A Spark of Light in New Jersey
New Jersey’s uninsured pregnant women – and their unborn children – have an ally in the statehouse. Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver is sponsoring a bill that would allow for continued prenatal care for young and minority women if a clinic closes. In effect, the bill would give “the commissioner authority to determine whether to dedicate funds from the Health Care Stabilization Fund to support obstetrics at a financially distressed health care center” (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj-xgr-legislativepr0111jan11,0,6201915.story).
While this might not be the state’s long-term solution, if passed it will at least lend hope that legislators are paying attention to the crises faced by many uninsured pregnant women – and are willing to take strides to end it. In New Jersey, African American and teenage women are especially vulnerable to economic conditions that lead to a lack of maternal insurance, and therefore a lack of prenatal care.
Nobody wants to be without health insurance, and many people simply cannot gain access to it due to economic conditions beyond their control. Even worse, the medical community often turns away those who need their help the most, and insurance companies refuse to write policies for those with a “pre-existing” condition such as pregnancy. And, even more heinous, are those insurance companies who refuse to cover pregnancies conceived within six months of policy initiation.
In New Jersey, at least one person who is in a position to affect change is listening. Let’s hope that the rest of the state’s assembly is listening, too. Let’s hope this bill passes, and we can continue moving our cause forward, baby step by baby step.
A Butterfly Flaps Its Wings…
A recent study by the University of Alabama in Birmingham proved how delicate timing is in fetal development. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, linked early Caesarian sections to an increased risk of newborn complications, including respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, infection and extended hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/Insureyourhealth/P74840.asp).
The amazing thing is that the risk of intensive care hospitalization was found to be 50% greater when C-sections are performed just a few days early.
All of these complications can result in tragic outcomes for families, and all of them drive up medical costs. So, why is it that C-sections are often scheduled earlier than the 40-week full-term period? Is it, as many believe, to perform the procedure before the natural course of labor begins? Or is it because hospitals make more money when complications arise?
Despite my firm stance against egregious hospital overcharges – they do try to take advantage of pregnant women, especially those who are uninsured or have no insurance – I’m loathe to postulate that the medical industry would put the health of our women and children at risk in the interest of making a buck. But the question begs to be asked.
When you consider that many medical professionals will not provide prenatal care to uninsured pregnant women without 100% upfront payment, and that the lack of prenatal care is proven to increase the risk of newborn complications and mortality, one has to wonder what underlying motivations exist. These women are not given treatment because they do not have the money, despite the fact that these doctors have taken an oath to uphold the sanctity of life without other consideration. But without profit, they do not feel obligated to uphold this oath.
Denying health coverage is a reactive approach; if one does not have money in-hand, one does not provide life-giving services. Facilitating conditions that result in complications is a proactive approach; if the pursuit of profit pushes medical scheduling forward, we’re all at risk regardless of whether we have insurance coverage or not.
A butterfly flaps its wings in China, a tornado forms in Alabama. A C-section is scheduled a week early, a newborn spends five days in NICU. A woman cannot gain access to prenatal care, her baby dies.
A Rumbling…
As despicable as medical overcharges are, it is good to know that not all of the media has chosen to ignore the pervasiveness of the problem. More and more journalists are taking notice, and more and more media outlets are printing stories the bring the truth to light. Let’s hope these are the early rumblings of a much-larger effort to secure the rights of medical patients nationwide, including pregnant women and their children.
One such article, posted at MSN here (http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/Insureyourhealth/P74840.asp), reports estimations that Americans are pilfered out of $10 billion annually by the medical industry. Fraudulent charges, overcharges, erroneous charges – they add up to a lot of money. And they come in surprising ways: newborn blood tests for a man undergoing hip replacement; or $129 for a “mucous recovery system” — Kleenex to the lay man.
These infractions are outrageous and there’s little accountability for hospital administrators who facilitate fraud. They devise plans to discourage dispute, encode cryptic medical bills, demand up front payments or payment before discharge and other tactics designed to make you pay their price, carte blanche.
You wouldn’t go to a car dealer, hand over a blank check and tell them to give you whatever they think is best, would you? But that’s what hospitals expect you to do. You don’t get what you pay for – you get far less than you pay for. In fact, it is estimated that the average hospital stay results in overcharges of $1,300!
The MSN article lists ten ways to prevent hospital overcharges. Much of it has to do with demanding itemized billing, filing disputes, speaking with administrators, and generally jumping through hoops. Resources specific to helping pregnant women receive fair medical billing, handle disputes and hold hospitals accountable for overcharges are available at http://www.maternityhealth.org/ and http://www.maternityadvantage.com/.
SBut some people are finally taking notice, but not yet enough. The more mainstream media reports on such atrocities, the more likely decision makers are to hear our cry. The rumble is low now, but it’s getting louder. We will be heard, and we will get fair medical coverage, care and billing for pregnant women!
Big Brother that watches over our Hospital Bills
“I saw the literature on your website and watched the video. You are in essence a big brother that watches over our hospital bills to make sure we are not taken advantage of from the hospital. From the first review of our bills, you will reduce it anywhere from 30-50%, and if it can’t be reduced from there to a lower rate, that’s okay, because you will still set us up with a payment plan with the hospital. That’s great! Our hospital told us that we have to pay this huge amount upfront and they refused to set up a payment plan with us on that. If we don’t pay upfront, they will send a hospital administrator up to my wife’s room to collect the money in full. If I don’t pay in full right there, they will add another $1000-1500 on that bill!! You guys will be our Godsend and hope in this situation.”
The Five Most Important Things You Can Do Before Becoming Pregnant are:
1. Take 400 micrograms (400 mcg or 0.4 mg) of folic acid every day for at least 3 months before getting pregnant to lower your risk of some birth defects of the brain and spine. You can get folic acid from some foods. But it’s hard to get all the folic acid you need from foods alone. Taking a vitamin with folic acid is the best and easiest way to be sure you’re getting enough.
2. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Ask your doctor for help.
3. If you have a medical condition, be sure it is under control. Some conditions include asthma, diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, obesity, thyroid disease, or epilepsy. Be sure your vaccinations are up to date.
4. Talk to your doctor about any over-the-counter and prescription medicines you are using. These include dietary or herbal supplements. Some medicines are not safe during pregnancy. At the same time, stopping medicines you need also can be harmful.
5. Avoid contact with toxic substances or materials at work and at home that could be harmful. Stay away from chemicals and cat or rodent feces.
