Community Community Mannai Air Doha-based Travel staff cartoonist P7participated P16 Khalid Albaih’s in a beach works hold a mirror to cleaning the society, initiating programme at conversations on issues Simaisma beach. concerning the Arab world. Friday, February 5, 2016 Rabia II 26, 1437 AH DOHA 15°C—24°C TODAY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11 LEISURE 12 & 13 Help in the air COVER STORY There were close to 3,000 air ambulance flights in Montana last year. But it all came at a cost! P2-3 2 GULF TIMES Friday, February 5, 2016 COMMUNITY COVER STORY A lifesaving flight — for $56,000! PRAYER TIME Last year, Amy Thomson of Butte was curled up Fajr 4.58am Shorooq (sunrise) 6.15am among the medical bags in the back of a fixed-wing Zuhr (noon) 11.48am Asr (afternoon) 2.58pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.23pm plane. Her two-month-old daughter, Isla, had a failing Isha (night) 6.53pm USEFUL NUMBERS heart, and the hospital that could help her was 600 miles away. Corin Cates-Carney reports Emergency 999 Worldwide Emergency Number 112 Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 Ooredoo Telephone Assistance 111 Local Directory 180 International Calls Enquires 150 Time 141, 140 Doha International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Medical Commission 44679111 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 Weather Forecast 44656590 Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222 44393333 Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555 44845464 Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050 Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333 Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444 Qatar University 44033333 te Unqu uo ot Q “Every great e dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” — Harriet Tubman Features Editor Kamran Rehmat e-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 44466405 Fax: 44350474 DESPERATE: Amy Thomson holds 2-month-old Isla at Seattle Children’s Hospital. When the Thomson family learned Isla’s heart was failing, they took an air ambulance from Butte, Montana, to Seattle to get medical care. Friday, February 5, 2016 GULF TIMES 3 COVER STORY COMMUNITY ambulance business, said Rick Sherlock, the president of the Association of Air Medical Services. The costs include specialised labour, training, equipment and fuel. “So those cost drivers are there and (it’s necessary) to maintain readiness to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Sherlock said. He says some air ambulance companies remain out of insurance networks because they can’t always reach in-network deals that allow them to stay profi table. “I think what you also have to look at is that negotiations between (air ambulance) companies and insurance companies take place when there’s good negotiations on both sides,” Sherlock said. “In situations where there may be only one or two insurance options in an area, it’s harder and harder to negotiate on a level playing fi eld.” For Laslovich, it comes down to one thing: “You want to know what my personal opinion is about what the problem is? It’s money.” There are three health insurance companies operating in Montana, and at least 14 air ambulance providers. At the time of Isla Thomson’s trip to Seattle Children’s Hospital, the Thomsons’ insurer, Pacifi cSource, had no in-network agreements with any air ambulance company in the HOW IT IS: Inside an air ambulance. Illustrative picture. Thomsons’ area. (Pacifi cSource did not return calls seeking comment.) utte is an old mining ambulance company was out of expenses if the companies ask according to a study completed For people with insurance who town tucked in the their network, and they got a bill for patients to pay the bill or any by the Montana legislature. First, think they’re protected against southwest corner $56,000. balance left after the insurance a liftoff fee, which ranges from crippling healthcare bills, the cost of of Montana with a “Coming back and looking at plan’s out-of-network coverage is $8,500 to $15,200 in Montana, an air ambulance ride can be a shock. population of about that bill and thinking you’ve got applied. and then a per-mile charge for the Amy Thomson ended up not B34,000. Locals enjoy many to be kidding me,” Thomson said. “Of all the complaints we fl ight, which ranges from $26 to having to pay, but it took repeated things you can’t fi nd elsewhere — “Here is the fl ight that ultimately have received in our offi ce, not $133 a mile. appeals. According to Thomson, campgrounds a quick drive from saved Isla’s life by getting her to one person was uninsured,” said Some air ambulance companies on the same day her family was downtown and gorgeous mountain where she needs to be. And yet (it) Jesse Laslovich, legal counsel for off er membership programmes as arranging to meet with a lawyer, ranges nearby. But in Butte, as in is going to put us potentially in Montana’s insurance commissioner. protection from big bills. For an she was notifi ed by her insurance much of rural America, advanced fi nancial ruin. Or at least kill our “They’re all insured. And they are annual fee of about $60 to $100, company that it would pay an medical care is absent. future dreams as a family.” frustrated as heck that they’re still patients face no cost beyond what additional amount of about People in Butte who experience When patients need an air getting $50,000 balance bills.” their health insurance pays if they $30,000, on top of the $13,000 out- serious trauma or need specialty ambulance, the fi rst priority is States can regulate some medical use that company’s services. of-network fee, to the air ambulance care rely on fl ights — air getting them the care they need as aspects of air ambulances, but But, Laslovich said, that doesn’t company, and the air ambulance ambulances — to get them the help fast as possible. So, patients don’t federal laws prevent states from always work because a patient can’t would waive the rest of the fee. they need. always know who is going to pick limiting aviation rates, routes and always know who is going to pick Isla Thomson turned 2 in There were close to 3,000 air them up or if the ambulance is an services. them up. November. She’s a healthy child ambulance fl ights in Montana last in-network provider. The cost of an air ambulance There is a lack of understanding with big blue eyes, but at times her year. And Amy Thomson of Butte That can lead to surprise bill is split into two main parts, about the costs of running an air mom still worries. was on one of them. “Nobody takes a lifefl ight for a Last year, she was curled up joy ride. You’re not going on kayak. among the medical bags in the com and booking a lifefl ight,” she back of a fi xed-wing plane. Her said. two-month-old daughter, Isla, had Thomson didn’t think the fl ight a failing heart, and the hospital that should be free, yet the huge bill could help her was 600 miles away. felt wrong, too: “I ethically believe Thomson watched as Isla was this is a part of healthcare. This is placed in a small box strapped to a not some separate entity. There is gurney inside the air ambulance. something ethically wrong that “They did such wonderful care these companies are profi teering off of her, and they tried to take great of people’s worst moments in their care of me, but in that moment I lives.” couldn’t let go,” Thomson said. “I A Montana interim legislative was so afraid that if I closed my committee is investigating air eyes, that would be my last vision ambulance companies’ wide range of her.” in pricing within the state. The Seattle Children’s Hospital state of Maryland has undertaken a saved Isla’s life. Her family’s health similar investigation. insurance took care of all costs In North Dakota, an air beyond her deductible — except for ambulance is suing the state for that critical air ambulance ride to adding regulations on the industry. Seattle. The way the Thomsons read their z This story is part of a reporting insurance plan, they thought any partnership with Montana Public emergency medical transportation Radio, NPR and Kaiser Health News was covered. BACK TO HEALTH: Isla Thomson sits in front of her older sister. After an air ambulance flight to Seattle saved Isla’s life — a national health policy news But it turns out, the air as an infant, she’s now a healthy 2-year-old. service. 4 GULF TIMES Friday, February 5, 2016 COMMUNITY BODY & MIND Healthy skin, even during cold weather COVER IT UP: Keeping your skin covered with hats, mittens and scarves is a vital part of protecting your skin from the cold and keeping it healthy. wo big factors aff ect your and the tip of the nose — that are sunscreen, especially if you’re Deodorants alter skin during the winter: located far from core body heat. involved in a snowy activity such bacteria’s life on your skin how our daily habits influence colder temperatures and Other skin problems that can as skiing, sledding or snowshoeing. the life that lives on us, the a lack of moisture in the result from winter weather include If you’re concerned about a lack Wearing an anti-perspirant researchers said.