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Oregon Cuts Health Benefits for the Poor |
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Douglas K. Schmidt, aged 36, or Portland, Oregon, apparently suffered a massive seizure about eight days after his supply of anti-seizure medication ran out (Associated Press, March 10 03). He was taken to hospital unconscious and in a critical condition. Jean Thorne, director of the Oregon Dept. of Human Services, called Schmidt's hospitalisation "a tragic circumstance", "but as we cut back the safety net, we're going to see similar cases..... 8,500 people lost pharmaceutical coverage when the medically needy program was cut. But beyond that we have another 100,000 who are going to lose their coverage on July 1: that's the date the Oregon Health Plan eliminates coverage for the working poor. And there's close to 500,000 people in Oregon without any coverage at all." What is still provided free? Drugs for assisted suicide.
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