Medicaid doesn't pay for couple's heartbreak

[TexasTowelie]

When Shontae Minor and boyfriend Khristian Rohena learned she was pregnant with quadruplets, they followed their San Antonio doctor's advice and sought a selective fetal reduction.

The procedure would have eliminated two of the fetuses while they still were in her womb, raising the chances that the remaining two would survive and be well, according to medical experts. The doctor also advised Minor, 22, that her own health could be in jeopardy if she carried all four to term.

But a state worker told the couple that Medicaid wouldn't pay the $4,000 bill for the fetal reduction.

On Jan. 15, Minor gave birth to two sets of identical twin boys 10 weeks early. One baby lived only 10 days; another, 23 days.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/local_news/article/Medicaid-doesn-t-pay-for-couple-s-heartbreak-4285414.php .

[abelenkpe]

1. Wow.

“Medicaid was right to turn down the reduction,” said Rachel Bohannon, spokeswoman for Texas Right To Life. “Every child should be given the chance to live, and it's not right to sacrifice the life of one child to save another. ... Because they didn't have the reduction, they were able to meet the other two babies, love on them, and now they'll have the bittersweet memory of them.”


A bittersweet memory?
Wow.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. That is one of the most cruel statements I have heard.

How does she feel about what those infants went through before they died? Does she imagine that they felt that being loved on and getting to know their parents was worth the struggle and possible agony they endured?

What a heartless excuse for a human being.

That doesn't consider the fact that the other two babies were put in a risky situation. Twins generally have a better chance of survival than quads. It's fortunate that any of the babies survived.

[Ilsa]

6. Rationalizations, willful ignorance, and

imposing her religious beliefs on others.

These parents were trying to do the right and responsible thing. The anti-choice crowd that has government micromanaging women's reproductive care was cruel and irresponsible. And now tens of thousands, if not hundreds of dollars will need to be spent on the remaining babies because they were not allowed to grow in utero. I think the bill should be sent to Texas Right To (Interfere in your) Life for payment.

[LeftInTX]

7. She's probably a hypocrite

who would not hesitate to use the procedure on herself - just not for "those people".

[elfin]

2. Did Medicaid pay for in vitro?

Or other fertility aids? Two sets of twins highly unusual. If they were covered for such procedures, should have been covered the whole way. Even if that isn't the scenario,still should have been covered to reduce final grief and medical costs, if no other reason.

[TexasTowelie]

3. The story says that the pregnancy occurred naturally.

IVF or other fertility aids were not involved.

[LeftInTX]

5. This is sad