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Burdette Tomlin Programs Medicare: Bad News

Richard Magee, director of Social Services at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital told a handful of senior citizens Oct. 8 that he had "a lot of bad news" about Medicare. Magee was participating in a day-long informational forum for the elderly — part of the hospital's weeklong 35th anniversary celebration. "The overall outlook is not good." Magee said of the federal reimbursement system which is reported to be going broke "Medical costs continue to spiral. 1 don't see a great deal of hope Somebody has to pay the bill, and nobody can decide who." MEDICARE. Magee said, will pay 80 percent of approved medical charges, but "approved charges often have no relationship to the doctor's bill." He explained that a doctor may charge $100. but Medicare may approve only $20 and pay only 80 percent of that. He advised his listeners to ask their doctors if they accept "assignment." an arrangement in which the

doctor will accept whatever Medicare plus insurance will pay. To cover the deductible and additional charges. Magee said, there are a variety of policies, such as 65 Special. 65 Gold, and numerous private insurance plans HMO. A PRIVATE

benefit plan which works closely with the federal government, pays virtually all medical costs, Magee said, and it is becoming more popular in New Jersey, he said its major drawback is that it limits freedom of choice. Members muse use HMO affiliated doctors and hospitals, and the only two area hospitals involved at the moment are in Somers Point and Vineland. he said. The good news which the social services director bought to his audience is about Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG), a reimbursement system for which he said New Jerseywas the pilot for the rest of the country. DRG examines the medical needs of each patient before admission to the hospital, and sets a flat fee. Thus, the patient pays according to the diagnosis instead of the number of days in the hospital. The system is designed to get patients in and out of the hospital quickly, he said.

Next Week: '80's Issues (ED. NOTE: Three reports on this page from last week's Burdette Tomlin com munity service pro grams are by free-lance writer Marian Smyth of Erma. Next week this newspaper will present reports from the program on nutrition, sports medicine, how to handle your child's medical emergency, and " Health Problems of the '80s" including a special look at AIDS I

Nursing Home Awaited

When the new Court House Convalescent Center opens its doors sometime this year. Barbara Ryan will be standing nearby, gleefully rubbing her hands. That's because Ryan is assistant director of Social Services at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital. Her job is to help people choose nursing homes The new center located in sight of the hospital, widens the choice in Cape May County to six nursing " facilities with a total capacity of more than 700 beds. Ryan figures this will be enough to cover the backlog that now exists.

During an informational forum for the elderly on Oct 8 — part of the hospital's week-long 35th anniversary celebration — Ryan told a sparse audience that families searching for a nursing home should first visit facilities, and then make a choice. "We try to work it out from there." she said. THOSE CHOOSING Crest Haven, however, must be "Medicaid eligible" before they are accepted. she said This means they must have no more than $1,600 in cash. Those with too much money must choose one of the other five facilities and enter as paying guests until their resources are

depleted to the required amount, then Medicaid will take over. Ryan said, as long as the qualification is met by the first of the month. Medicaid, she said, will not pay for partial months. "If your heart is set on Crest Haven." she said, "you could enter another nursing home and ask to be transferred when your resources are sufficientlydepleted. " Candidates who need skilled nursing care mayenter the facilities through Medicare, but Ryan said "only to patients have been approved by medicare in the three years I've been here "

Plastic Surgery's Fine Line

There's more to plastic surgery than creating a pretty face That's what a group of elderly citizens learned at _ a forum at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital Oct. 8. as part of the hospital's week-long 35th anniversarycelebration Dr Lenn Jay Chalfin. who said he is the only

pastic and reconstructive surgeon in Cape May County. told the group that his work involves severe birth defects, burns and disfiguring wounds, as well as facelifts. "Any physician can take care of a simple linear cut." he said, "but when it is severely disfiguring to the face, or a devastating hand injury, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon is needed." THE SURGEON TOLD an attentive audience that he trained seven years after medical school for his specialty: "In this Held it is not life and death, but everything has to be perfect." he said "There's a fine line bet ween cosmetic and

reconstructive surgery." he said "The major dif ference is that insurance companies will not pay for cosmetic surgery " For example, he said that if he removes some wrinkles along with a skin tumor, the insurance companies will pay But not if he removes onlv wrinkles. IN ANSWER TO ques lions. Chalfin said that NewJersey's no-fault insurance will cover the cost of surgery on facial scars caused by car accidents And age as a factor in plastic surgery takes an unexpected twist, the surgeon said. "The older you are the longer it will last. The younger you are the less likely it will last." A 70-year-old is less likely to need a repeat operation in four years than a 30-year-old " Another factor is the patient's health: "I've done surgery on a patient 98 years old as an outpatient." he said, "but I had a young woman on whom I couldn't operate because of a heart condition." No plastic surgery is guaranteed, he said. Chalfin is a staff surgeon at Burdette Tomlin.

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GLAUCOMA TESTING — Dr. Robert Dunn, will help of his office assistant. Jane Garrison, demonstrates painless procedure used in testing for glaucoma. Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital will offer free eye screenings Wednesday, Oct. 16. Also taking part are Stuart BIHig, M.D.. hairman; Joseph Furev. M.D.. and Paul Remer. M D

BURDETTE TOMLIN MONTH — Freeholders and mayors joined in proclaiming October Burdette Tomlin month in honor of the hospital's 35th anniversary. Above. Avalon Mayor Rachel Sloan signs as others look on, left to right: W'ildwood business administrator Marc Pfeiffer, Ocean City treasurer Donald Hart, Hospital Board of Directors chairman Alan Gould. Freeholder Ralph Evans, Upper Township clerk Barbara Camp. W'ildwood Crest Mayor Frank McCall, Woodbine Mayor Ernest Materio. Middle Township Mayor Michael Voll. Hospital President William H. Waldron III. and Lower Township Mayor Robert Fothergill.

Concert Nets $6,500 For B-T Building Fund

By JOE ZELNIK WILDWOOD - A record crowd of more than 900 persons jammed convention hall last Saturday night to watch Dragon House Restaurant's Kin Jing Mark ("Chef Mark") demonstrate his unique talent of noodle-stretching. Before and after Mr. Mark's display, the NewJersey Pops Orchestra and the Westminster Singers performed in the fourth annual "Gala Champagne Concert" to benefit the Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital Building Fund The benefit was a record in almost every way: 700 bottles of champagne consumed and $6,500 donated to the hospital THE AUDIENCE seem ed somewhat subdued compared to last year, when a patriotic finale concluded with hundreds of red, white and blue balloons being,released from the ceil j/fg — and then broken by the enthusiastic patrons of Itie arts. In fact, "Where are the balloons9" was this year's

second most heard comment, far behind "More ' champagne, please." of course. 1 This year's concert was a 1 Jerome Kern centennial celebration featuring soprano Judith Niccosia, mezzo soprano Lindsey Christiansen, baritone Allen Crowell and local tenor Roman P. Osadchuk, co-chairman (with Charles E. Pessagno) of one of the county's top cultural events. NEW JERSEY POPS Or- . chestra founder and musical director Michael J. Buglio conducted the orchestra. Allen Crowell conducted the choir. Midlantic National Bank/Union Trust cosponsored the event and provided a $3,500 contribution to underwrite a major portion of the evening's cost. ____ During the check presento Burdette Tomlin Administrator William Waldron. the hospital was referred to as "the largest employer in the county," presumably a reference to non-governmental

employers. The hospital has almost 800 employes, county government more than 800. NEAR THE CONCLUSION of the performance. Pessagno polled the audience on whether many would find a December (instead of October) date for next year's concert inconvenient. Quite a bit of murmuring indicated December is unpopular and unlikely. So the Pops presumably will not be heard again in the county until next October. And one will not be able to see Chef Mark perform until next Spring. The Dragon House, which catered the concert, closed for the season Sunday. if

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