Medical Finances
A free public service for a better community
A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare
If there are subjects you’d like to see or improvements made, please let me know using the comment button below. Still working ob the psychiatry bed issue.
Videos of these newsletters appear on Youtube on this channel. Let me know what you think.
IBD Treatment News - Robots
My apologies - this text disappeared from Friday’s news letter. I would blame gremlins but as Pogo used to say” I have met the enemy and he is us”
Engineers have developed a pill that releases microscopic robots, or microrobots, into the colon to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The experimental treatment, given orally, has shown success in mice. It significantly reduced IBD symptoms and promoted the healing of damaged colon tissue without causing toxic side effects. (Science Daily)
Hospital Finances
My wife and I live in Vancouver, Washington. It is just across Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. Portland is home to a huge medical school and hospital complex, the Oregon Health Sciences University. Before we discuss finances, let me say that I think the world of the healthcare staff there. They were able to rescue my right eye so that I can see. I was so impressed with them that I have chosen them to use my earthly remains in the med school.
However, they claim to be having financial difficulties and are planning to lay off hundreds of union healthcare workers (more than 300) permanently due to a project $25million shortfall next year. They have increased wages more than accounting for pandemic related inflation. They are building and refurbishing facilities. They provided their CEO with $700K in a retirement account - that is bad optics because the $700K won’t save too many jobs. And next year they plan to hire more. On top of that they take in $200 million/year in charitable donations. Wait they have about $1.4billion in cash and investments and make about 10% on their money.
Over the last 11 months, OHSU has run at a $64 million operating loss. The hospital has notified the state of Oregon it will lay off 142 workers. The approved budget includes cutting a total of 516 full-time equivalent positions — 373 layoffs and the elimination of 143 vacant positions. The cuts represent about 2.7% of OHSU staff.
The approval of the budget comes as OHSU leaders have reiterated intentions to merge with Legacy Health. Representatives from OHSU and Legacy signed a binding, definitive agreement to merge as OHSU Health in May. Hospital leaders have not disclosed financial details for the potential transaction, which still requires approval from regulators.
OHSU leaders said the Legacy merger will be financed with 30-year bonds that can’t be used to plug current budget shortfalls.
I am a rocket scientist but I found their financial status confusing and thought there were other ways out of the problem without layoffs - since they are cash rich and will hire next year. They could halt hiring (which they are doing). They could postpone some of the non critical building work (hundreds of millions planned).
They also just signed a new union contract this March and the bulk of the layoffs will be union healthcare workers. It has the look of retribution for the concessions made in the contract and is probably necessary to clear negative margins before the merger.
However, I am not the finance person. But some of you, like my brother in law, Steve, are and if you have trouble falling asleep and would like to peruse their finances - here the are OHSU Board Presentation June 28, 2024.
Another reason for bringing this up is that the massive layoffs and mergers would not be needed to keep facilities above water if we used the Global Budgets in HR 3421 - Universal Healthcare. I’m just saying,
Lung Cancer
I was a super heavy smoker for years and am waiting for insurance approval for a low dose cat
Here is a link to a Med Page Today article - Everything You Need to Know About Lung Cancer. It covers who gets it, what kinds there are, treatments and survival. Most important is that if you were a smoker the American Cancer Society has updated their guidance about who should get a CAT scan for early detection. Because the sooner you find it the better your odds.
Here is the guidance
Regular screening may benefit people with a high risk of developing lung cancer.
The American Lung Association (ALA) recommends screening for people who meet the following criteria:
people ages 50 to 80 years
a 20-pack-year history of smoking — which may mean smoking one pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years or two packs daily for 10 years
they currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years
Insurance may cover this screening. People can check with their insurance company before signing up for lung cancer screening.
My insurance said check back for coverage next year. SIGH
Resources
Find My Elected Officials
Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email
Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
Thanks for reading Healthcare Advocacy! Subscribe for free to receive new posts