Comments on: “Catalyst to Better Diabetes Care Act of 2007″ http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/02/catalyst-to-bet.html A gold mine of straight talk and encouragement for people living with diabetes Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:42:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Leah http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/02/catalyst-to-bet.html/comment-page-1#comment-40015 Leah Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:23:55 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/04/catalyst-to-better-diabetes-care-act-of-2007/#comment-40015 I agree. Sounds like a bunch of bologna to me. More money to study something we already know. I agree. Sounds like a bunch of bologna to me. More money to study something we already know.

]]> By: Leah http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/02/catalyst-to-bet.html/comment-page-1#comment-40014 Leah Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:23:17 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/04/catalyst-to-better-diabetes-care-act-of-2007/#comment-40014 I agree. Sounds like a bunch of bologna to me. More money to study something we already know. I agree. Sounds like a bunch of bologna to me. More money to study something we already know.

]]> By: Lauren http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/02/catalyst-to-bet.html/comment-page-1#comment-40013 Lauren Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:53:08 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/04/catalyst-to-better-diabetes-care-act-of-2007/#comment-40013 Can we PLEASE see a bill or some pieces of legislation aimed at getting insurance companies to stop punishing the chronically ill (e.g. T1 diabetics)? As a patient, I have been nothing but demoralized and frustrated to the point of tears by my dealings with my insurance company. For many months, INSULIN wasn't even covered by my plan, because it's not considered "generic." My test strips are still not covered and it will be a cold day in H-E-double-hockey-sticks before Omnipod costs can even be applied to my deductible. I recently tried to switch plans to a health-savings-account compatible plan, and found that I could not be underwritten due to my preexisting condition. I saw opening an HSA as a way to pay for my test strips and finally be able to afford pumping. Now it turns out that avenue is closed to me too. It's all just incredible. Before my dx I was a bionically healthy twentysomething; now I'm uninsurable, a "major medical risk." Nice to hear my life summed up as such by my insurance company's underwriting department. I'm a med student and when I am ready to start practicing I won't take insurance. Doctors and patients both have to pry themselves loose from the stranglehold of insurance companies if we expect the system to ever improve. Can we PLEASE see a bill or some pieces of legislation aimed at getting insurance companies to stop punishing the chronically ill (e.g. T1 diabetics)?

As a patient, I have been nothing but demoralized and frustrated to the point of tears by my dealings with my insurance company. For many months, INSULIN wasn’t even covered by my plan, because it’s not considered “generic.” My test strips are still not covered and it will be a cold day in H-E-double-hockey-sticks before Omnipod costs can even be applied to my deductible. I recently tried to switch plans to a health-savings-account compatible plan, and found that I could not be underwritten due to my preexisting condition. I saw opening an HSA as a way to pay for my test strips and finally be able to afford pumping. Now it turns out that avenue is closed to me too. It’s all just incredible. Before my dx I was a bionically healthy twentysomething; now I’m uninsurable, a “major medical risk.” Nice to hear my life summed up as such by my insurance company’s underwriting department.

I’m a med student and when I am ready to start practicing I won’t take insurance. Doctors and patients both have to pry themselves loose from the stranglehold of insurance companies if we expect the system to ever improve.

]]> By: Bennet http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/02/catalyst-to-bet.html/comment-page-1#comment-40012 Bennet Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:55:10 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/04/catalyst-to-better-diabetes-care-act-of-2007/#comment-40012 I'll pass. Sounds like a hot air production process. The points are: 1)collaboration (government speak for a study with lot of input and gibberish for output) 2)advisory group will make a report 3)biennial Report Card 4) collect information (that can be reported) 5)lastly (wait for it...) A STUDY! Wohoo (you thought it was going to be another report but it is not it is a a study!) Here is the kicker - all those reports and studies will be part of the over all legislative lawyer enrichment act of 2008. I’ll pass. Sounds like a hot air production process.

The points are:
1)collaboration (government speak for a study with lot of input and gibberish for output)
2)advisory group will make a report
3)biennial Report Card
4) collect information (that can be reported)
5)lastly (wait for it…) A STUDY! Wohoo (you thought it was going to be another report but it is not it is a a study!)

Here is the kicker – all those reports and studies will be part of the over all legislative lawyer enrichment act of 2008.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/02/catalyst-to-bet.html/comment-page-1#comment-40011 Lisa Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:46:13 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/04/catalyst-to-better-diabetes-care-act-of-2007/#comment-40011 I agree with Carol. We already know the epidemic exists, now we have to find the cure! I agree with Carol. We already know the epidemic exists, now we have to find the cure!

]]> By: d2 http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/02/catalyst-to-bet.html/comment-page-1#comment-40010 d2 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:00:35 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/04/catalyst-to-better-diabetes-care-act-of-2007/#comment-40010 Dear Amy, Thanks for the assembly of this information. The article has five different bullet points. My comments are in the same order as the article. First point. Remove "seniors". The goal should be for the timely diagnosis of diabetes for all age groups. Second point. Remove "employee". Diabetes is a condition that affects our entire society. Missing are infants,students and individuals prior to employment, leave from employment, re-employment and at the conclusion of employment. Wellness and disease management is a broad societal issue. Third point. The data to be measured is critical. This needs discussion. Point four. How would information be collected. One needs to give serious consideration as to how the government currently collects data on diabetes. I have not reviewed all the various city, county, state and federal levels, however, there is a reliance of the data that is collected via phone surveys. Point five. Define "medical field". Is this primary, and secondary physicians, diabetic educators, eye doctors, foot doctors, dentists, nurses, etc. Just take the time to list the various individuals that we interact with regarding our care and management of this stuck-up condition. New Point. Life is a 24 hour a day, seven days a week for the entire 364 days in a year with no vacation. There are 168 hours in a week. How many hours are availble to reach your physician? Trips to the emergency room at the nearest hospital are not fun. The issue is who does one turn during non-office hours for help. This is especially critical for young type 1 diabetics and diabetics living alone. Hope the comments help. Thanks again for the research work. Dear Amy,
Thanks for the assembly of this information. The article has five different bullet points. My comments are in the same order as the article. First point.
Remove “seniors”. The goal should be for the timely diagnosis of diabetes for all age groups. Second point. Remove “employee”. Diabetes is a condition that affects our entire society. Missing are infants,students and individuals prior to employment, leave from employment, re-employment and at the conclusion of employment. Wellness and disease management is a broad societal issue. Third point. The data to be measured is critical. This needs discussion. Point four. How would information be collected. One needs to give serious consideration as to how the government currently collects data on diabetes. I have not reviewed all the various city, county, state and federal levels, however, there is a reliance of the data that is collected via phone surveys. Point five. Define “medical field”. Is this primary, and secondary physicians, diabetic educators, eye doctors, foot doctors, dentists, nurses, etc. Just take the time to list the various individuals that we interact with regarding our care and management of this stuck-up condition. New Point. Life is a 24 hour a day, seven days a week for the entire 364 days in a year with no vacation. There are 168 hours in a week. How many hours are availble to reach your physician? Trips to the emergency room at the nearest hospital are not fun. The issue is who does one turn during non-office hours for help. This is especially critical for young type 1 diabetics and diabetics living alone. Hope the comments help. Thanks again for the research work.

]]> By: CALpumper http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/02/catalyst-to-bet.html/comment-page-1#comment-40009 CALpumper Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:16:53 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/04/catalyst-to-better-diabetes-care-act-of-2007/#comment-40009 I agree with Carol. Plus, once again, just because there are only close to 1 million with Type 1, why are we once again Not included?! I agree with Carol. Plus, once again, just because there are only close to 1 million with Type 1, why are we once again Not included?!

]]> By: carol http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/02/catalyst-to-bet.html/comment-page-1#comment-40008 carol Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:28:55 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/04/catalyst-to-better-diabetes-care-act-of-2007/#comment-40008 Most of the points in the bill leave me with a "so what?" feeling. I think it's pretty well known that diabetes is a problem of epidemic proportions in the US. We don't need more stats and studies on things we already know; we need more action to make treatment affordable and to find a cure. Most of the points in the bill leave me with a “so what?” feeling. I think it’s pretty well known that diabetes is a problem of epidemic proportions in the US. We don’t need more stats and studies on things we already know; we need more action to make treatment affordable and to find a cure.

]]> By: Jo http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/02/catalyst-to-bet.html/comment-page-1#comment-40007 Jo Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:50:32 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/04/catalyst-to-better-diabetes-care-act-of-2007/#comment-40007 Amy .. you know dang well the money will come from the tax payers!! Let's hope they don't stick in a bill that's so full of earmarks and immediate troop withdrawl so it can get passed. Amy .. you know dang well the money will come from the tax payers!!

Let’s hope they don’t stick in a bill that’s so full of earmarks and immediate troop withdrawl so it can get passed.

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