Friday, November 29, 2013

Death Panel Results

My mother's "Death Panel" met recently, and I received the results this morning.

Medicare will no longer be paying for her feeding tube pump, the daily disposable feeding tube bags, and the space-age formula that's been keeping my mom alive since her home was destroyed by a tornado.

No, I don't know why Medicare has been paying for this for all these months, and why they've decided in their infinite wisdom and compassion to now terminate their coverage. Trying to make rational sense of government decrees is often futile. It would be too easy for me to make all kinds of conspiratorial speculations. My sister is going to drive up to the Big City on Monday and see what's up.

The cost of the little plastic bags that hold the formula is something like $500 a month. The liquid food is also a bit more expensive than a Happy Meal at McD's, though I can't say for sure, as it's been a long time since I've eaten out. I'm grateful that you've been paying for all this through your taxes. Caring for her is my 24/7 job, and I'm working in my spare time to create an income-generating enterprise that will pay the bills by working at home.

If you would like to make a generous, year-end, tax-deductible donation to the non-profit, tax-exempt educational organization that might pay me enough to cover these costs, it would be most appreciated. Currently, generous donations to Vine & Fig Tree are paying the rent for storage of Vine & Fig Tree's library and office equipment, and my mother lives in a spare room. Yesterday was only the most recent of a long series of days of thanksgiving for the generosity of many.

If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below. I'll update this post when I learn something new.

Thank you very much.

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