ju s t h e a lth
Fair Share endorses health agenda
Current system dysfunctional, expensive. Dramatic changes
needed, research shows.
B Y
S T E V E N
B A I L E Y
we deserve better!
1 have been attending legislative hearings,
Fair Share meetings. Rainbow coalition meet
ings and literally dozens of other group meet
ings on health care in the past year and the
recognition of our problems seem universal and
entirely consistent from group to group. The
proposed solutions also seem fairly consistent
from group to group. The endorsed issues of
Fair Share’s health committee include some of
the most commonly mentioned remedies for our
current problems. These endorsements were
formulated in the recent state Fair Share confer
ence in Salem, (Dec. 13, 1986) and include:
Medicare assignments: Oregon remains as
one o f the lower level states as far as percentage
o f doctors accepting Medicare assignment at
27% (this means that only 27% will accept
payment at the level reimbursed by the Medi
care plan). The doctors that do not accept
assignment require out-of-pocket payment by
their senior patients which is a proven hardship
on people with fixed incomes. Fair Share is
looking at the Massachusetts mandatory assign
ment law which requires that all licensed
doctors accept Medicare reimbursement. While
Fair Share reports that the Oregon Medical
Association has worked hard to oppose all the
work that they have done in this area. Fair Share
still plans to join other senior organizations in
trying to change current law to guarantee
affordable care for the elderly.
Consumer Choice: Fair Share has endorsed
LC 556 (a non-discrimination legislative draft
N. D
uality health care which is both
affordable and accessible is some
thing that most people want and, in
fact. need. While this is a clear goal of most
civilized nations we are fighting a losing battle
in many areas of American health care. While
we have an ever-expanding number of dollars
going into our national health care (over 350
billion dollars a year or close to 13% of our
GNP\) we find more and more groups slipping
through the safety nets and doing with little or
no care at all.
The plight of the indigent, the poor (medi
cally needy) and the elderly are so great in
Oregon that special task forces have been look
ing into these issues for the past year to assist
our upcoming legislature in finding solutions to
these problems. Access to care in rural areas has
also necessitated the need to research rural is
sues on health care. The findings of these ta.4c
forces offer some constructive information but
reveal a need for dramatic changes in order to
effectively serve all these populations.
With the AIDS and ARC populations requir
ing extensive outlays of care and resources from
the already overburdened support programs we
can expect an ever-worsening future, unless
changes begin soon. With the verisimilitude of
Amandas’ optimism in Another Roadside At
traction, I think we are just going to have to
change our current system. It’s not working and
Q
Full service dentistry for adults and children
soon to become a bill) that will prohibit ar
bitrary discrimination by insurance companies
in reimbursing licensed health care providers
for services rendered. Oregon is one of fewer
than 10 states that do not guarantee insured
individuals the freedom to choose their own
licensed health care provider. This means that
while you may have an insurance policy that
covers service “ x,” you may be required to pay
out-of-pce ket for the service because the insur
ance company does not recognize the state’s
determination of licensure. For example, if you
have a condition that requires a laboratory
work-up and your family provider happens to
be a nurse practitioner, chiropractor, naturo
pathic doctor, etc. (who are licensed to provide
the tests needed), you may have to pay for these
services even though your insurance policy
states that it covers these exact tests! This is a
condition that strongly prohibits our freedom to
choose a health provider who is consistent with
our own personal beliefs and needs. It also
minimizes access to preventive care and by
narrowing the number of covered providers is
completely contrary to our free trade system
which is intended to decrease cost and improve
quality through competition. This draft is being
carried by the Oregon Health Care Coalition
and already has received endorsements from
numerous groups, professional organizations
and individuals. A copy of this draft is available
from OHCC at P.O. Box 10943, Portland, OR
97210.
State Health Plan: This is a plan that would
set up a state pool of health dollars which would
guarantee that all Oregonians have health insur
ance. It would combine private and business
health dollars with state programs and taxes to
provide care which sponsors claim would be
less than is now spent by the 75% of our citizens
who now have some form of insurance.
The non-discrimination plan and the State
health plan are two plans that have the potential
to improve all areas of health care with a
minimum of cost to the consumer, and would
therefore help in many areas of our current
medical crisis.
Price labeling o f prescriptions: This bill
would require that pharmacies label their medi
cines much like our supermarkets label their
food. Seniors and others who need prescription
medicines would be able to find the lowest
prices and also compare the generic medicines
with the higher cost non-generics (often these
are exactly the same medicine). Fair Share has
endorsed a legislative draft which will be intro
duced by some other senior organizations.
Medically needy: Members of Fair Share
recognize the need to dramatically change our
current system of care for the needy. There are
pregnant mothers with no pre-natal care and
many families having to choose between ade
quate care and food and shelter. New funds are a
given for the needs of the needy. How we find
these funds is the major challenge left up to our
legislators.
Nursing Home Improvements: In Oregon
nearly two-thirds of seniors will have used up
their entire life assets at the end of a six month
stay in a nursing home facility. The high costs
and frequent incidence of poor care leaves this
area an extremely important area o f reform in
the near future.
Fair Share has moved away from their his
toric role o f consumer causes in utility issues
and now is working on a broad range of
issues including health, taxes, toxic waste, jobs
and other areas o f general public concern. Now
more than ever they are actively involving
themselves in all areas of public concern. They
deserve your support.
I think that the non-discrimination issue and
draft is one of the most exciting things to arise in
Oregon medical politics. It is a consumer issue
that can truly change our freedom to choose and
may well improve the overall quality o f our
health care for decades to come. If this is an
issue dear to you, let your legislator know and
contact the OHCC to find out what else you can
do to improve our medical future. •
Are you detoxing from the holidays?
Clarice Johnston, DMD
233-3622
•
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•
(Two blocks North of Burnside)
BY
T re a tm e n t e x p la in e d a n d d is c u s s e d
N itro u s ox id e
Flexible p a y m e n t p la n s
N e w p a tie n ts w e lco m e
TAKE CONTROL!
Stop smoking Weight control
Motivation Self esteem
Stress mangement
to enhance your health.
-
-
\
Portland Hypnosis Center
F landers Medical B uilding. S u ite 105
224-1277
THE COUNSELING ALTERNATIVE
22
January. 1987
DR
CHRISTOPHER
ESKEL1
as your Christmas one round of
good cheer after another? Did you
rock in the New Year high on
drugs? Is your body feeling a little older and
wearier? Are your emotions in the basement,
your self-esteem too depressing to talk about?
Are you having the January detox of your life?
Now comes that New Year's resolution.
You’ll turn over a new leaf, right? You’ll get it
together, get a new job, find yourself a lover,
walk away from the booze-sex-drugs syndrome
and start developing the “ real you.” right?
Well, my friend, that choice is yours for the
taking, but you will first have to come to terms
with the “ past you.” Choosing a new way of
life starts with being completely honest about
the old way and asking yourself why the old
way is not working any longer. And in being
honest you must look at the role drugs and
alcohol have played in your life.
New Year’s resolutions are a farce if they are
not based on an honest self appraisal. That need
to ‘ ’turn over a new leaf' ’ means there is some
thing seriously wrong with the way things are
now. that the quality of life has been greatly
affected in a negative way during the preceding
year. And w ill you be making this year's resolu
tion only to give it up next week or next month?
This year can be different. Maybe in the past
W
Open days, evenings and Saturdays
Just Out
Doing it alone is rarely effective. Many programs offer
intensive support systems.
230 N.E. 20th
you have tried to live out these resolutions.
Without support, few of us have made it. Now
may be the time to reach out for the kind of
support it takes to make this year’s resolutions,
promises, and the search for the “ new le a f ’
possible and attainable.
The sources of support abound in our com
munity. More appear every year and these gay
and lesbian community resources are made up
o f the kind o f people who want to help you,
because they care about you. Would you like to
enjoy some unconditional caring? Resources
include calling a therapist to get some support in
dealing with the-emotional or relationship is
sues, or calling one of the 12 Step programs.
Outpatient and inpatient programs provide a
more intensive type of support system.
Whatever you choose. remember, you do not
have to do it alone. You can make your New
Year's resolution stick this time.
(Dr. Eskeli is administrator o f the Right Step
Recovery Program, a chemical dependency
treatment center in Portland, Oregon for the
gay and lesbian community.)
Where can you go fo r help?
Phoenix Rising — 223-8299
Live and Let Live C lu b — 231-3760
Right Step Recovery Program — 621-3201,
1-800-221-5390 •