Film critic Roger Ebert posted a link to this on his Facebook page last night noting "Heartbreaking. A very good film critic is in a very bad place. Edward Copeland on Film is a fine destination blog. But it hasn't been easy..."Copeland has MS, a rare kind that is unresponsive to the usual therapies. Now, before he has even turned 40, he is bedridden and the only care he receives comes from his elderly disabled parents. It's a long and painful read, but it perfectly illustrates the hell that the chronically ill and non-wealthy in this Nation face every day.
Not my usual kind of post
By Edward Copeland
http://eddieonfilm.blogspot.com/2010/08/not-my-usual-kind-of-post.htmlWith some rare exceptions, I've tried to keep this blog clear of non-entertainment-related posts, mostly because that's not what I think this blog should be about but also because I suspect that people who come here don't come here to read about me. I know I wouldn't. I've usually restricted that sort of thing to Facebook notes. There have been exceptions, but today I can't help myself. Nothing is going to be reviewed, analyzed or critiqued today, at least in the realm of entertainment, and if this holds no interest for you, I suggest you move along right now.
(snip)
There are the hospitals and doctors that purposely and fraudulently bill people. One nurse who worked on my wound told me of another patient, a 72-year-old woman, who was surprised to find on her hospital bill charges relating to her maternity and labor costs. I paid two bills to a hospital and the checks cleared. Two months later, I got the same two bills again along with a note saying they were being referred to a collection agency for nonpayment. In 2008 and 2009, we caught $24,000 and $22,000 in billing errors respectively. In all the talks of health care reform, no one brought up reforming hospitals in terms of quality or fraud. I'm lucky. I haven't had as many insurance problems as others, but they are far from the only villains. In fact, one case manager came to the rescue when one of the hospitals was trying to lie and kick me out on the streets when my house was unprepared. Unfortunately, like most things in this country, quality health care always will be something only available to the rich and the elected.
At the beginning of this month, I joined the ranks of Medicare. I'd hoped this would help pay for my caregiver, which is not covered by private insurance. Alas, no. Even though they say the cover those sorts of things for the homebound, Medicare goes by visits, not hours, regardless of the fact that my wound doctor wants me to be turned every two hours or so. Doctors' orders don't matter. Should have known. They seldom mattered when I was in the purposely understaffed hospitals either.
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