The CNA has been in the headlines for other reasons lately, but I don't think anyone can discount the incredible activism they have engaged in on behalf of patients being denied life-saving medical treatment. Word now comes of another victory against the "murder by spreadsheet" insurance industry who felt like saving a kid's life wasn't good for business.
In the face of a national campaign on behalf of Nick Colombo, insurance giant PacifiCare has reversed its decisions and agreed to critically needed cancer treatments for the 17-year-old from Placentia, Calif. The decision came after the company was overwhelmed by calls organized by Nick's friends and family, along with RNs from the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, and netroots activists.
Over 100 of Nick's classmates, friends of the family with their young children, and nurses protested in front of the insurance company headquarters this morning to demand that the approval be put in writing, which a PacifiCare representative, surrounded by T.V. cameras, and promised to do.
"I am extremely happy about PacifiCare's reversal, said Ricky Colombo, Nick's 19-year old brother. "The goal was to get treatment for Nick, and CNA/NNOC and other allies helped us with that. We decided to go through with the rally in order to get their decision on the record and make sure they back up their words-and also because there are thousands of others in similar situations who can't get the care they need. We feel blessed to have this community supporting our family."
In the fight for universal health care, all sides of the debate on the left are going to be instrumental. The CNA's tenacity and effectiveness in organizing "patient revolts" like this is very valuable, particularly to show the inequities in the current broken health care system. Activists shut down PacifiCare's phone system on multiple occasions before they capitulated.
To beat the powerful interests that want to maintain the status quo you're going to need every activist and every strategy you can find. And we're going to win this fight, one patient at a time.
It's unconscionable that in the United States in 2008, one has to organize protests in order to save a life. But here we are. From the CNA's Guaranteed Healthcare website, where there are dozens of similar stories:
This is Nick's older brother, Ricky, and I want to ask all of you for a huge favor. Our insurance company, PacifiCare, denied Nick to go to Kansas City for a special treatment of radiation for his cancer (this could save his life). Nick has suffered with cancer for 4 years of his life and he has exhausted every avenue to get better, but nothing worked. This is our last effort and this procedure has worked before with people in Nick's situation. I think it is our duty to stand up for Nick and tell PacifiCare that what they are doing is wrong.
I am putting together a demonstration in front of the PacifiCare building at 5701 Katella Ave Cypress, CA 90630. Tuesday, March 25th, at 10:00 a.m. We are getting the media to step in and put pressure on (kcal9 and newspapers).
If we can at least get 300 people there I know they will have to say something about it. I know that my brother isn't the only one suffering because of America's poor healthcare system.
If you guys know anyone else that is suffering because of this, have him or her come out too. We need to let not only PacifiCare but America know that what they are doing is wrong and we need change.
Thank all of you so much.
Ricky Colombo
From Eve's diary at dKos:
Here are the emails I received from the California Nurses Association.
Just received a call from Ricky Columbo. His brother Nick has cancer, and the treatments thus far have been ineffective. The docs recommend cyberknife. Insurance won't pay.
He is organizing a protest outside the Pacifica Care building in Cypress, CA next Tuesday at 10. He heard CNA did this kind of thing, and would like CNA to come and support the effort. He says he has already rallied a bunch of people to come to it, thinks there is going to be a big crowd.
He has also spoken with Dave Lopez at Channel 9, who is supposedly covering it.
Here's another just received:
Just spoke to the young man, Ricky, 19. Nick, this boy with Ewing's Sarcoma (bone cancer) is only 17 - The mother works long hours preparing taxes for people and cares for the son before she leaves; the father then comes home earlier in the day to care for his son.
They have had a local TV reporter to their home to interview Nick and are hoping to get more attention to push PacifiCare.
Donna Smith
Communications Specialist
California Nurses Association
The contact information is PacifiCare at 714-828-1821 or Tyler Mason, the UnitedHealth/Pacificare spokesperson at 714-226-3530.
