Meet Iona, the real-life face of Medicaid's ills

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GUEST VIEWPOINT

Meet Iona, the real-life face of Medicaid's ills

By Jerry Harden

Published: Friday, December 30, 2005


Our esteemed members of Congress are so wrapped up with the big picture - dealing first with millions of dollars, then billions, and now trillions - that I fear they have no understanding that our nation collectively is made up of one person at a time. I want to tell you about one of them. Her name is Iona.
Iona is a real person. Iona is also a metaphor for much of what is ailing our nation She is not just any person, but someone truly special.
Iona is one of the huge number of real living American citizens who have been dealt a losing hand in the failed attempt to improve our national health care via the unintelligible mess known as the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.
Unlike many, Iona does not have a "what's in it for me?" attitude regarding social issues such as health care. Her attitude is, "I want to do my share, but what more can I do?"
Iona is a Medicaid recipient living in one of Eugene's assisted living communities. She has a fine history of being a productive American citizen. Given her current status, it's ironic that she gave many years as a caregiver in similar facilities. Because she was willing to work for minimum wages providing services to others, she now finds herself in need of assistance. Even today, Iona volunteers many hours per week playing the piano, organ and accordion to entertain residents confined to licensed facilities.
On Dec. 31, the government benefit of no-cost prescription drugs for Medicaid residents comes to an end. Starting Jan. 1, Iona must find a way of paying the copayments required of Medicaid residents.
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