South Carolina Dares Feds to Deny Medicaid Coverage to Male Breast Cancer Patient

Article here. Excerpt:

'South Carolina health officials announced Friday that they will cover a local construction worker's breast cancer treatment under Medicaid even though federal guidelines exclude him because he is a man.

The decision effectively dares the federal Medicaid office to reject the claims for his treatment, and it sets up a potential showdown between state and federal officials.

But until then, South Carolina said it will cover Raymond Johnson -- a 26-year-old man who discovered he had breast cancer last month. His unsuccessful efforts to apply for Medicaid coverage have drawn national attention.

Tony Keck, director of the South Carolina Department Health and Human Services, said it is "in the best interest" that Johnson be deemed eligible for the program.'