More examples of the impact of Obama Care

[Guest]

Cook Medical, a privately owned company begun by Bill Cook about 50 years ago. Never had any government involvement and the company grew. Cook died last year but his company is the world’s largest family-owned medical devices company. Their growth and potential for new jobs to be made is now very unsure as a result of Obama Care.

"Congress, ravenous for revenue to fund Obamacare, included in the legislation a 2.3 percent tax on gross revenue — which generally amounts to about a 15 percent tax on most manufacturers’ profits — from U.S. sales of medical devices beginning in 2013. This will be piled on top of the 35 percent federal corporate tax, and state and local taxes. The 2.3 percent tax will be a $20 billion blow to an industry that employs more than 400,000, and $20 billion is almost double the industry’s annual investment in research and development."

They will not be building a plant in the US this year. However, listen to others in the industry...

"Boston Scientific, planning for a more than $100 million charge against earnings in 2013, recently built a $35 million research and development facility in Ireland and is building a $150 million factory in China. (Capital goes where it is welcome and stays where it is well-treated.) Stryker Corp., based in Michigan, blames the tax for 1,000 layoffs. Zimmer, based in Indiana, is laying off 450 and taking a $50 million charge against earnings. Medtronic expects an annual charge against earnings of $175 million. Covidien, now based in Ireland, has cited the tax in explaining 200 layoffs and a decision to move some production to Costa Rica and Mexico."

Taxing jobs out of existence - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/taxing-jobs-out-of-existence/2012/05/09/gIQA75D2DU_story.html)

Yep, this administration is on the ball...they know about creating jobs !!!!!

[Guest]

One word answer: ROMNEYCARE!!! :loco::loco::loco::loco::loco::loco:

[Guest]

the eventual effects of this bill will be a total lack of good medical equipment. in other countries people must wait a month or more for the Mobile MRI machine to come around to their area....that is what will be happening to our system, which is now the best in the world. real progress!

[Guest]

Chachacha - I'll have to look for the spreadsheet I found that busts every single myth about American health care. From number of doctors per 1000 patients to CAT scanners to life expectancy.. The *only* thing we have more of per capita is MRI machines. We spend more, get less and have worse results than so many other countries it's criminal. Unfortunately the huge post I made on this was in another environment so I'm going to have to go searching.

[Guest]

Chachacha - I'll have to look for the spreadsheet I found that busts every single myth about American health care. From number of doctors per 1000 patients to CAT scanners to life expectancy.. The *only* thing we have more of per capita is MRI machines. We spend more, get less and have worse results than so many other countries it's criminal. Unfortunately the huge post I made on this was in another environment so I'm going to have to go searching.

So how do you feel about the american jobs going overseas ? Is all the tax ok with you ?

[Guest]

We need to reboot our country back to 1960 a recovery point if you will.

[Guest]

We received this email from one of our friends--does anyone know if it is true? This was based on a conversation he had with a doctor at a local hospital:

I do not believe the info which follows, but I thought if it was true, you would have knowledge of it. Do you think this is correct information?? Here's Your Death Sentence....DO READ THIS!!!
I had one of the most troubling, most disturbing conversations ever with Dr. Suzanne Allen, head of emergency services at the Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee. We were discussing the "future" and I asked her had she seen any affects of Obama Care in her work? "Oh, yes. We are seeing cutbacks throughout the services we provide. For example, we are now having to deal with patients who would normally receive dialysis can no longer be accepted. In the past, there was always automatic approval under Medicare for anyone who needed dialysis -- not anymore." So, what will be their outcome? "They will die soon without dialysis," she stated. What about other services? She indicated as of 2013 (after the election), no one over 75 will be given major medical procedures unless approved by locally administered Ethics Panels. These Panels will determine whether a patient receives medical treatment or not. While details on specific operating procedures and schedules, Dr. Allen points out that most life-threatening emergencies do not occur during normal hospital business hours, and if there are emergencies that depend to be resolve within minutes or just few hours, the likely hood of getting these Panels approval in time to save a life are going to be very challenging and difficult, if not impossible she said.This applies to major operations such as receiving stents, bypass surgery, kidney operations, or treating for an aneurysm that would be normally covered under Medicare today. In other words, if you needed a life-saving operation, Medicare will not provide coverage anymore after 2013 if you are 75 or over. When in 2013? "We haven't been given a specific date -- could be in January or July....but it's after the election."This is shocking to any of us who will be 75 this year. Her advice -- get healthy and stay healthy. We do not know the specifics of the actual implementation of the full Obama Care policies and procedures -- "they haven't filtered down to the local level yet. But we are already seeing severe cuts in what we provide to the elderly -- we refused dialysis to an individual who was 78 just the other day....we refused to give stents to a gentleman who was in his late 80s." Every day, she said, we are seeing these cutbacks aimed at reducing care across the board for anyone who is over 75.We can only hope that Obama Care will be overturned by the Supreme Court -- otherwise, this is a death sentence to those who are over 75....perhaps you should pass this on to your friends who are thinking of voting for Obama this year. Regardless if you have private health care coverage now (I have Aetna Medicare Part B) -- it will no longer apply after 2013 if the Ethics Panels disapprove of a procedure that may save your life. Scary, scary, scary. Think about this? You? Your parents? Your loved ones? Didn't know about it? Of course, not. As Nancy Pelosi said...."well, if you want to know what's in the bill, you'll have to read it....." After it was passed. This is a graphic reminder of the need to stay healthy. Get your plot now at Forest Lawn....while they last. Is this a death sentence to those of us who will reach 75?.....Yes!

[Guest]

Another aspect of the Obama Care is competitive bidding. Medical equipment is being bidded out in specific areas. Individuals can no longer go to their local medical equipment companies and purchase the medical equipment that has been bidded out (there are specific items that have been bidded out - for example diabetic supplies, etc.). The items that have been bidded out have to be purchased by whomever won the contract, which is usually based on the lowest bid, not necessarily quality. This means that it could take days before the individual receives their items (not to mention no local customer service if there is a problem). Currently, individuals living in zip codes in Round One of the competitive bidding areas are having to do this. Round two areas are currently in the process of starting the bidding process. What has happened to care for individuals, and how is this better????

[Guest]

kgmram: HOAX

snopes.com: No Major Medical Procedures for Patients Over 75 (http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/over75.asp)

"Does anyone know if it's true?". It took me FIVE SECONDS to find out it was false.

At least in this case, they know who started the hoax - a guest in Dr. Allen's home.

Please, people, do a little fact checking when you see this stuff. It's not that difficult.

...the only reason it took me five seconds is that I knew I'd read it before and couldn't immediately remember the link.

[Guest]

kgmram: HOAX

snopes.com: No Major Medical Procedures for Patients Over 75 (http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/over75.asp)

"Does anyone know if it's true?". It took me FIVE SECONDS to find out it was false.

At least in this case, they know who started the hoax - a guest in Dr. Allen's home.

Please, people, do a little fact checking when you see this stuff. It's not that difficult.

...the only reason it took me five seconds is that I knew I'd read it before and couldn't immediately remember the link.

Have you "snoped" my original post on this thread ??

[Guest]

The response on snopes is generic in nature it merely says it did not take place as stated. So, unless we were there (or ED Herbert) during the conversation, then we really don't know what the conversation involved. I believe this forum is the correct venue to ask a question without being admonished for doing so. My husband operates a funeral home, and he just had a client that passed away. The 70 year-old client was denied chemotherapy medication in pill form for cancer due to the cost. His family and oncologist had to appeal the denial to a special Medicare panel to get the medication approved. This process took several weeks and was finally approved two days before the client's passing. Personally, I know several Medicaid patients who have been denied treatment by physicians and dentists due to the low reimbursement rates. Medicare and Medicaid are continually reducing reimbursement rates to providers for services (currently some reimbursement rates have been temporarily extended). The physicians and dentists who do not treat Medicaid patients, do so due to the reimbursement rate being lower than they can provide the service (employee salary, worker's compensation, employee benefits, taxes, etc.). We operate dme and ground ambulance service companies as well. In our northern state there are now six Managed Care Organizations that manage Medicaid. This is to reduce costs to the taxpayer. A Medicaid client brought her paperwork to our office and asked which MCO she needed to select. She has to select an MCO or one will be selected for her. There were only specific hospitals, doctors, etc. networked with each MCO. I have yet to figure out how this is saving funds to taxpayers since the MCO's are reimbursing services at the Medicaid fee schedule. Who is paying the MCO's, and where are the funds for this being obtained? Along with competitive bidding (Competitive Bidding was implemented in 2003), it appears services are being limited to patients. I have to wonder if reimbursement rates continue to decline and costs increase if Medicare patients will face the same problem in the future as Medicaid patients with providers who cannot afford to supply services.