Barbara Wagner and state medical coverage

Oregon has a state medical plan. It has been there for a long time. Indeed, I first disliked Mr. Clinton during his first campaign when an audience member asked about Oregon's decisions to not treat certain people. (Too expensive, go die)

I could see immediately that Clinton had no idea what the man was talking about, which is fine, but what followed it the key.

He did not ask about the matter or say he would look into it, no we can't have a candidate use prudence and admit to needing more information (I loved President Cleveland for saying that). Mr. Clinton, as I recall, did an eye upward gesture and finally answered that he believed in the state's handling their own matters - right. Slick, but dishonest fabrication. There you have it - 8 years in one second. See the show "Lie to Me."

So, Oregon is a real world state-run medial plan case study. There is an article below as to what the state did last year. I realize people attack entries here because of the source of the information, so I have to admit upfront this is from ABC. I can't find any new articles on Ms. Wagner, so I can't say what has happened to her. She is no longer relevant, I suppose.

The current Democratic plan reduces assistance for those over 60, especially if they have a problem. The plan will require "counseling" and provide pain killers, so there is money to treat illegal aliens, as well as require the signing of a soylent green contract, I believe that part is right.

Be sure to report this blog to the White House, as they are so upset by disinformation, the stuff that doesn't repeat what they make up. Best to report ABC, not me. I am passing along a piece from a "journalist," not issuing disinformation, comrade.

Death Drugs Cause Uproar in Oregon

Terminally Ill Denied Drugs for Life, But Can Opt for Suicide

By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES Aug. 6, 2008

91 comments

Font Size

Print

RSS

E-mail

Share this story with friends

Facebook

Reddit

Twitter

StumbleUpon

More

The news from Barbara Wagner's doctor was bad, but the rejection letter from her insurance company was crushing. [Gene's note: this means the state, not some company - nice trick since very few people read past the first paragraph.]

Barbara Wagner

(Paul Carter/Register-Guard)

The 64-year-old Oregon woman, whose lung cancer had been in remission, learned the disease had returned and would likely kill her. Her last hope was a $4,000-a-month drug that her doctor prescribed for her, but the insurance company refused to pay.

What the Oregon Health Plan did agree to cover, however, were drugs for a physician-assisted death. Those drugs would cost about $50.

"It was horrible," Wagner told ABCNews.com. "I got a letter in the mail that basically said if you want to take the pills, we will help you get that from the doctor and we will stand there and watch you die. But we won't give you the medication to live."

Critics of Oregon's decade-old Death With Dignity Law -- the only one of its kind in the nation -- have been up in arms over the indignity of her unsigned rejection letter. Even those who support Oregon's liberal law were upset.

The incident has spilled over the state border into Washington, where advocacy groups are pushing for enactment of Initiative 1000 in November, legalizing a similar assisted-death law.

Related

Death Tourism: Journey to Gentle Suicide

WATCH: 'Dr. Death's' New Mission

Opponents say the law presents all involved with an "unacceptable conflict" and the impression that insurance companies see dying as a cost-saving measure. They say it steers those with limited finances toward assisted death.

"News of payment denial is tough enough for a terminally ill person to bear," said Steve Hopcraft, a spokesman for Compassion and Choices, a group that supports coverage of physician-assisted death....