subject: Poor Patients Who Need Dialysis In Miami To Struggle For Healthcare [print this page] Miami's public hospital system has now cut funding for dialysis treatment. Which means those in need can no longer go to Jackson Memorial Hosptial to receive it. They'll need to the emergecny room to get treatment. According to the New York Times, at Jackson, officials said patients could come to the emergency room for treatment, and eight have this week. Thats the best we can do right now, said Dr. Eneida O. Roldan, Jacksons chief executive.
This will be quite a challenge for 175 patients who are already facing the demands of the treatment. They'll have to go through the emergency room process in order to receive life or death treatment. In fact, for patients with end stage kidney disease going without dialysis can kill them in as little as two weeks. It seems going through the emergency room will discourage patients from getting treatment.
The hospital is ending the service over financial issues. The system is facing a budget deficit and working on trimming back. The New York Times says the hospitals decision thus shifts the financial burden from Miami-Dade County taxpayers, who support Jacksons charity care through various levies, to the state and federal governments, which finance the Medicaid program.
Jackson said that some dialysis patients were eligible for government insurance. Others will be treated for a few more months because of contractual obligations. Many including illegal immigrants may stuggle to get healthcare once this period has expired.
Healthcare Reform may be their only hope. Right now, President Obama appears to be working diligently and closely to bring reform. He is apparently working with Democratic congressional leaders as part of the effort to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of health reform legislation.
The House included a government-run insurance program in its bill, but that public option will be eliminted from the final bill. However, the final legislation may include more subsides to help the middle class and those who need dialysis treatments to purchase insurance.
