Death by Budget Cut

In Arizona, a second person has died after he was denied Medicaid coverage for a transplant. Coverage was denied primarily due to budget cuts needed to close a shortfall. It seems to me that this is being reported as a tragic scenario. While it certainly is tragic on a personal level, it indicates one of the primary reasons our medical costs are out of control. Each and every one of us believes we are entitled to any and all procedures regardless of how much we make or how much they cost.

Unfortunately, when reality sets in, there ARE constraints on funding and someone, somewhere has to fall outside those constraints. If there is less money this year than last year, more people will fall outside. Unfortunate, but true. We have to accept it and move on.