Second person denied AZ transplant coverage dies

A second transplant candidate denied coverage because of state budget cuts has died, and hospital officials say the cutbacks "likely" were to blame. In Tucson, University Medical Center spokeswoman Jo Marie Gellerman said the patient died Dec. 28 at another medical facility. But she said UMC doctors believe he would have moved to the top of their waiting list because his condition had worsened. "We believe that it's likely that they died because they were unable to get a transplant," she said. The cuts, which took effect Oct. 1, were part of sweeping reductions that lawmakers imposed on state Medicaid services to help balance the budget.