The Recession's Impact: Closing The Clinic

60 Minutes: Bad Economy Leaves Cancer Patients Without Health Insurance In Dire Straits

(CBS)  In the economic crisis, public hospitals are needed now more than ever. If you're down on your luck without insurance, the county hospital can be your last resort.

Recently thousands of letters went out across Las Vegas telling cancer patients that the only public hospital in the state was closing its outpatient clinic for chemotherapy.

It's the next thing in the recession - communities cutting back on services like schools or cops or public hospitals because tax revenues have fallen with the economy.

One of the charity patients who got that letter in Las Vegas is Helen Sharp, who didn't realize how a crash on Wall Street might threaten her life.

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"I don't want to die. I shouldn't have to die. This is a county hospital. This is for people that, like me, many people have lost their insurance, have not any other resources. I mean I was a responsible person. I bought my house. I put money away. I raised my two children. And now I have nothing. You know my house isn’t worth anything. I have no money. And I said 'What do I do, but what do all these other people do after me?' 'And they said we don't know,'" Sharp told 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley.

Sharp, 63, has been fighting lymphoma since July. She's not working because of her illness and has no insurance. Last year, she received charity care at the county hospital, University Medical Center. She was one of 2,000 patients who got the letter.

"Dear patient, we regret to inform you that the Nevada Cancer Institute will no longer provide contract oncology services at University Medical Center," Sharp read.

Since December 31, there has been no chemotherapy for new outpatients.

Asked what reading this letter meant to her, Sharp told Pelley, "A death sentence."

University Medical Center is the safety net for two million people; Las Vegas bets its life on it. UMC is a teaching hospital, the only fully equipped trauma center, the only burn unit, the only transplant unit, and the primary source of charity care in a city that has fallen on the hardest times it has ever seen.

"Obviously, our gaming and tourism is tanking. The construction industry has been decimated. And all of those things cause big, gaping holes in the state budget. The hardest-hit area for us was the Medicaid budget," Kathy Silver, the hospital's CEO, explained.

Silver had signed that letter patients received.

Literally overnight, UMC's budget was cut by $21 million. "And we were already scheduled or budgeted to lose $51 million. And so, when you layered on $21 million on top of that, that brought our loss, or anticipated loss, to $72 million," Silver told Pelley.

The $21 million was cut by the legislature when tax revenues went bust. Nevada is number one in foreclosures; unemployment is over 10 percent, double what it was last year and climbing.

Silver told 60 Minutes she had to defend her unique services like the trauma center, so she chose to sacrifice services that are duplicated at private hospitals, even though patients may not be able to afford them.

Asked what services she had closed, Silver said, "We no longer provide prenatal services. We closed the outpatient oncology program. We cancelled a contract for outpatient dialysis. We closed the dedicated high risk obstetrical unit that we had. And we stopped doing outpatient mammography."

60 Minutes was there in February when the women's cancer clinic closed.

"When the hospital first informed you that the outpatient oncology clinic was closing, what did you think?" Pelley asked Dr. Nick Spiritos, who treats ovarian and uterine cancers.

"How can you do this to cancer patients? They're dying. If we don't provide them care, their outcome is guaranteed. They're going to die," he replied.

Pelley spoke to several of those patients. Roy Scales, a laid off security guard with lung cancer, went to the hospital and got the news in person.

"I walked in, the lady looked down and said 'Well, I don't see anything down here for you.' Then she looked in the computer and she said, 'Oh, you were supposed to have an oncology today but it's been canceled. Our oncology department is closed,'" Scales remembered.

"They turned you away at the door," Pelley remarked.

"They turned me away at the door without telling me anything," Scales said.

Asked what he was thinking when he walked out of the hospital, Scales told Pelley, "I mean where am I going to find help? I mean, I'm messing with a disease that will kill you. And for every day that I don't get medical input, I mean, this advances on my body."

[goodJobGibbons]

Las Vegas is full of evil. It killed my father and killed my mother. THey said she had arthritis and she had bone cancer. Go figure, what ever vegas can do to get rid of the population it will do. Gibbons is an idiot. Bush an even bigger #$(%Q and now we - the low income and uninsured population will die at their hands.

Indecently not all of Nevada sucks as bad as Vegas, my suggestion... MOVE WHILE YOU ARE STILL ALIVE

[Renee_E_B]

Thanks for helping me reach Roy - he has passed away.

[Renee_E_B]

Thank you for helping me reach Roy - He has passed away.

[cancersurvivor]

I mailed a check to the Women's Cancer Center the day after I saw this story (to the address above) I received a nice reply from them in the mail today thanking me. Could minutes do some kind of follow up to let us know how many people responded to the clinic? I hope my small contribution will go towards helping some one receive treatment. Thanks to Dr. Spiritos for opening his office and heart to treat these patients. Please support healthcare reform everyone!!!!! you might be the next person to face an illness and need treatment.

[sgillesp]

two comments:
1. I mailed a check to the address for the clinic that has been given on these pages, and it came back, "no such street" - can someone please check into that and update it?
2. why do some people seem to respond to every problem we have by ranting about "illegals," even though rational study of the subject has yielded the facts that it is NOT "illegals" who are causing the health care system to fall apart? And how on earth can it be Obama's fault when he has been in office about 11 weeks?? It seems to me that there is a subset of people in this country who shout "illegals" as the scapegoats for everything (the second thing they shout is "Reid/Pelosi"). Time for everyone else to stand up and get something done around here.

[steveh46a]

"Yes. We have huge healthcare problems that need to be resolved, but I am tired of people comparing US healthcare to Europe and the rest of the world. First of all, we are not the richest nation in the world. "

Actually we ARE the richest nation in the world. We are the richest nation in the history of the world. Don't take my word for it, check the CIA World Factbook. It's unfortunate that someone who claims to be a healthcare provider would be so ignorant as to believe that countries like Portugal, Italy, Finland, and every other developed country in the world can somehow manage to provide health care to every single one of their citizens, but the poor USA just can't do it. Actually, it's a shame that so many people seem to believe that. We can do it, we just lack the will.

[faslehood]

To "Chickenwater" What you said, about chemotherpy that it would not help some of these patients in Nevada that you think are terminal. And what about the ones on dialysis. I had a doctor tell my friend he was terminal. And guess what. His cancer treatment worked. But he had good insurance. If he had your advice. he would be dead. His doctor told him he did not have a chance. And for you to say in your other statement is false to imply or subggest that the chemo, is not affective for these terminally sick people. Are not God? And to knock down Europes heath care. Do you live there? Ask anyone in Europe if that would give up there health care for ours. And the answer is no! And to blame our problems just on the boders is a narrow perception of the overall problem in health care for profit. You are a health care provider. So are you practicing the hipocratic oath. Any ignorance is placed upond the greed that contols it for profit. The question for you? Would you turn down a patient with out any health care and could not afford to pay for it? HMO's kill people for managed profit.. And I am a witness to it. And by the way, Europe has it problems and it isn't a island. And in Holland, Sweden, Demark, It is very exspensive to live there. But have free college and health care and no evictions for not paying a medical bill. What have you done as a heath care provider to solve and help with this problem? Your just complaining that, one small part of the turth. That showed darkness in health care. And you think that it is to ignorant to show for some viewers. People are going to be dead, because they were cut off from there health care. What part of that story you did not understand. It was criminal. Freedom is only what you invest in. Put a number on that. %%%%%%%%

[maryscleareyes]

I am extremely disappointed in 60 minutes. This case did not portray the complete story. A hospital must pay its bills, i.e. the pharmaceutical companies want their money for these chemo drugs. It?s basic math : income minus expenses - if there is no income, and the ?for-profit? pharmaceutical companies want to get paid to make a profit, how can the provider continue to treat for free?

Why did 60 minutes never mention the overpriced pharmaceutical industry? Take the ?for-profit? out of healthcare and we might get somewhere! Why are the drugs in the USA so much more costly than other countries? Look at all the commercials on the TV??.follow the money!

[vanessaroman]

Like most people, I was utterly shocked by this episode of 60 minutes. What's at stake here is not illegal or legal citizens, but the future of a nation. How will we explain to our children that Grandma died because she didn't have enough money to get treated? How will we rationalize this to the 8 year old who is learning about justice and freedom for all at school?
Most disappointing in this show was the complete isolation of the problem. The only solution documented by 60 Minutes was one doctor who spent $100,000 of his own money to set up a free clinic within his private office. Clearly one doctor can not solve this dire problem.
There is a nationwide movement for healthcare. Physicians for a National Health Program is one group working on getting legislation passed. And I'm sure they would have happily agreed to an interview with 60 Minutes had they been asked.
Unfortunately 60 minutes does the job of the corporate media by presenting a heinous problem which scares us and then leaves us distraught and disempowered. I think this may be referred to as "divide and conquer". Let's pull together and recognize that the only people benefiting from this broken system are the elites, not the illegals or uninsured.

[chickenwater]

Consider this: 80% of healthcare costs are spent on 20% of the population

watch the cbs news video about UMC austin ER
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4915099n%3fsource=search_video

[mendygiz]

Were others of you asking yourselves, Where in hell will we find money for anything when Bush is schlepping it all to Iraq. We have him and his meanspiritedness to thank for the depressing lot of our less well-to-do citizens...it can make people very angry and with right to be so.
I have no heat in my house for 3 years but I am sending what I can to Dr Spiritos for his enormous munificence...he puts Bush and his butchers to shame....and don't even get me going about the egregious greedhogs from AIG and the other thieves sanctioned by Bush and his cabinet.

[chickenwater]

To ?falsehood.? You assume that ?I have no idea what I am talking about.? I am a healthcare provider and have been for the past 11 years.

Yes. We have huge healthcare problems that need to be resolved, but I am tired of people comparing US healthcare to Europe and the rest of the world. First of all, we are not the richest nation in the world. And when you consider that we are in debt 65% of our GDP that makes us a mediocre nation.

Other nations where no one worries about costs of healthcare are vastly different. Most are islands that are not surrounded by poor countries with bordering immigration problems. Most of their citizens are highly educated and give a damn about their health. Most don?t have ramped drug addiction like the US (prescription and non prescription). The people and govt of these other nations see the importance of and invest in mental health. And the big difference is that they are taxed AT LEAST 50% of their income.

If anyone thinks that govt controls of healthcare is the answer, than do yourself a favor and visit your local VA hospital. Truthfully answer if you would like to be treated there.

[faslehood]

To "chickenwater" Unless you live it. You have no idea what your talking about. As a care giver I have seen it all. And you have for gotten the ones that were cut of from there dialysis Treatments too. The State of Nevada created medical refugees. Do you understand that. Wake up! I knew about this before 60 minutes did. The only ignorance there is in this nation. "Greed"

[faslehood]

We talk about accountability and responsiblity for are own actions in life. But when profit is weighted against your care. Were is the accountability of humanity? We have failed as a Nation for letting this go too far. If you get cancer and if you do not have the resources you will die. Is that murder by the state? That is the true facts of life. We call are self's the riches nation. But who is the rich that represents who? Wall street, that has dictated there own bail out, with mergers and bonuses. No indictments. Why? The Government puts money in to the hands of thieves while Americans die with out any medical care. This doesn't happen in EUROPE. No one looses there home do to a medical bill. In the USA we have to loose our home, health, bank account and dignity, before you can get any help with food stamps. But what happened in the State of Nevada was criminal. TO 60 MINUTES. You told this story for 15 minutes. While this situation is a larger issue then what is being broadcasted. It is the whole Nation. Why did you not ask President Obama's administration on this issue? You spent more time on Obama's interview then that 10,000 Americans that died, with out any access to medical care every year. And still no one notices it. We have a 9/11 three times a year. Insurance profit over humanity. And still you do not march on to DC. WHY? So you are too busy. TOO invest into your own freedom. And freedom is only what you invest in! WAKE UP. Is everyone this stupid. If you are ashamed for what is happening. Then do something about it. The falsehood of life as it stands today. We talk and do nothing. And, your lead like sheep to the saughter of your own freedom. Just for a profit.

[chickenwater]

Yes. It is true that the shady practices of insurance companies are allowing sick people across the USA to die on a daily basis. Yes. Healthcare needs major reform or millions more will continue to suffer.

What I didn?t like about this show was how CBS played on the emotions of its ignorant viewers. There was no science involved at all.

ANY chemotherapy regimen for metastatic breast cancer has NO AFFECT ON SURVIVAL.

On the other hand, chemotherapy for certain types of lymphomas and leukemias can be curative.

I don?t like how CBS generalized chemotherapy. No chemo was not necessarily a bad thing in every case they presented. The success of chemotherapy depends on the type of cancer? down to the cell. Very poor exagerated reporting in order to get viewers and politicians excited.

[aysha13]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I have had insurance all my life but found out the day after the first biopsy that I no longer had insurance. I have lived all over the world and always received excellent medical care, and that is socialized medicine. After World War 2 when most other countries began socialized medicine that idea was nixed in America by the AMA, doctors fearing they wouldn't make the same amount of money. Doctors in Europe make a great living, and never turn someone in need away because of money. Unfortunately, America, the richest country in the world, has turned healthcare into a for-profit industry, regardless of the need of an individual. It is all about profit. I have learned a lot on my personal journey to the end. I am a single mother raising two teenagers. Without me, they will truly suffer greatly. Whenever I asked my doctors about different ways of treating my cancer I was completely shut out. I was sent to see a radiologist, even though I never had radiation and charged $650.00 I asked about a more cosmetic surgical procedure that is quite common and was shut down. I asked for my pathology report and was given only the initial report and told that was it. I only found out a year later from the plastic surgeon that I have a very aggressive type of cancer with a very poor outcome. I should have had chemo, but it was too late, I was told it wasn't worth it for me because it was so expensive. No one ever asked me, but at that time I could have, and would have paid millions to live. Additionally I was never told I needed surgery to remove my ovaries, as my cancer is also hormone positive. I read a quote by Bono "where you are born should not determine whether you live or die" He was referring to countries in Africa, but it is so true in America. If only I had been in some other country. I'm sure my children will ask themselves that forever.

[ekaplan847]

After Bush left I thought I would never again have reason to be ashamed of this country. People dying for lack of medical care in the richest nation on this planet? That made me ashamed again. If President Obama needs evidence of why this country must get it's act together and make sure that everyone has health guaranteed care/insurance, this story on 60 minutes provides just that. The mis-Managed Health Care System we have in this country makes sure that the sick and the dying don't get the care they need when they need it. What the companies are experts at managing and insuring is the company's profits, not the health and well being of the policy holders. They could care less about that. They are only interested in selling "insurance" policies to people who will never need to use them and might become a drain on the company's finances. Personally, I would like to suggest that those who condemn Socialized Medicine because they distrust our government should consider the success of Medicare. Then think about all those who have tried to reason with insurance companies who have canceled their policies just when they need their insurance, find some obscure reason to justify cancellation that may not even apply, put them on hold when they try to challenge this, or transfer them from person to person until they, somehow get disconnected. As a Capitalist Society we have been told to completely trust Big Business and completely distrust Government. Maybe the recent financial catastrophe suggests we've got to turn that around, at least partially.

[faslehood]

To 60 Minutes, and other media outlets have failed not showing what the complete truth of what our nation is facing. The complete erosion of our safety net of humanity. After World War II, we had war crime trails against "Evil" that killed humanity because of race, religion, color, and "medical needs", or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. So what is the difference what the state of Nevada has done. Crimes against people that have no other resources after being cut off form treatment. No attempt form the Hospital {clinic} administrator to send out a S.O.S. S.O.S. The Hippocratic Oath as it stands today, is nothing short of a rubber stamp to practice profit over humanity. Criminal action is needed for the State of Nevada for failing to protect the people that can not defend them self's by the action of the State. The Media has failed by just doing fragmented commercialized story events. And not following through and not investigating the whole aspect of what is truly a travesty in health care in this whole nation that we call freedom for all Americans. But for witch ones? There are two nations in one. The working class is becoming the working poor. And then we have Wall Street that is dictating there terms for there own salvation. While the Tax payer, pay out for bonuses for Wall Street. And the thieves that created this nightmare of underegulated, inside trading with the manipulation of greed. And now we reward failure for this quagmire of stupidity. While the working class loose there healthcare and freedom. Until you truly understand that freedom in this nation is only for the ones that can afford to steal it from you. A corporate Wall Street lobbyist's true dream of profit. Is to control it from with in the market its self. How many Americans have to die to ba able too march on to Washington D.C. 10,000 Americans die each year with out proper access to any health care. And the media forgets to mention this fact. Freedom is only what you invest in. So what are you going to do? Failure is not an option.

[keyforthecure]

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[faslehood]

TO# "kennjohnsen" You are miss informed. I have had friends that are living cancer free after there chemotherapy treatments. But it doesn't work for everyone. It dends on your own body and the cancer too. And if the cancer is found early it is treatable. And not affordable for the working poor. You are angry that may be the system has failed you. But what has happen in Nevada is crimmeral and that is the "issue". And that insurance companies want to keep there controls in place. It is called medical manipulation of benefits and profit over patients rights and care. Now, 57million Americans that can not afford health care. 10,000 Americans will die this year, just like last year with out access to proper medical care in this nation. Because they can not afford it. Think, get involved. If EUROPE can do it. We can make a better socialized medical system care for all. And you will never lose your home over a medical bill. Freedom is only what you invest in. And ignorance and anger is bliss. Stop complaining and do something that is needed in this nation.