 
|
 |
NEW STUDY, REPORTED BY CNN, CONFIRMS WHAT RCCS HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS
American Cancer Society Research Shows Lack of Insurance Boosts Cancer Death Risk
ATLANTA, Georgia -- An Associated Press release this week reported that “People without health insurance are nearly twice as likely to die within five years as those with private coverage”.
Scientists with the American Cancer Society said that early detection was a key to a favorable prognosis. Experts said the study also hints at problems with quality care after diagnosis: such as whether the patient got the appropriate operation from a high-quality surgeon, whether the tumor was thoroughly evaluated by a high-quality pathologist, and whether there was access to needed chemotherapy and/or radiation.
Reb Hershel Kohn, founder and president of Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society (RCCS), is not surprised. His experience, dating back to 1997, showed conclusively and unambiguously, that cancer-stricken patients needed the best medical insurance coverage to enable them to seek the best doctors, the best hospitals, and the appropriate medications and treatment, in order to survive.
Rabbi Yosef C. Golding, Executive Director of RCCS, points to numerous, confidential patient records that confirms this. In fact, says Rabbi Golding, RCCS has subsidized over 1,000 health insurance policies since then, with close to 300 over a span of the past eighteen months alone. The impact of receiving the right insurance coverage can not be overstated. Quoting from a recent Binah Magazine article, a wife of a cancer survivor talks about her battle with non-expert clinic doctors who wanted to amputate her young husband’s leg:
“…Then a miracle occurred. One of our friends heard about RCCS, the Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society, and contacted them on our behalf. Before I knew what was happening, our insurance was switched to Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and they, RCCS, were paying for the policy! We couldn’t believe the turn of events.
Memorial/Sloan Kettering accepted my husband as a patient. Meeting Dr. Brennan was a light of security, a breath of fresh air. Finally, we were given a bit of reassurance. He was confident and kind, and although he was a busy, high-ranking doctor, he took the time to sit and talk with us. He remained with us throughout our ordeal.
After days of intense testing, Dr. Brennan informed us that it would be possible to save my husband’s leg — and his life. His approach to dealing with my husband’s illness was revolutionary — he felt the best course of action would be not to amputate, but to try to eliminate the cancer through surgery and radiation instead. It would not be easy — there was a long, uphill battle ahead, but we would try anything to save my husband.
Throughout my husband’s treatment, RCCS was there for us. Everything was paid for: the surgery, the radiation, and the hospital stays. If not for RCCS, I’m afraid to think about what might have happened.”
Rabbi Golding is quick to point out that there are not always such happy endings; but RCCS is there so that families can be assured that they have given their loved ones the best medical care possible.
|
|
