Health Care Crisis?; Actually it's a Culture Crisis
 

This letter to the editor by this young doctor is a short but interesting read. It makes a point I've iterated, but not is such a illustrative way that only a man in his position could observe.

http://spotlight.vitals.com/2009/10/...risis-culture/

I know that some cultures are better than others. Everyone should know that. I am a culturist. Thank God that's not a bad word yet.

Yoda

Have to agree with you Richlion
 

We were in healthcare and experienced this first hand, very frustrating...Must revise healthcare so that ONLY the families with legitimate needs receive this care and there MUST be a LIMIT....Temporary assistance, NOT a lifestyle.

At least it didn't come out as *********.

I find this letter interesting...the thing is that anyone who has had a crown will know that a gold crown is the least cost option. Porcelain is much more expensive. If you want I will provide a link to my dentist bills as proof.

But the shiny new gold tooth makes a much better story......

I have heard many similar stories with the same elements from close friends, seems to be a theme.

But people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. So I am providing a couple of links to doctors defrauding Medicare and Medicaid. My only point is that it appears both sides include people who work the system.

http://www.gazette.com/articles/frau...-saturday.html

http://www.pjstar.com/news/x21170306...Medicare-fraud

Nice to see you again cologal.

Welcome back, but this is your incentive? A letter from a doctor in which he despairs for the country's future based on the examples of non productive people with a sense of entitlement he encounters, and your post is basically "everybody's doing it"?
I guess that makes it more palatable to some people. There's a recent post where one of our members is upset that his car was vandalized. Should I just mock his anger because the vandals are not the only ones stealing?

You missed the point......Oh well.

Don't think this will change your perspective, but yes, there are thousands, maybe millions, abusing the medicaid system.

There are also thousands, maybe millions, who are not. My daughter's mother-in-law is paying upwards of $1,000/month for a high deductible policy because she had breast cancer about 17 years ago. She's tried to find a job that has health insurance but she is 64 yrs old and lives in a depressed area and didn't work outside the family business (which her ex-husband retained) until she was in her 50s. She's a real estate agent, works basically to pay her health insurance costs.

Someone I met at the pool a couple of months ago was on retiree healthcare insurance from his former employer, got a letter stating there would now be a maximum payout of $100,000 per year per person. He has a history of prostate cancer and his wife a serious blood condition. He finally, after a year of looking and applying, got a job paying $10.00/hr at the Villages Regional Hospital, with healthcare insurance. He's lucky he CAN work, what if his health didn't allow it? What if he had a recurrance and couldn't work?

One of my daughters has MS, is in her early 30s, doing well, and has a good job. What if she starts not doing well, can't work anymore, and has to find coverage after her 18 mos of Cobra (assuming she lost her job because of her health)? Whom do you think might insure her and at what cost?

I'm currently on Cobra, my co. closed its office Dec. 31st. I've been applying for jobs ever since - had 1 interview. I'm lucky - I think I can afford to retire. Am afraid to get a physical (which my Cobra policy would cover) because I don't want to be diagnosed with high blood pressure or high cholesterol. I was borderline last year. I'm almost 60. I will have to get a private helathcare policy next July.

I have a nephew who is a senior in college, diagnosed a couple of years ago with ulcerative colitis. He graduates soon, who knows if he can get a job with healthcare insurance. He's not brilliant, just an average kid. Do you think he could get his own policy at a reasonable cost?

Do you truly think this is fair? Do you really not see the need for healthcare reform? Under what rock are you living???? Sorry, but this subject just pushes my buttons.

It turned out to be a $15 million Medicare fraud scheme. How wrong and corrupt. But what really peeves me is that it is a government run program using our money. Where is the accountability from everyone especially the government?

Remember in, what was it, 1995, when President Clinton overhauled the Medicare/Medicaid system and was going to stamp out fraud? This occurred after the reform. Pitiful.

Now we are going to put more people into the same system with the new healthcare overhaul meant to stamp out fraud and abuse.

It is insanity.

Yesterday: "New York State lost $100 million over a four year period because the State Department of Health’s (DOH) eMedNY Medicaid reimbursement system failed to properly apply a 20 percent coinsurance limit on certain charges, and the eMedNY system lacked controls to detect incorrect claims information about Medicare payments.

“ 'We keep ringing the same bell, but DOH just doesn’t hear it,' DiNapoli said. 'Time and time again, our audits have found overpayments, double payments, and fraudulent payments. Taxpayers can’t afford this. Now more than ever, every dime counts, and $100 million is a lot of taxpayer dimes. DOH has to do a better job of protecting the taxpayers’ money.' ”



http://www.northcountrygazette.org/2...medicaid_loss/

http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/pres...r2010/087.html

Is your post that this doctor is stealing? If not, just what is your elusive point?

Of course not....but there are doctors and hospitals abusing the system. But it is always about the people who feel entitled.

Let's look at both sides........

I actually agree with you and figured this was your intent, but it always aggravates me a little when in making a point about a specific issue and take on that issue, the person you're debating with says "oh well, what about the other guy?" We can discuss the "other guy" but it does not under any circumstance constitute a response to the original issue.

First, when you say hosptials abusing the system, you mean people who operate and administer the services. This world is made up of people.

Second, "But it is always about the people who feel entitled," cologal said.

Whether it is the doctors or administrators or people receiving the goods or services, when you feel you have the right or claim to something that isn't rightfully or lawfully yours it is not only immoral, it is criminal.

The only difference in this example is that the people we have elected to run our government over the years have made it easy for some people receiving the goods or services to feel legally entitled to steal and cheat to get the goods and services.

Did you see the story about President Obama's aunt Zeituni Onyango? She came to the US from Kenya in 2000 and was denied asylum by an immigration judge in 2004. She stayed in the country illegally, living in Boston public housing, where she still lives to this day.

It just seems that our government officials keep complicating and promoting that feeling of entitlement from PEOPLE regardless of whether they work for a company, work for the government or don't work at all that is destroying this country. Look at Bell City Council.

Here is what Obama's aunt said in a recent interview. I wonder why she feels like she deserves something for nothing? :

http://wbztv.com/local/obama.aunt.Ze...2.1924422.html


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBzjLnO-e3o[/ame]

The problem with Obama care is also the problem with social security and every other "entitlement". People who pay for them believe they are too generous to those who don't pay. I am one of those people who believe that.
I have seen it my entire life in my legal career, friends, and family. Not only do many get more than they pay, they get very vocal about their "right" to the "entitlement". Since when do we have a "right" to charity? CHANGE THAT NOW.
The solution is simple but few politicians want to say it.
ALL government benefits need to be bare bones only. If you want more, you earn more or private charity provides it.
Social Security can be fixed easily. It is a required deduction, and when you retire you get back your payments in a montly check plus actual interest earned ONLY. Period. People who are currently on SS get a their current benefit but no increases. People like me who are retired but not of SS age yet, get only our contribution plus interest in a monthly payment. Period.
My solution is tough, but it is a solution, and I do not have a "right" to more than I paid, and I do not have a "right" to make my children and grandchildren pay for my "benefits". It is a ponzi scheme pure and simple and I should not "made off" with money that is not mine.
If you need more, you go on welfare which is in the form of food stuffs and used clothing, not checks or a fancy welfare credit card.
Government provided medical care is provided by students at state medical schools and clinics with NO right to sue for malpractice. Drugs are the cheapest, generic, and not the most expensive. If you want better care, you earn it or get it with private charity.