Go Ron ... - Page 12

Parker · #**111** 05-17-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medicineman

Well said, I've argued this many times on this forum. I get Ron Paul, I just disagree with his privatization thing. In my opinion, Government should play a role in regulating industry. If there were ever a poster child for not privitizing government run entities, it is the prison system. Cut expenses and keep them full, that is the program. Our health care is another poster child against private medical care: 50,000,000 uninsured, 150,000,000 underinsured, and prices escalating by the second. ; Choice, have the medical procedure and lose the house or die. Seems like there is something wrong with this picture. Doesn't "promote the general welfare" include health care?

Our health care is mainly government regulated. Our government is involved in about two-thirds of all health care spending, which includes, Medicaid, Medicare, as well as other programs. This causes a couple of things:
1. The current system of third-party payers takes decision-making away from doctors, leaving patients feeling rushed and worsening the quality of care.
2. When government controls health care, all cost incentives are lost.

On top of that, concerning HMO act of 1973 the tax code allows businesses, but not individuals, to deduct the cost of health insurance premiums. More government got the US of A into the high cost of healthcare mess. More government is not the answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by medicineman

Choice, have the medical procedure and lose the house or die. Seems like there is something wrong with this picture. Doesn't "promote the general welfare" include health care?

Here's a choice for you medicineman and it doesn't involve the government

Dr. Robert Berry opened a low-cost health clinic in rural Tennessee. His clinic does not accept insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, which allows Dr. Berry to treat patients without interference from third-party government bureaucrats or HMO administrators. (back in the day people paid cash for "regular" services and carried low cost "catastophy" insurance)

Dr Berry often charges just $35 for routine maladies, which is not much more than one’s insurance co-pay in other offices. His affordable prices enable low-income patients to see him before minor problems become serious, and unlike most doctors, Dr. Berry sees patients the same day on a walk-in basis. Yet beyond his low prices and quick appointments, Dr. Berry provides patients with excellent medical care.

His patients are largely low-income working people, who cannot afford health insurance but don’t necessarily qualify for state assistance. Some of his uninsured patients have been forced to visit hospital emergency rooms for non-emergency treatment because no doctor would see them. Others disliked the long waits and inferior treatment they endured at government clinics.

ViRedd · #**112** 05-17-2008, 01:58 PM

Parker -------->>> A Voice of Reason in the room.

Vi

ganjagoddess · #**113** 05-17-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parker

Our health care is mainly government regulated. Our government is involved in about two-thirds of all health care spending, which includes, Medicaid, Medicare, as well as other programs. This causes a couple of things:
1. The current system of third-party payers takes decision-making away from doctors, leaving patients feeling rushed and worsening the quality of care.
2. When government controls health care, all cost incentives are lost.

On top of that, concerning HMO act of 1973 the tax code allows businesses, but not individuals, to deduct the cost of health insurance premiums. More government got the US of A into the high cost of healthcare mess. More government is not the answer.

Here's a choice for you medicineman and it doesn't involve the government

Dr. Robert Berry opened a low-cost health clinic in rural Tennessee. His clinic does not accept insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, which allows Dr. Berry to treat patients without interference from third-party government bureaucrats or HMO administrators. (back in the day people paid cash for "regular" services and carried low cost "catastophy" insurance)

Dr Berry often charges just $35 for routine maladies, which is not much more than one’s insurance co-pay in other offices. His affordable prices enable low-income patients to see him before minor problems become serious, and unlike most doctors, Dr. Berry sees patients the same day on a walk-in basis. Yet beyond his low prices and quick appointments, Dr. Berry provides patients with excellent medical care.

His patients are largely low-income working people, who cannot afford health insurance but don’t necessarily qualify for state assistance. Some of his uninsured patients have been forced to visit hospital emergency rooms for non-emergency treatment because no doctor would see them. Others disliked the long waits and inferior treatment they endured at government clinics.

Thats sounds really nice, but what does he charge for a broken arm? or what about if you accidentally cut a couple fingers off with a power saw??

Normally things of that magnitude cost insurance companies tens of thousands... I doubt he's got a chart showing you can fix a broken leg for under 10k..

When I broke my leg, the insurance was billed buku $$$, and the re-habilitation plus ambulance, plus hospital stay..

TOTAL COST billed to insurance was just under 76K...

I would like to see what his cost is for that....

CanadianCoyote · #**114** 05-17-2008, 04:08 PM

A lot of people don't know that just an ambulance ride can run you $1200-$2000 EASY.

Seamaiden · #**115** 05-17-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganjagoddess

Thats sounds really nice, but what does he charge for a broken arm? or what about if you accidentally cut a couple fingers off with a power saw??

Normally things of that magnitude cost insurance companies tens of thousands... I doubt he's got a chart showing you can fix a broken leg for under 10k..

When I broke my leg, the insurance was billed buku $$$, and the re-habilitation plus ambulance, plus hospital stay..

TOTAL COST billed to insurance was just under 76K...

I would like to see what his cost is for that....

And you don't see the rip-off artists involved in that?

DAMN!

$76K for a fucking run-of-the-mill broken leg??

Getting bitten by a more dangerous species of rattlesnake (different species use different types of venom) didn't even run that much, and they SERIOUSLY dosed me up with the CroFab. That shit runs $1200/vial, and upon admission, when the docs at Loma Linda told my ER doc they couldn't send me there for time constraints, they pumped up with 12 doses/vials, got another three over the next two days while in ICU. I spent a full week in ICU, and my total bill was a fraction of yours. One-third to get a little closer.

ganjagoddess · #**116** 05-17-2008, 09:58 PM

I had a Two Grand Co-pay too...

Alot of the cost though of the 76k was the hospital stay, and the daily rehab.

It was a little more than a broken leg, they did surgery to replace a tendon in my knee with this artificial tendon dealy as well.

More than anything it was the Rehab and the surgery that cost the most...

Seamaiden · #**117** 05-17-2008, 11:33 PM

Much of that cost is artificially inflated. I guarantee you the physical therapist wasn't seeing much of what you were being charged. Where do those funds go? Mostly they're labeled as "administrative costs".

Parker, are you waiting to tell them about how RP himself practiced his medicine? I'm waiting for that one.

We TaRdED · #**118** 05-18-2008, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seamaiden

Parker, are you waiting to tell them about how RP himself practiced his medicine? I'm waiting for that one.

I'm waiting too... If parker doesn't tell us in the next day, feel free to tell for him, Seamaiden.. Obviously you know

medicineman · #**119** 05-18-2008, 11:08 AM

Your copay and out of pocket with universal health care would be ZERO. Higher taxes for sure but the overall cost of medical would come down as soon as the profit was eliminated. Profit and health care seem like an oxymoron to me.

Parker · #**120** 05-18-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seamaiden

Much of that cost is artificially inflated. I guarantee you the physical therapist wasn't seeing much of what you were being charged. Where do those funds go? Mostly they're labeled as "administrative costs".

Parker, are you waiting to tell them about how RP himself practiced his medicine? I'm waiting for that one.

He was a flight surgeon in the Air Force and an obstetrician. While an obstetrician he delivered over 4000 babies.