Ban on Infant Circumcision in US

[Wendi]

I just saw this on the news. This week there is a movement in Washington DC to ban infant circumcision in the US. I'm sure it's not gonna happen, but I waited to watch the news to see what they had to say about it. These are the websites they mentioned as part of this week's activism at Washington.

www.MGMbill.org

www.stopinfantcircumcision.org


I haven't even gone to take a look yet... when I saw the teaser on the news I came here to see if anyone else had posted on the subject. Now that I've seen the news report, I'll have to go take a look. I was just surprised to see this subject on my local news... yay... at least it will get more people thinking about it.

[Sarah]

Wendi- Could you tell us what news service reported this?

Love Sarah

[Wendi]

Sacramento - KOVR Channel 13

[DesireeH]

That would totally rock if they banned routine circ!!

[DreamsInDigital]

Well, recently Medicaid stopped paying for circumcisions, so that's one step in the right direction already. There are a lot of people who can't afford to pay for it out of pocket and as a consequence are leaving their sons intact.
And outright banning it,

[Teresa]

>8 recently Medicaid stopped paying for circumcisions >8

Is this nationally or on a state-by-state basis?
(I don't know the difference between Medicaid & Medicare)

[Frankly Speaking]

It's done on a state by state basis. The states control how Medicaid funds are spent. I think there are currently 12 states that no longer fund routine circumcisions. California did it many years ago and that may in part explain why they have a low circumcision rate. Most of the other states have also ended funding in the last few years and there are several other states that are considering the issue.

Medicare is generally for people over 65 years old and Medicaid is for younger people who can not afford healthcare.




Frank

[yeah yeah yeah]

Originally posted by DreamsInDigital
Well, recently Medicaid stopped paying for circumcisions, so that's one step in the right direction already. There are a lot of people who can't afford to pay for it out of pocket and as a consequence are leaving their sons intact.
And outright banning it,

As my sister (and poor nephew) found out, even that doesn't stop it sometimes.

She was deadset against circ., and she had even weathered the wrath of my mother on the issue.

So, when she found out that the state wouldn't pay for it (Texas), she relaxed, and didn't bother to discuss it with the staff (and given they treated her like a "high maintenence welfare mom," she wasn't too off the mark to figure they wouldn't "waste" the money--grr). But, they did it anyway--hospital protocol.

[Sarah]

There IS NO PROTOCOL to circumcise infants without consent... that is ILLEGAL!!

Either your sister has a major lawsuit on her hands that she CAN EASILY WIN...

or she is just lying to you and saying they did it without her permission when she really did consent to it and she just didn't want you to know she was in on it.

or possibly they slipped her a consent form and she signed it without realising... and that is still illegal.

She needs to contact ARC right away this hospital must be stopped if this is true. The informed consent laws make this illegal- it used to happen in the past- but not today.

http://www.arclaw.org

Love Sarah

[yeah yeah yeah]

Originally posted by Sarah
There IS NO PROTOCOL to circumcise infants without consent... that is ILLEGAL!!

Either your sister has a major lawsuit on her hands that she CAN EASILY WIN...

or she is just lying to you and saying they did it without her permission when she really did consent to it and she just didn't want you to know she was in on it.

or possibly they slipped her a consent form and she signed it without realising... and that is still illegal.

She needs to contact ARC right away this hospital must be stopped if this is true. The informed consent laws make this illegal- it used to happen in the past- but not today.

http://www.arclaw.org

Love Sarah

It wouldn't surprise me if my nephew's father signed something on the sly. He's a, well, bad person, if ever there was one.

But, I was with my sis, largely because she was afraid of being intimidated by the staff (and, I could go off for days!), esp. as she was "high risk" (past due, and rh-). She didn't sign anything while on meds. But, the father did wander off when the santched the baby for for the heatlamps. Grr.

I will pass this info onto my sister, though thanks.

[DesireeH]

California did it many years ago and that may in part explain why they have a low circumcision rate.

But stupid CA insurance still covers it........they even CALLED me just to tell me this. I told her "NO THANKS, I wouldnt do it if you paid me to do it" LOL

[steffanie3]

Idaho still pays for it and I am wondering who I should write to change that. I was going to post a new thread asking when I saw this. Should I write the Dept of Health and Welfare, Medicare, state representatives? All of the above?

I would like to stop it happening on our taxes here.

Stephanie

[Sarah]

Stephanie- This website has some info and tips for you to prepare your letters: http://www.icgi.org/

You might want to contact (icgi) them and let them know that you are in Idaho.

Love Sarah

[steffanie3]

Thank you.

[AnnMarie]

I sent letters and I got a reply from Judd Gregg today.

Part of the letter...."I understand your support for this bill, and should it come before the full Senate for consideration, i will certainly review it with your views in mind."

[A&A]

Originally Posted by steffanie3

Idaho still pays for it and I am wondering who I should write to change that. I was going to post a new thread asking when I saw this. Should I write the Dept of Health and Welfare, Medicare, state representatives? All of the above?

I would like to stop it happening on our taxes here.

Stephanie

Also write letters to the editor of your local paper(s). Say something like, "In this tight economy, the state of Idaho could save $100,000 a year by no longer paying for routine infant circumcision....." Basically argue that it's cosmetic surgery and therefore something that tax payers shouldn't be paying for. You could also mention that your Utah neighbors just discontinued paying for Medicaid circumcisions.

[milk4two]

Originally Posted by A&A

You could also mention that your Utah neighbors just discontinued paying for Medicaid circumcisions.

[Wildcrafter]

Maine is one state that no longer will allow medicaid to pay for circ's. It's been fairly well publicized thank goodness. I'm glad it's happening but saddened that money was the reason.