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