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A recent article in the Statesman Journal reported that Oregon Public Employee's Benefit Board (PEBB) will no longer cover varicose vein treatments for state employees as a response to state budget problems AS OF JANUARY 1, 2012. This means state employees and their families will lose certain health care coverage for common vein disorders, no matter what the severity.
As Oregon residents, we understand that difficult decisions need to be made to balance the budget. Prior to the PEBB making this change, however, we want to make sure this decision is properly thought through. In our view it is critical for the PEBB to understand that many varicose vein treatments are for serious medical conditions. These conditions, when left untreated, can lead to significant disability and complications, as well as considerable increases in overall costs of care.
To help the PEBB better understand the critical issues, we have written a letter to the Board, as well as asked other experts locally and nationally to do the same.
The problem with the proposed PEBB coverage change is that many working state employees will lose coverage for more serious and potentially debilitating vein disorders. This, we suppose, was proposed because those involved felt all varicose vein procedures are unnecessary or are done primarily for cosmetic purposes. This is a common misconception. This is not the case as many patients have serious medical conditions related to their varicose veins. Thus while it is true that minor vein problems, and those of cosmetic concern only need not be covered by insurance, there are numerous more serious medical vein problems that will no longer be covered if this change goes through.
Currently, Medicare and nearly all insurance companies cover vein treatments with strict guidelines designed to focus coverage on medically necessary cases and not cosmetic or minor vein concerns. It is widely accepted that this approach saves money and increases productivity, rather than the opposite. The PEBB, however, is proposing to go one step further and deny all vein procedure coverage, regardless of severity. As far as we know, this will be the most restrictive vein coverage policy in the country. In our view this should be re-considered and better defined before implemented. As advocates on behalf of Oregon vein patients we will continue to do our best to preserve access for care.
Sincerely,
Edward Boyle, MD and Andrew Jones, MD
