Spokane Valley residents Paul and Tamara Mutton are confronting a painful dilemma: continue life‑saving eye injections for Paul’s macular degeneration with geographic atrophy, or face mounting medical bills they cannot afford. The couple, who have shared a love of fly‑fishing for 26 years, say recent changes to MultiCare’s charity‑care policy have left them with two invoices of $975 each for the most recent treatments.
Medical background and treatment
Paul Mutton began receiving Syfovre injections about a year ago. The therapy is designed to slow the progression of geographic atrophy, a form of macular degeneration, by roughly 18 % according to the manufacturer’s data. The Muttons relied on a combination of Medicare coverage and MultiCare’s financial‑aid program, which previously covered the full cost of the injections.
Policy shift leaves patients exposed
When the Muttons called MultiCare for clarification, a representative replied that recent updates to the charity‑care policy, which must align with state law, removed financial assistance for provider services. The organization did not cite any specific legislative change that triggered the revision.
“When you call you talk to [MultiCare] they just say it’s legislative changes,” Tamara Mutton said. “Our charity care policy is consistent with state law, but now the assistance is gone.”
Community impact and other stories
Other Spokane Valley residents have reported similar surprise medical costs. One viewer told NonStop Local that two recent prescriptions totaled $1,100, while another described a five‑minute ambulance ride that left them $5,000 in debt.
Congressional response
NonStop Local reached out to Congressman Michael Baumgartner, who represents Eastern Washington, to ask whether he was hearing comparable concerns. The congressman affirmed that health care is a critical issue for families in the region, noting his own father’s experience with macular degeneration.
“Healthcare plays a huge role in Eastern Washington for all of our families, including my own,” Baumgartner said. “When I make those decisions I think about how it would impact my family and yours.” He added that his office is ready to assist the Muttons and others facing similar challenges.
Baumgartner highlighted recent federal actions, stating, “In this Congress we created a new $50 billion fund to help health care in Eastern Washington. We have also secured the best budget ever for fighting cancer according to the American Cancer Association, and we’ve done a ton of things to make life more affordable.”
What lies ahead for the Muttons
With the loss of charity‑care support, Paul Mutton faces a stark choice: continue paying out‑of‑pocket for the injections or discontinue treatment, which would likely accelerate his loss of vision.
“The shots stop. It’s that simple. It’s no more shots,” Paul said. “Means I slowly go blind a little quicker, I guess.”
For now, the couple must weigh the value of sight against the financial burden, a decision that underscores the broader challenges many families in Spokane Valley face when health‑care costs rise unexpectedly.
Next steps
NonStop Local continues to seek clarification from MultiCare about the policy change and any underlying legislation. The station will update the story if additional information becomes available.
Original reporting: KHQ Spokane (news) — read the source article.
