Arizona Medicaid System Cuts Funding for Transplant Operations

Beginning in October, Arizona ceased financing certain transplant operations under its version of Medicaid. Among the discontinued procedures are liver transplants for hepatitis C patients, lung transplants, and some pancreas and bone marrow transplants. These surgeries will not be provided for those who can’t afford them on their own, which will save the state about $4.5 million a year. There has been a flood of lobbying to persuade the state to reverse its decision, and at least one state representative has pledged to reconsider some of the state’s transplant cuts when the legislature reconvenes in January.

In the meantime, people like Francisco Felix, a 32-year-old father of four, will be bumped off the transplant list. A family friend of his passed away a few weeks ago and wanted to donate her liver to Felix. He was prepared for surgery, but when the money failed to come through, the liver went to someone else on the list. Randy Shepherd, a 36-year-old father of three is in a similar situation. If the legislature does reconsider the transplant cuts, Shepherd plans to attend the debate. He said he’s trying not to take it personally, and that “[n]one of the politicians had heard of me when they made their decision. They didn’t say, ‘Let’s kill this guy.’”

Marc Lacey, Arizona Cuts Financing for Transplant Patients, N.Y. Times, Dec. 2, 2010.