Frustrated with healthcare
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Editor,
I would like to report a misprint in the Tribal newspaper regarding a lady needing hip surgery that was discussed at Patty Steven’s meeting.
I am the individual trying to get tests on my esophagus so I can have surgery. Dr. Yader (a one person committee) stated that my procedure was not life threatening and did not qualify according to the number scale. I told him when I come back with esophagus cancer and have to take insulin injections because of being diabetic, then you will help me. Dr. Yader stated, “Let me give you an example. If you came in here no matter how much pain you were in, until you were in a wheel chair, we would not approve the hip surgery.”
He also suggested that I should pay the 20 percent of Medicare in order to get the surgery done — he was not supposed to make that suggestion. I always thought there was a committee. If Dr. Yader (one person committee) is going to approve or disapprove, you would think he would call the doctor and talk to them regarding all procedures needed before surgery. The surgeon has written three letters explaining why I needed the test done before surgery. Indian Health Service will only approve one procedure at a time and meet only on Thursdays. If your request is not in on Thursday, you have to wait until the following week to see if you get approved.
I also informed IHS they need to pay health care employees a better wage. Every time we get a good doctor or nurse, they leave because of the low pay.
It has taken me since May/June of 2014 to resolve my health issues and yet have not reached the point to where I can have surgery. I hope what I have gone through has not happened to other elders or young people. You would think that the ones saying yes and no should be certified in some health program in order to be the judge and jury of your health concerns.
Phyllis Benoist
Pablo
