Not to be outdone in the austerity binge to feed the ever hungry bankers the State of Oregon will be cutting medical benefits for those that can not afford health insurance.
In the letter telling us our coverage will be cut they assure us that:
None of the services being dropped are for life-threatening conditions.
Perhaps not, but quality of life isn't important for those without "skin in the game" apparently.
Follow me beyond the Fleur-de-Kos for an examination of what are acceptable medical conditions to ignore.
Beginning January 1, 2012, OHP will only cover the first 498 lines on the list. Treatment for the conditions listed below will no longer be covered.(PDF)
None of the services being dropped are for life-threatening conditions.
Keratoconjunctivits
Medical and surgical methods to help with inflamed or infected corneas (the clear outer portion of the eye)
Not life threatening but is contagious. So we will now be experiencing outbreaks from untreated conditions. And those with the condition get to experience this:
Very acute and highly infectious external eye infection caused by Adenovirus type 8 and 19.
The spectrum of the disease could be from mild and inapparent, to full blown cases.
Symptoms:
Foreign body sensation, photophobia, conjunctival hyperemic, eyelid stuck together in the morning, eyelid edema and sero-fibrinous discharge
Ocular symptoms commonly preceded by systemic symptoms of fever, sore throat and sometimes gastrointestinal disturbances
Signs:
Acute onset of unilateral, followed by bilateral papillary and follicular reaction
Bilateral tender and enlarged preauricular lymph node
Diffuse epithelial punctate keratitis end erosions over the central cornea appear during the first or second week of the disease
The epithelial lesions gradually coalesce and form coarse spots of subepithelial infiltrates
These small-rounded subepithelial opacities may persist for weeks, months or even years
The first affected eye usually will suffer from relatively more prominent and prolonged keratitis than the fellow eye
Pseudomembrane formation may occur and can be complicated with conjunctival scarring and symblepharon
The viruses can be readily spreaded by finger to eye contact, therefore hand washing and proper disinfection of instruments after contact with any patient suspected of having EKC are mandatory.
Well at least it isn't total blindness.
Good thing we are a society that doesn't require speech to communicate:
Mutism
Talk therapy for a person who is unable to speak in certain situations
Symptoms are as follows:
consistent failure to speak in specific social situations (in which there is an expectation for speaking, such as at school) despite speaking in other situations.
not speaking interferes with school or work, or with social communication.
lasts at least 1 month (not limited to the first month of school).
failure to speak is not due to a lack of knowledge of, or comfort, with the spoken language required in the social situation
not due to a communication disorder (e.g., stuttering). It does not occur exclusively during the course of a pervasive developmental disorder (PPD), schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder.
Selective mutism is described in the 2000 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR: pp.125-127).
Children with selective mutism may also show:
anxiety disorder (e.g., social phobia)
excessive shyness
fear of social embarrassment
social isolation and withdrawal
I guess they went for the conditions that weren't pretty and we are socialized to not discuss:
Hemorrhoids
Surgery to remove hemorrhoids that are causing pain or issues with stools; removal of a blood clot in a hemorrhoid
Signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids may include:
Painless bleeding during bowel movements — you might notice small amounts of bright red blood on your toilet tissue or in the toilet bowl
Itching or irritation in your anal region
Pain or discomfort
Swelling around your anus
A lump near your anus, which may be sensitive or painful
Leakage of feces
Problems if left untreated:
Anemia. Chronic blood loss from hemorrhoids may cause anemia, in which you don't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your cells, resulting in fatigue and weakness.
Strangulated hemorrhoid. If blood supply to an internal hemorrhoid is cut off, the hemorrhoid may be "strangulated," which can cause extreme pain and lead to tissue death (gangrene).
Well, if talking isn't important why should hearing be important?
Chronic Otitis Media
Surgery to place tubes in the ears and/or remove tonsils in children with chronic fluid or infection in the inner ear; repair of certain injuries to the ear canal
Persistent blockage of fullness of the ear
Hearing loss
Chronic ear drainage
Development of balance problems
Facial weakness
Persistent deep ear pain or headache
Fever
confusion or sleepiness
Drainage or swelling behind the ear
Here is a condition that is rarely discussed. An can be the result of sexual abuse. This is the first of many re-victimizations of sexual abuse victims.
Rectal prolapse
Surgery to replace rectal tissue into its correct location when it falls through the anal opening
Symptoms
The main symptom is a reddish-colored mass that sticks out from the opening of the anus, especially following a bowel movement. The lining of the rectal tissue may be visible and may bleed slightly.
Causes:
Constipation
Cystic fibrosis
Malnutrition and malabsorption (celiac disease is an example)
Pinworms (enterobiasis)
Prior injury to the anus or pelvic area
Whipworm infection (trichuriasis)
And we are back to the war on senses:
Otosclerosis
Surgery to correct a bone growth in the inner ear that can cause hearing loss
Deafness is not a problem if the 99% have it apparently.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Otosclerosis gets worse without treatment, but surgery may restore at least some hearing. Pain and dizziness related to surgery usually goes away within a few weeks.
We can't leave children out. Here is a condition many parents are familiar with. But in OHP's eyes you are on your own.
Foreign body in ear/nose
Removing a foreign body (for example a Q-tip end) from the ear or the nose
And we are back to denying treatment of conditions related to sexual abuse.
Anal fistula
Surgery to correct a tear in the anal wall or a connection between the anus and the skin
Surgery is necessary to cure an anal fistula. Although fistula surgery is usually relatively straightforward, the potential for complication exists, and is preferably performed by a specialist in colon and rectal surgery. It may be performed at the same time as the abscess surgery, although fistulas often develop four to six weeks after an abscess is drained, sometimes even months or years later.
Fistula surgery usually involves opening up the fistula tunnel. Often this will require cutting a small portion of the anal sphincter, the muscle that helps to control bowel movements. Joining the external and internal openings of the tunnel and con-verting it to a groove will then allow it to heal from the inside out. Most of the time, fistula surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis. Treatment of a deep or extensive fistula may require a short hospital stay.
Broken back? Too bad have a lollypop.
Fractures of the vertebral column
Surgery to repair a broken bone in the back that has not injured the spinal cord
Vertebral fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine are usually associated with major trauma and can cause spinal cord damage that results in neural deficits. Each vertebral region has unique anatomical and functional features that result in specific injuries.
Will they treat the broken back after you develop spinal damage?
From the "What could go wrong with this?" department. I'm sure housing these children in an institutional setting is so much less expensive then outpatient counseling.
Conduct disorders
Counseling for children with conduct disorders such as delinquency or disruptive behavior
Children who exhibit these behaviors should receive a comprehensive evaluation. Many children with a conduct disorder may have coexisting conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, ADHD, learning problems, or thought disorders which can also be treated. Research shows that youngsters with conduct disorder are likely to have ongoing problems if they and their families do not receive early and comprehensive treatment. Without treatment, many youngsters with conduct disorder are unable to adapt to the demands of adulthood and continue to have problems with relationships and holding a job. They often break laws or behave in an antisocial manner.
This one lets women that are concerned by cancer to get a nice bill afterwards to mute the relief that that mysterious lump is benign.
Disorders of the breast
Drainage or removal of breast cysts (collections of fluid) or removal of non-cancerous breast lumps
Cysts
Fibroadenomas
Scar tissue
Rarely cancer
But because lumps may be cancerous, they should be evaluated by a doctor without delay. Lumps may be fluid-filled sacs (cysts) or solid masses, which are usually fibroadenomas
Back to denying sexual abuse victims medical care. Those forced penetration vaginal tears are no longer covered:
Disorders of the vagina
Drainage of infected areas, destruction of lesions, and repair of injuries to the vagina not resulting from childbirth
Is it me or are women taking the brunt of these cuts?
Cysts of Bartholin’s gland
Drainage of infected areas or collections of fluid in the vaginal area
Experts believe that the cause of a Bartholin cyst is a backup of fluid. Fluid may accumulate when the opening of the gland (duct) becomes obstructed, perhaps by the growth of a flap of skin or because of infection.
A cyst can become infected, forming an abscess. A number of bacteria may cause the infection, including common bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), as well as bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Please feel free to let her know your opinion of these cuts:
Judy Mohr Peterson, DirectorDivision of Medical Assistance ProgramsOregon Health Authority
Judy Mohr-Peterson Phone:503-945-5963;
EMAIL: judy.mohr-peterson@state.or.us