Clinic: Ohioan championed by Obama will keep home

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

By MEGHAN BARR

CLEVELAND (AP) - A woman championed as the Obama administration's emblem for health care reform does not have to choose between her home and her health, according to officials at the Ohio hospital where she is being treated.

With a self-reported annual income of about $6,000, Natoma Canfield is a prime candidate for financial aid in the form of Medicaid - the federal health care program for low-income and disabled people - or charitable assistance.

And the Cleveland Clinic said it has no intention of putting out a lien on Canfield's house - or letting the billing process interfere with her treatment.

"It appears that I think she'll be fine," said Lyman Sornberger, the hospital's executive director of patient financial services. "By nature of the fact that she was not early on rejected by either program, that's a key indicator that she will most likely be eligible."


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20100316/AP09/303169857#clinic-ohioan-championed-by-obama-will-keep-home

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See the FULL story at link.

But, what about others?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35898906/ns/health-the_new_york_times/

'With Medicaid cuts, docs and patients drop out
Patients face difficulties finding doctors who will accept their coverage

FLINT, Mich. - Carol Y. Vliet’s cancer returned with a fury last summer, the tumors metastasizing to her brain, liver, kidneys and throat.

As she began a punishing regimen of chemotherapy and radiation, Mrs. Vliet found a measure of comfort in her monthly appointments with her primary care physician, Dr. Saed J. Sahouri, who had been monitoring her health for nearly two years.

She was devastated, therefore, when Dr. Sahouri informed her a few months later that he could no longer see her because, like a growing number of doctors, he had stopped taking patients with Medicaid.'

More at link above.

AFAIK, Medicaid policy is to lien a home and collect when title is transferred, whether the home changes hands because the patient/owner sells the home or because the patient/owner dies.

Too many jumped on that bandwagon. ;)

Didn't anyone in his office do any research? Sheesh.