Mainecare Meeting

There will be a meeting in Augusta to review the decision to stop paying for the surgery. It will be at the Bureau of Medical Services, 442 Civic Center Drive. Thursday January 8th at 8:30 am. I beg you all to attend pre-op, and post op. Just because I can't afford regular insurance is no reason to condemn me to early death and life on the side lines. This surgery is my only hope. I plan to go to this meeting and hope to see many of you there.

I won't be there, but I will be thinking about the meeting. I wrote to the DHS. and offered some ways to cut down on expenses, but I guess they thought I was just kidding. I hope someone will bring up abortions being an elective surgery. I hope I am not stepping on some toes here, but I just used that as an example. Good luck to all who have started the weight loss journey. I hope you all get to be losers. Linda

I could bring that up for you.. ..DHS tried to convince me to abort both of my children. How about getting one's tubes tied isn't that elective.(I had that one done when I was way to young to make a decision like that and I paid to have it put back together) But we are also talking about removing of excess skin after major weight loss....they aren't gonna be covering THAT either!

For those of us who can't attend the meeting, is there any other way we can be heard? Thanks, Jo

Here is a couple web sites that list email/contact info Here is the link to the members of the H & HS Committee. http://janus.state.me.us/house/jt_com/hum.htm Contacts at the Bureau of Medical Services http://www.state.me.us/bms/contact.html Here is the link to the meeting agenda and location info. http://www.state.me.us/bms/rulemaking/ Please send letters to everyone you think will listen (Governor, Senators, etc). Also if you can send a letter to state legistlatures. Here is a link to where you can find your local legislatures http://janus.state.me.us/legis/ They are the ones that also have to aprove of the cuts after this meeting tomorrow. Thanks, Vikki

Joann Yes, there is something you can do! write a letter to the Governor or the state Congress people. They are leaving the issue open till the 12th so as long as you can mail them stuff before then your golden! Also if you look at other posts on this site you will see the telephone numbers and addresses that you need to send things to....just look at the last page of posts under Mainecare or Medicare or WTF ( not my post I don't use language like that). Please just write your story and why you think (or rather know) that surgery is the only answer.

My letter is off to the Governor. I appreciate your bringing this to our attention. Dr. Cobean said, at our monthly bariatric support meeting last night, once the government denies WLS, private insurance is sure to follow suit. This could effect ALL of us, that's why it is so important to tell our success stories. Thanks again for the information, Michelle. Please, anyone who is reading this post, take a minute to phone, email, or write the government on this important issue. Thanks, Jo Ann

As I recall I didn't use "language like that either". You should be grateful that I give a **** about you being "one of those" who has ended up the unfortunate victim of this horrible situation not making digs at me for using an abbreviation for the swears.

I am going to call all my frienda and get them to go to the meeting we need to make sure to stand up for our rights.Linda Dearborn

Casey I am terrible sorry that you took that as a dig. I was trying to be funny...I guess I wasn't. Please forgive me. I am so glad that you do care about me and all of the rest of us.