[Chico David RN]

I just want to share with you an inspiring story of a success in the never-ending fight to get insurers to treat their customers fairly.

There's a phrase I'm hearing more and more - Death by Spreadsheet.
It means all the times when the insurance companies' bottom line takes precedence over the patient's life.

But a determined family, a great group of high school students and a real fighting nurses union have managed to win a round in the fight for patient's lives over profit. You can read the whole story here:

http://www.californiaprogressreport....t_heavy_h.html

It gives you a window into the value of a union that puts patient advocay first and how we can learn to take our mission of caring beyond the bedside and to the streets if needed.

[herring_RN]

A very nice “Thank you” from the brother!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/26/143420/412/381/484746

[RN Power Ohio]

It so wonderful to see the power of collective action working!

[Chico David RN]

Of course, the bigger picture still remains. We can't continue fighting these batttles one at a time. How many people are killed by their insurance companies' denial of care or by the fact they can't get insurance at all? That's why our ongoing goal of creating a better health care system for all remains paramount.

[ADVOCATE 4 PATIENTS]

Patient advocacy is tied to political activism as well as to what goes on at the bedside. With the help of CNA/NNOC Texas nurses presented two resolutions at our "two-step" voting process...you know everything is bigger and better in Texas...one vote is not enough! One resolution was for single-payer universal health care and the other was for state mandated safe nurse-to-patient ratios. These two resolutions were quickly sent from Houston to Beaumont to San Antonio and to Austin. Actually I have no idea how far spread they got but I do know as I sat in my caucus room shared by several other precients I could hear these resolutions echoing off the walls...I was amazed and empowered by the knowledge that the general public also cares about quality health care...they just never knew how the many parts are so interrelated.
Well, on Saturday my good friend and ally read both of these into the record at our Districts delagate meeting...both were accepted!! I can only hope that this happened all over our great state. These resolutions will now appear on our ballots in November.
Nurses work is so much more than that which transpires within our workplaces...we have obligations in all areas of healthcare...we must grow ever more vigilant in seeking out opportunities to serve and protect those lives entrusted to us. Promoting single-payer universal health care and safe nurse-to-patient ratios are current ways that we can fulfill our debts to society.

[Ludlow]

Our present health care system that has insurers making billions of dollars in profit while their enrollees like Nick suffer has got to go!

Surely we could all sleep better at night knowing that our health care dollars were paying for medical treatments for Nick and millions of other patients instead those dollars going into the pockets of the insurance companies CEOs who end up keeping about 30% of our premium dollars for their administration costs. Interestingly enough it only takes about 3% to run a health care plan as proved by Medicare and the Canadian plan and the British plan and the Australian plan...

[lizzyj]

An Update on Nick Colombo from Richard and Patti Colombo, Nicks Mom and Dad

"We just wanted to give you an update of how things are moving what we are doing and how all this is just working out in such a positive way.
Nick is at USC/Norris Cancer Center*, in Los Angeles, and everything is now falling into place. The doctor here worked with Dr. Rosenthal from the Sarcoma Institute in Kansas and knows the procedure. They are preparing him with all the things that need to be done in order for him to have the Cyber Knife treatment.
The doctors here are upset—they say that they had never heard of Nick’s case or the denial from USC Norris. We said that PacifiCare had told us that USC didn’t have a program to treat children. They said that only applied to infants and toddlers and they wished he could have been here sooner. They told us to come down immediately, which we did!

His treatment was given the green light from PacifiCare. It’s all covered, so this is just an awesome testimony right now, and were just so glad that Nick is gonna be given a chance. They have treated tumors that are bigger than his with Cyber Knife. The cyber knife procedure will either kill the tumor or shrink it and make it sterile.

Right now we are focusing on Nick and we hope that our situation has helped your organizations fight for healthcare issues. We truly believe that your efforts helped get us where we are today. Thank you for your concern for the best for our family.

*note: USC/Norris is a major national center or cancer research, treatment, prevention and education)

[Ludlow]

Originally Posted by lizzyj

An Update on Nick Colombo from Richard and Patti Colombo, Nicks Mom and Dad

"We just wanted to give you an update of how things are moving what we are doing and how all this is just working out in such a positive way.
Nick is at USC/Norris Cancer Center*, in Los Angeles, and everything is now falling into place. The doctor here worked with Dr. Rosenthal from the Sarcoma Institute in Kansas and knows the procedure. They are preparing him with all the things that need to be done in order for him to have the Cyber Knife treatment.
The doctors here are upset—they say that they had never heard of Nick’s case or the denial from USC Norris. We said that PacifiCare had told us that USC didn’t have a program to treat children. They said that only applied to infants and toddlers and they wished he could have been here sooner. They told us to come down immediately, which we did!

His treatment was given the green light from PacifiCare. It’s all covered, so this is just an awesome testimony right now, and were just so glad that Nick is gonna be given a chance. They have treated tumors that are bigger than his with Cyber Knife. The cyber knife procedure will either kill the tumor or shrink it and make it sterile.

Right now we are focusing on Nick and we hope that our situation has helped your organizations fight for healthcare issues. We truly believe that your efforts helped get us where we are today. Thank you for your concern for the best for our family.

*note: USC/Norris is a major national center or cancer research, treatment, prevention and education)

My prayers and best hope are with Nick and his family.

[herring_RN]

Pictures from the successful demonstration:
http://www.calnurses.org/photo-album...o.html?print=t

Sometimes just a few dozen friends and nurses can help get the right thing done.

[herring_RN]

PacifiCare agrees to pay for Nick Colombo's treatment

More and more patients dissatisfied with decisions by their insurance companies are seeking to exert public pressure from rallies to letter writing campaigns.
It's hard to know what effect they have. Some medical ethicists say allocation of health care should be determined by expected outcomes, not lobbying efforts.
The matter is more complicated in cases like Nick's, where doctors disagree on the best course of treatment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHNPb...eature=related