Sen. Kirk says stroke changed perspective on Medicaid

[cal04]

Last edited Thu Jan 3, 2013, 11:31 AM - Edit history (1)

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said his debilitating stroke has sparked a new interest in the experience of people on Medicaid.

In an interview published Wednesday, Kirk said that most Illinois residents insured through the low-income health program would be eligible for just 11 rehabilitation sessions following a stroke.

"Had I been limited to that I would have had no chance to recover like I did. So unlike before suffering the stroke, I’m much more focused on Medicaid and what my fellow citizens face," Kirk told the Chicago Sun Times.

"I will look much more carefully at the Illinois Medicaid program to see how my fellow citizens are being cared for who have no income and if they suffer from a stroke," Kirk said.

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/medicaid/275291-sen-kirk-says-stroke-changed-perspective-on-medicaid


'I felt like there were angels in the room

(snip)
After a year away from work, Kirk said he realizes he was lucky to receive the care he did. While he still does not favor Obamacare, his recovery has given him a new perspective.

"On the Medicaid side, how we address citizens of Illinois who suffer from a stroke ... working so that my fellow citizens have the opportunities that I had," he said.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/03/16323596-senator-who-suffered-stroke-i-felt-like-there-were-angels-in-the-room?lite

[corkhead]

1. once again, another selfish repub that doesn't give a shit about something until it happens to them

When it comes to seeing the light, I guess, better late than never. Hopefully he will talk to members of his own party.

[Tempest]

3. It's too late for all the people he's screwed over

And for that I will never forgive or forget.

[stultusporcos]

4. Make the Pubs suffer first and then we will get change

It is ALL they understand

[Doctor_J]

5. Yep. Between him and Peter King and Christie

these come-to-Jesus moments are pretty revolting. Why do these people have to have near-death experiences before they become human?

[atreides1]

34. King has already been brought back into the fold

Earlier today Boehner told NY/NJ Republicans that he will let the house vote on a bill that would allow 9 billion for Sandy relief, and then will take care of the other 51 billion later this month...the down side is that with the new Congress, the new bill will have to go through the process that all bills have to.

King was just putting on an act...his "come-to-jesus" moment didn't even last 12 hours! And I'll bet Christie will be in quiet mode for the next few days...

[Phentex]

7. Yes. This is how they think all the time...

as long as they are fine, screw everyone else. But oh wait, when THEY need something, it suddenly matters.

[catbyte]

30. +1,000

[jody]

2. Had a heart attack & died. Two guardian angeles with combat experience at my side within seconds,

paramedics within three minutes who wouldn't give up, an emergency room doctor and staff who finally got a heart beat, a heart surgeon who had already performed over 1,400 bypass operations, and after five and a half years I'm still on DU.

Couldn't go to sleep for the first month, afraid of not waking up.

Realized that one can't live like that and decided to live one day at a time.

Today when I awake in the morning, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER GREAT DAY!

I love all of you, friends and enemies.

Sounds like Sen. Kirk had an epiphany like mine.

Happy New Year to the World, jody woke up one more time.

[malaise]

9. Wow!

Lucky you

[JDPriestly]

23. So glad you did wake up this morning.

[Mojorabbit]

26. .

[calimary]

40. God Bless Our First Responders!!! Great story, Jody!

AND it has a happy ending!

[spanone]

6. this is what people get for electing idiots. nothing matters till it happens to them.

if he had an eighth of a brain he might try to apply this to other aspects of his job, but i doubt it.

[Honeycombe8]

38. A lot of people are like that.

Many of us think we know what something is like, or why it is so, but that's not the same as experiencing it.

[nobodyspecial]

8. OMG, he's openly exhibited compassion

and caring. They will drum him out of the party for this.

[Panasonic]

10. If he realizes that Obamacare needs to be improved, then by all means, he should quit the R

and go Independent, caucusing for the Democratic Party, strengthening the Senate further.

[Ilsa]

11. The both happy and sad part is,

These Repubs probably will never need emergency contraception for a rape, or a safe abortion for any variety of reasons, or extended UI because their jobs were shipped overseas, or really actually need Social Security because their IRA went to near-zilch after Congress threatened not to pay the govt's bills again, etc, etc. Most of them will be stuck in their dogma, and the most of the few that actually require this help, will simply be hypocrites about it.

[Joey Liberal]

12. The Tea Baggers will turn on him for sure!

They could care less about people and medicaid.

[pangaia]

13. Do you mean you had to have a stroke

to realize what hell people go through who do NOT have insurance..or enough insurance.
You stupid, ignorant douchpickle...

OK here's my plan-- EVERY republican politician must have a stroke and be told his/her insurance does not count...

[Heather MC]

35. Don't stop.at the stroke

they all have to live on minimum wage. live in a town for year where all the major jobs got shipped over seas. live on welfare, live in section 8 housing. Only go to a crowded free clinic for medical care. Oh and survive a mass shooting spree just barely so they can stay alive long enough to wmenant better gun laws.

[undeterred]

14. Let's celebrate a change of heart.

He went through something really life altering, and maybe it really did change his perspective. That's a good thing.

[Sophiegirl]

19. +10000

If something like what he experienced brings a change of heart or thinking, then I welcome it.

[xtraxritical]

25. RepubliCONs probably kicked him to the curb when they found out he had a heart.

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. Good for him. It makes no sense to be critical of someone having an enlightened moment

I don't care how willfully blind he might have been about this prior to his stroke, seeing it now is a good thing, period. I can only wish that his newly discovered empathy for others with health issues carries over into other issues also. I don't count on that, but his statement regarding Medicaid is a positive one and I'm glad to see it.

[catbyte]

31. The thing that upsets me so much, Tom, is that it ALWAYS takes a personal

experience like this for Republicans to open their eyes. I give them no credit for becoming "enlightened." It is their job to advocate for their constituents, not screw them over in order to placate their corporate overlords. Lack of empathy is a sign of being a sociopath, and the GOP is infested with them. It is utterly despicable.

[Tom Rinaldo]

42. I agree that is upsetting, very

But I always give anyone credit for any moment of enlightenment. They are to be encouraged. God knows we need more Republicans to have them. It is a sad commentary that it usually takes a personal crisis for empathy beyond their own peer group to break through to so many Republicans. But the deperessing truth is that for many of them even that doesn't bring that about. Many in Kirk's place would simply rationalize that they in some way deserve good medical coverage and other people don't; becuase they are lazy, inferior, whatever. Kirks comments in this instance weren't nuanced with bullshit. In this case under these circumstances it seems for a mment at least that he truly got it.

[Bucky]

16. Why do Republicans have to have strokes or lesbian daughters before they learn compasssion?

Why do we have to see whole classrooms of first graders shot up before they think guns are a problem?

Welcome to an ounce of sanity, Senator. Where the fuck were you before?

[Ed Suspicious]

18. My thoughts exactly. Its a real tragedy they can't drum up a few feelings before they're actually

in the situation.

[Ed Suspicious]

17. Why do republicans often lack empathy? It seems it takes their own tragedy to provoke feelings.

Aren't they emotionally evolved enough to mentally insert themselves into the situation before it occurs?

[southernyankeebelle]

20. Well there you go again. Until it happens to them or a family member republicans just

don't get it or want to get it. Well maybe now he can open eyes on the republican side.

[Curmudgeoness]

21. Too bad they do not know what empathy is.

E-M-P-A-T-H-Y. Look it up, you GOP pigs. I am glad that he has finally realized that the safety net they talk about is not adequate, but I find this sort of revelation stomach turning.

I have never had a stroke, but I know that I would listen to doctors to set treatments and rehabilitations instead of government monkeys. I have never been homeless, but I can imagine the hopelessness and fear that it would bring. I have never had children going hungry, but I know that playing that "punish the parents" game is disgusting.

You should not have to go through every horrible experience in life to feel for the people who are living that experience.

I hope that Sen Kirk rethinks a lot of other things too.

[JDPriestly]

22. Skimping on physical therapy and rehab sessions is false economy.

I wonder how many elderly people could learn through physical therapy how to avoid falls and hip surgeries? How many of us could avoid knee problems if we walked correctly and got (and followed) dietary recommendations from someone who knows what they are talking about?

How many accidents could be avoided if elderly people could afford eye care and hearing aids. Glasses can cost a lot if your eyes are really bad. And some of my elderly friends warn that hearing aids can cost $3000 per ear and then don't work well.

Of course, all insurance plans for younger people should cover these items too. Many, many accidents and the costs that go with them could be avoided if people had access to preventive care for a lot of conditions. Glasses and hearing aids are not covered by regular Medicare.

[surrealAmerican]

24. I'll believe it when I see it.

I have a hunch that if McConnel tells him to vote for medicaid cuts, his new found empathy may be hard to detect. Here's hoping, anyway.

[Shrike47]

27. I'd rather they saw the light late than never.

Let's hope his epiphany is a lasting one.

[KamaAina]

28. Now we'll see about his perspective on the UN CRPD

You remember, the one that would give the UN power to force repuke women to have abortions.

[AAO]

29. Not too bright. If you can ONLY learn from experience,

you are typically what I would call a moron, and shouldn't be dogcatcher, yet alone, a US Senator.

[no1uno]

32. Yeah now he will....

I've said it time and time again...Unless some thing like this affects you personally or some one close to you, most people really don't care. We are just one catastrophic illness or injury away from loosing every thing.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

33. What is it about the Repuke brain, that unless they experience something

in their own skin, they just CANNOT GET IT? Are they born stupid?

[Ed Suspicious]

36. Emotionally dead. n/t

[Sarah Ibarruri]

43. I think so! nt

[Zoeisright]

37. Why is it these dumbshits don't get it

until it happens to them? God, repukes are fucking dumb.

[Last Stand]

39. Quick, Boener's having a stroke.

Send Jack Daniels.

[truebluegreen]

41. You know how repubs are fond of saying

that a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged?

A liberal is a conservative with a health problem.