D
deepsouthpapist
Guest
Recently the health care reform bill passed the House of Representatives. The bill included the language to protect life, which is to be applauded. The abortion exceptions include rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. While that language is some of the strongest we could hope for in a Democratically controlled House, I wonder if it does not open the door for a vague reading of the law by physicians who want to perform abortions.
As an example, a surgeon can not get reimbursed by insurance while performing a nose surgery if the surgery is done purely for cosmetic reasons. There has to be a medical necessity to perform the surgery. If the septum is not deviated to the extent that the patient suffers from a compromised ability to breathe then the surgery is considered to be cosmetic. I have known literally dozens of people in my line of work that had surgeries performed for cosmetic reasons and got insurance to pay for the procedure via the deviated septum rule. Many of the people confided in me that the surgery was purely cosmetic but boasted how the physician was willing to record the surgery as medically necessary.
The physician is no doubt committing fraud as well as the patient in asking the insurance company to pay for a cosmetic procedure. However, both are more than willing to go along with it to reach the desired outcome.
All that leads to my obvious conclusion - now that the “life of the mother” rule is in place in the health care bill, how likely is it that abortion will in some way be declared medically necessary for the patient by physicians across the country that are willing to provide the service? Patients will ask for it and physicians will oblige if they can. Admittedly, stating the woman’s life is in danger is a far cry from declaring a septum deviated but I believe the same principle will likely be applied.
Here are some reasons that can easily be declared as endangering the life of the mother:
It is my opinion that the endangering the life of the mother exception will simply incentivize women who want to procure an abortion to ask the physician to declare her life in danger and many physicians will oblige.
What are your thoughts on the endangering the life of the mother stipulations in the health care bill?
God bless!
As an example, a surgeon can not get reimbursed by insurance while performing a nose surgery if the surgery is done purely for cosmetic reasons. There has to be a medical necessity to perform the surgery. If the septum is not deviated to the extent that the patient suffers from a compromised ability to breathe then the surgery is considered to be cosmetic. I have known literally dozens of people in my line of work that had surgeries performed for cosmetic reasons and got insurance to pay for the procedure via the deviated septum rule. Many of the people confided in me that the surgery was purely cosmetic but boasted how the physician was willing to record the surgery as medically necessary.
The physician is no doubt committing fraud as well as the patient in asking the insurance company to pay for a cosmetic procedure. However, both are more than willing to go along with it to reach the desired outcome.
All that leads to my obvious conclusion - now that the “life of the mother” rule is in place in the health care bill, how likely is it that abortion will in some way be declared medically necessary for the patient by physicians across the country that are willing to provide the service? Patients will ask for it and physicians will oblige if they can. Admittedly, stating the woman’s life is in danger is a far cry from declaring a septum deviated but I believe the same principle will likely be applied.
Here are some reasons that can easily be declared as endangering the life of the mother:
- gestational diabetes
- preeclampsia
- preterm labor
- infection (cold or flu)
- dehydration
- Rhesus isoimmunization
- Group B Strep
- Group A Strep (strep throat)
- substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, drugs)
It is my opinion that the endangering the life of the mother exception will simply incentivize women who want to procure an abortion to ask the physician to declare her life in danger and many physicians will oblige.
What are your thoughts on the endangering the life of the mother stipulations in the health care bill?
God bless!
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