about that.

We can keep trying to patch holes, or we can work for REAL change...... Universal Single Payor Coverage.

Kanary

[Razoor]

20. done

just signed it.

[smirkymonkey]

2. Kick!

:kick:

[jukes]

3. seekthetruth

done, & tx!

[porphyrian]

4. ...b...but the poor insurance companies...

...what will they ever do with that 1% loss in profit?!

[terrya]

5. I just affixed my John Hancock to it. Thanks. eom

[Demoiselle]

8. Petition signed.

Thanks for doing this.

[redqueen]

9. Thanks for the notice & link

:kick:

[rocktivity]

10. Remember when they did that to women who'd just had babies?

and there was an increase in babies with jaundice?

In New Jersey, at least, they passed a law that new mothers could stay in the hospital for at least two days, and the insurance company has to cover it.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Roaming]

11. But if someone could need the tubes for two weeks that would

cost a fortune, when home care might do just as well... I'm just thinking this may have longterm NEGATIVE consequences for many more people who won't be able to afford health insurance when the rates go up again.

[SemperEadem]

14. so the answer is to send the women home hours after surgery

where the risk of infection is exponentially greater and they'll have to be readmitted to the hospital to treat the infection, thus eating up whatever 'savings' the insurance company thinks its making by sending her home too soon in the first place?

That's like patching a leaky pipe with duct tape because it's cheaper and stops the leak in the moment, but does nothing to address the fact that the pipe is deteriorating and needs a more drastic and costly remedy applied to correct the situation properly and effectively.

[brook]

16. then maybe...

it's time health care meant restoring people to health rather than storing wealth for the for-profit medical mills?

A week ago today I had one of those drive-thru surgeries to remove some bone from my foot. No after-care is unconscionable. I have been fortunately blessed with good family and friends. Others may not be so lucky.

[Ilsa]

22. They can't force you to stay in the hospital

if you want to leave with your tubes in place, or if your doctor says it is okay to have home health care. The point is to let the doctor evaluate what is needed on a case by case basis, especially if the patient doesn't have a standby support system at home to help her.

[MaineDem]

12. Thanks for the heads-up

I'll contact my Senators and Congressman as well.

[donsu]

13. watching american health care crash

but hey! god's on smirk's side. this god sure isn't on women's side.

anybody know a god that's pro woman?

[RebelYell]

17. Nope...

...their god is scared of us women folk. Shortly, we'll all be wearing Burkas.

[shadu]

15. Done

[RebelYell]

18. Thanks for posting this

I was sent home with drainage tubes and was so groggy that my mom and husband had to call my brother to get me in the house. This wasn't a mastectomy, but a lumpectomy. I should have been in the hospital over night.

I took a pain pill after finally getting in bed and vomited violently all night. I needed an IV for pain.

[shanti]

19. kick

:kick:

[myrna minx]

21. Done.