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Cancer program could be cut

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By NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Oct 13, 2008 - 12:46:59 am CDT

Even though it was a rainy day, Jackie Flohr decided to go to a Latino Festival in Kearney, to take in the music, dancing and beautiful costumes.

While there, Flohr stopped at some booths, including one where she learned about the Every Woman Matters program that pays for mammograms and pap smears for women without health insurance coverage.

Flohr, who had no insurance at the time and was too young for the Medicare program, hadn’t had a mammogram in a long time. So she decided to use the program.  

Story Photo
The State Capital Building glows pink in to promote October as Cancer Awareness Month. (LJS File)
Nationwide cancer bus to stop in Lincoln

As part of a six-month, 48-state tour, the American Cancer Society Action Network Fight Back Express bus will stop in Lincoln, carrying the message, "If one person can battle cancer, a nation can rise up and defeat it."

The bus will stop on the north side of the state Capitol, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Cancer survivors and Nebraska First Lady Sally Ganem will speak. Following the ceremony, the Capitol will be lit pink for breast cancer awareness.

The bus tour is highlighting the role elected officials play in making cancer a national priority.

Cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and their families will hold a rally. Visitors can share their story and sign a petition.

More about the ACS CAN Fight Back Express is available at www.acscan.org.

Her mammogram came back positive. She had early stage breast cancer.

She also had no insurance and little money.  

But Flohr got the surgery and care she needed through a companion program to the Every Woman Matters screening. 

Flohr  can’t believe that the state would even consider dropping the program that saved her life two years ago.

 “If I hadn’t had that help (with medical costs), I don’t know what I would have done,” she said in a telephone interview last week.

American Cancer Society leaders also can’t believe any one would consider ending this successful program. 

The  program has paid treatment costs for 552 women with breast cancer and more than 40 women with cervical cancer since it began in 2001, said David Holmquist with the American Cancer Society High Plains Division in Omaha.

But the $1.5 million in state funds for the program would be cut if the state agency received less money than it needs.

Every year, state agencies are asked to provide information on what they would cut if they were funded at a 95 percent level.

Under those circumstances, HHS would cut all the optional Medicaid services, those not required by the federal government, said Vivianne Chaumont, director of the Medicaid and Long Term Care Division for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Because this program is an optional program it is on that list, according to Chaumont. 

Chaumont said it is unlikely the medical treatment program would actually be cut, but “that is up to the Legislature to decide.”

Holmquist has written a letter to Gov. Dave Heineman about the  issue. 

“I want to alert him to the fact that this is not going to be a popular cut,” Holmquist said.

This may not be in the HHS  regular full funding budget request,  but it is part of potential budget cuts, Holmquist said.

Gov. Dave Heineman, who will be offering his budget proposal to the Legislature in January,  generally doesn’t comment on his budget plan ahead of time.

But in response to Holmquist’s letter, Jen Rae Hein, an aide to Heineman said, “Gov. Heineman has been and continues to be supportive of this program.”

This medical program for women screened under Every Woman Matters is required by a state law that passed overwhelmingly and had the support of former Gov. Mike Johanns, Holmquist pointed out.

Flohr says she might have a whole different story if she hadn’t decided to go to the Latino Festival that September afternoon. 

She would not have gotten a mammogram then, would not have found the breast cancer early, might not have lived.

I’m active in the senior center, I sing with the Sweet Adelines and another group. I’m an active senior and grateful to be alive.”

Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.


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Concerned wrote on October 13, 2008 6:28 am:
" We all have things that we think are necessary and feel the government should take care of but someone needs to make the decision what is need most. This is a very life or death mater adding to that a very costly. There is going to be a lot of these kind of articles in the near future and we need to look at other ways to take care of our self’s and our families we need to stop looking to some one else to take care of every thing start taking care of our own. Start by asking our churches to stop building bigger buildings and put the money back into the community were they got it. Maybe if they started taking over some of the small things like the center on aging and the youth services the government could continue help with thing like this. "

 Hope they caught it early wrote on October 13, 2008 6:59 am:
" This funding problem was helped by early detection. Thank God it was. I know so many survivors of breast cancer, I now see it as curable. It wasn't always that way. I lost my best friend from Jr. High to it, and I wonder if she skimped because she had an $8 an hour job providing people with needed food at a grocery store. Money shouldn't be the standard for value of life. I trust our Governor won't let women down. "

 Question wrote on October 13, 2008 7:58 am:
" Why does the State need to step in at every step of the way. People need to take personal responsibility. "

 Dee wrote on October 13, 2008 8:57 am:
" why does this surprise anyone. Nebraska would rather take the crap shoot and gamble that we wont have to pay for the pound of cure by not paying for the ounce of prevention. It makes our proposed bottom line look good. "

 Answer to Question.... wrote on October 13, 2008 9:11 am:
" Yes, I agree. Personal responsibility would mean that Government stops subsidizing businesses with Medicaid for their unwillingness to get a group policy for their employees. Those businesses that hire only part-time-not-eligible-for-benefits, and pay so low that people like you should have studied MATH. How many treatments for cancer can you get with minimum wage? Do you accept services from minimum wage workers? Do you skimp on tipping waiters because they make a whopping $2 per hour and tips are supposed to cover the rest whether they do or not?

Have you tried to get a job with benefits and been turned down? Exactly how does "personal responsibility" play into whether you are stricken with a cruel disease?

Talking about things you know nothing of....a catastrophic disease could wipe you out financially, pal, and then would you agree to let the poor die for a lack of money though they work hard for very little? "

 yodda wrote on October 13, 2008 10:11 am:
" the government will need to step in and take responsibility for its citizens as long as it allows corporations to go with out providing reasonably cost health insurance for their employees and allows insurance companies to charge outrageous prices to facilities, physicians and employers. its difficult to say let each man care for his own when the government allows for a tip of the scale at the other end. "

 worried wrote on October 13, 2008 10:44 am:
" This is just stupid! Who have we elected? First we not protected from the things/companies that have been proven to cause cancer by either our state or government. Now they want to cut a program that really works. "Equality before the law" - our state motto, which is supposed to reflect the character and beliefs of the state citizens, apparently not the people we have elected. "

 I hear ya but wrote on October 13, 2008 10:50 am:
" I think one of the functions of our government should be to help those who can't always help themselves, especially when you're talking about life or death. I completely agree with those of you who call for personal responsibility, but if you're truly doing the best you can do and still can't afford health insurance, then you should be helped.

For example, there is a single mom who works at my daughter's daycare. She comes to work every day, doing one of the most important jobs on the planet, and getting paid next to nothing to do it. This young woman is working hard, taking care of two kids, doing the best she can, and most likely has no health insurance. I have no problem with my tax dollars going to provide health care to this young woman and her kids. "

 to Concerned and other naysayers wrote on October 13, 2008 11:03 am:
" Are you posters female? I assume you're not, because it would be hard to not have these situations directly affect you--whether it be a friend, co-worker, or family member who has found that sexist health care does not cover a lot of costs for testing and treatment for many cancers that only affect women. A lot of insurance does not cover birth control, as I'm sure we all know by now.
The comment about churches was way out of nowhere. Are you saying churches are supposed to cover these costs? "

 BFM wrote on October 13, 2008 11:32 am:
" When will people wake up to the fact that DHHS has had to live on 95% budgets for the past few years when everything else is going up. Programs/personnel getting cut just because the feds don't require them is a pathetic excuse for not providing basic public health services to those who can't otherwise afford health care. Add in the fact that other federal mandates/programs keep getting put on the backs of state employees with no additional support.

I don't mean to digress, but this is symbolic of this administration to cut those services of those who will give the least resistance. "

 Agnostic wrote on October 13, 2008 1:11 pm:
" I agree, to some extent, with "Concerned". The Republican administrations in particular are very supportive of faith-based services. Not health care of course, but if families can get help with other necessities, they are more likely to be able to afford medical care. Yet these churches build huge structures and parking lots that cost a fortune to heat and cool and that sit empty most of the time. Who exactly does that help? "

 jane dough wrote on October 13, 2008 2:01 pm:
" I used the Every Woman Matters program when I was in my early 20s and had no health insurance and did not qualify nor care to seek out public assistance. I was unmarried, had no children and made around $12k a year working full-time in the food service industry. Because of Every Woman Matters, I was able to get the pap smear at Planned Parenthood that detected cancerous cells. I sometimes wonder what would have happened to me if I hadn't been able to get this examination and the treatment that followed. It's possible my health issues would have become more complex and expensive. I could have died. Not only did the screening and early treatment save my life, but also prevented me from eventually becoming a statistic and a costly burden on the "system." Early detection is the key to saving lives. It is also cheaper to screen and perform early treatments than it is to pay for advanced cancer care.

Now that I'm older, have an education, a good income and quality health insurance, I want to help pay back the program that may have helped save my life. I regularly donate money to Planned Parenthood. What are some ways that we in the community can help support this valuable program? "

 Answer to Question wrote on October 13, 2008 7:25 pm:
" Hey Pal, I have had two family member with cancer and I do have a part time job and I have been unemployed without Insurance and I have paid for these types of illnesses myself and don't call me Pal and say I don't know what I am talking about, you try paying for 400,000 dollars on on and 50,000 on another and then still have more bills too pay and then tell me I don't know what I am talking about. Walk a mile, or better yet for you, one foot in my shoes and then call me pal. I would not consider sitting next to you in church let alone on a bus. You must be very lazy or not have much going for you. By the way when I eat out I tip very well, usually 20 percent or more, I do not eat the fanciest meals but I do believe in good service and when it is there the tip comes. As to having jobs that do not pay anything that is the choice of the people working, I am over 60 and I have a job that I got when I was 59 and I am paid very well, it is strictly pay for a job done, not the kind that some people want that is pay for doing nothing. I sleep well at night and I do get irritated by people that don't do a days work. You can find work if you want and if you work hard you will get paid what you are worth. Don't call me Pal, cause I am not your pal. Pal. You do the math, I have got treatments with minimum wage jobs and have had a lot of them. I also have jobs with the minimum wage jobs that pay me lots. SO PAL, GET A JOB> "

 Joseph P. Sokolovsky wrote on October 13, 2008 9:07 pm:
" Aaaah, excuse me, you people elected Gov Dave...now live with his less then intelligent decisions. And beautiful Sally has the courage to appear at the Nationwide cancer bus event...figure that one out too Gov Dave supporters.

Government should do "everything" for the people....no, I don't believe that either....but....cancer is one of the biggest killers of today...thus some state help is needed in this area.

And as we all know not everyone has nor can everyone afford health insurance....yet, in the wisdom of the American voters....hey, elect your hero Barack Obama, and he will "change" and "fix" everything for you people. And...then WE the PEOPLE can figure out how to pay for Obama's programs...one of which will be that Obama will push the cost of many of these programs to the state level...so, Nebraskans, get ready for a HUGE tax increase compliments of Obama!!

Isn't life simply wonderful!!! "

 poster wrote on October 14, 2008 7:46 am:
" As a college educated, firmly 'middle class' (in terms of income level) parent with health insurance, I'd like to share a story. I have a now 19 year old son who was diagnosed with cancer 16 months ago. Since that time, he has maxed out his insurance benefits. He is not yet in remission, and has tens of thousands of dollars in health care needs annually. The effect of this on my life, my family and my finances has been nothing short of catastrophic. There is no easy answer, and I do not think that "the government" should take care of everything for everyone, but on the other hand you can plan, purchase insurance, and take personal responsibility all you want and at the end of the day, in the current health care climate, it matters little. One diagnosis that you can't control and couldn't have predicted and everything starts to look a lot differently. I work hard, and have taken a second job in the past year, but no matter what I do it isn't going to save my son. No amount of overtime is going to pay the $90,000 per year pharmacy bill, let alone the associated treatment and doctor costs. That doesn't even factor in living expenses. I don't know what the answer is to issues like this, but I see posters on this board all the time judging people and touting 'personal responsibility', and I would like to assure them all that if they think they are any more than two very fortunate, healthy steps away from absolute disaster and financial ruin, they'd be wrong. "

 Too Poster wrote on October 14, 2008 11:11 am:
" Yeah I have been there and done that and you can and you will get through it. I have had two in my family that have maxed out insurance plans and I have stayed above water and paid the bills. Don't complain get busy. I do not look for hand outs or blame life is what it is and that is the hard truth, you can and you will survive. "

 Tara wrote on October 14, 2008 12:26 pm:
" Current laws require hospitals to stabilize people who present themselves to an emergency room with a life-threatening condition. If people don't get cancer screenings early and get treatments, taxpayers still pick up the bill in the form of more expensive end-of-the-road treatments and long hospital stays. Better to pour money into the problem when it can actually save a life rather than merely prolong the dying process. "

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