LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR MONEY AND FAMILY

IF  AMERICA’S  AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS GUTTED BY ONE POLITICAL PARTY,  AND YOUR YOUNG ADULT SON OR DAUGHTER BECOMES  SERIOUSLY ILL, WILL YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SAVING YOUR CHILD’S LIFE AND  BANKRUPTCY?

Read this report, decide what's right for you and your family, and vote accordingly.

 TAILORING DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DISEASE TO THE PATIENT GENETICS  - WHO WILL PAY?

"CONCLUSION. . . .
We have provided this information for CMS’s use in setting Medicare coverage and payment policies for genetic tests. Because State Medicaid programs and private health insurance plans closely monitor Medicare’s coverage and reimbursement decisions, CMS’s formulation of reimbursement rates for genetic tests may be useful to them. As one official from a State Medicaid program remarked, “Additional guidance from CMS on genetic testing would be very helpful. We have struggled with payment of such tests for the last couple of years ...."

HOUSTON DAYS

My Houston days have been busy, filled with appointments, consultations, radiographic procedures technical simulations for complex procedures, chemotherapy and a host of other activities which measure the scope and extent of my metastatic malignant melanoma and determines whether the disease has spread, notwithstanding vigorous efforts  to establish systemic control. From my perspective as a physician who, earlier in his career, worked with other "specialist" physicians to treat metastatic cancer of various types and stages, the team work and coordination that I observe here at MD Anderson Cancer Center, is highly reassuring.  Knowledge of, and adherence  to established professional standards is evident in each physician patient (or physician health care provider) contact,communication and discussion.


So far, I have been unable  to obtain access to one of the newest drugs which  stimulates the immune system to kill melanoma cells.  It is not clear when - and if - that access will be available. I will inform my readers of developments in this area.