A Canadian friend was in Florida last week and had problems with a rapidly changing growth on his thigh. He was admitted to a hospital in Sarasota on an emergency basis, so he was able to access his health care coverage. Thankfully, the growth was benign, but when it was removed that same day, he developed an infection which was not immediately identified correctly. Two or three treatments later, the proper antibiotic finally began to work. But the medicine had to be administered by IV, so he had to wait for two more days before being released.
My friend could understand why all of this happened, and was grateful that the problem was being successfully resolved.
What upset him was that in the two day period he waited for the infection to subside, between twelve and fifteen doctors, none of whom he had seen previously, came in to see him. All introduced themselves with a statement similar to "I just came in to see how you are feeling." None stayed more than a minute or two. Most asked if my friend had received the doctor's business card, and invited him to stop by their office if he had any questions or concerns.
ALL of those doctors billed my friend. Their bills made up a large portion of the incomplete total bill my friend saw - over $25,000.
My friend claims this never would have happened back home in Ontario. A small team would have been assigned to his case and carried through treatment to conclusion. He also says that having to wait for treatment in Canada is a myth. He claims he and all the folks he knows have always received prompt and very good care for all kinds of health problems.

We know that the costs of our health care system are spinning out of control. What's wrong with accountability regulations which limit the ability for any doctor to hitchhike on the cases of others and bill indiscriminately?

For those of you who bridle at the idea of regulating how healthcare is administered, how would you solve this massive problem?

Horse Pucky Tells us something that we can believe.

Katz, I experienced the canadian system firsthand in Montreal. What ijusluvit described is true. I didn't have to wait for ANYTHING except the CAT scan they wanted me to take - as it was the middle of the night and I would have had to wait a few more hours for the technician to come to work.

...never mind the fact that the procedures cost about 1/5 what they cost at my local hospital.

I do think our healthcare system is the best in the world but it is far from perfect and the prices we pay continue to grow. It is estimated that $100 billion is stolen from us on bogus bills. Again follow the money and you will see why again nothing is done to improve the system Until the lobbying industry is contained it will never be about the common good but only the corporation good.

You last two commenters purposely miss the point of Katz's post.....the total B.S. that neither the U.S. Medicare/Medicaid or Private Insurance companies... nor Canadian system would be dumb enough to pay even once, much less accept bills from:

"....between twelve and fifteen doctors, none of whom he had seen previously, came in to see him. All introduced themselves with a statement similar to "I just came in to see how you are feeling." None stayed more than a minute or two. Most asked if my friend had received the doctor's business card, and invited him to stop by their office if he had any questions or concerns.
ALL of those doctors billed my friend. Their bills made up a large portion of the incomplete total bill....."

Now. After looking at Canadian citizen "travelers' insurance" online, I see that Canadian private insurance companies sell and administer these policies, for which the Canadian universal system apparently reimburses them for claims abroad.

If "12 to 15 doctors who'd never seen him previously" came in simply to give a business card and make a quick marketing call hoping to get that patient's business with further needs, then apparently there is some incentive in the Canadian travelers' insurance that is open to or beckons this type of cheesy "billing". Apparently some cheesy doctors see a "loophole" to get more out of the Canadian travelers' policies.

I and nobody I've ever known has ever had numerous, much less 12 to 15, doctors stop in and give us their business card while in the hospital. In teaching hospitals, many residents and specialty "fellows" in training will come in and be involved in treatment, but that is their job in training.

The "fact" that those 12 to 15 drs. billed for their useless visits does not mean the American and Canadian insurers and then the government there are going to approve and pay those "fees".

Originally Posted by ilovetv

You last two commenters purposely miss the point of Katz's post.....the total B.S. that neither the U.S. Medicare/Medicaid or Private Insurance companies... nor Canadian system would be dumb enough to pay even once, much less accept bills from:

"....between twelve and fifteen doctors, none of whom he had seen previously, came in to see him. All introduced themselves with a statement similar to "I just came in to see how you are feeling." None stayed more than a minute or two. Most asked if my friend had received the doctor's business card, and invited him to stop by their office if he had any questions or concerns.
ALL of those doctors billed my friend. Their bills made up a large portion of the incomplete total bill....."

Now. After looking at Canadian citizen "travelers' insurance" online, I see that Canadian private insurance companies sell and administer these policies, for which the Canadian universal system apparently reimburses them for claims abroad.

If "12 to 15 doctors who'd never seen him previously" came in simply to give a business card and make a quick marketing call hoping to get that patient's business with further needs, then apparently there is some incentive in the Canadian travelers' insurance that is open to or beckons this type of cheesy "billing". Apparently some cheesy doctors see a "loophole" to get more out of the Canadian travelers' policies.

I and nobody I've ever known has ever had numerous, much less 12 to 15, doctors stop in and give us their business card while in the hospital. In teaching hospitals, many residents and specialty "fellows" in training will come in and be involved in treatment, but that is their job in training.

The "fact" that those 12 to 15 drs. billed for their useless visits does not mean the American and Canadian insurers and then the government there are going to approve and pay those "fees".

Originally Posted by jebartle

You took the words right out of my fingers...

Mine too!
How stupid do folks think we are?!?!?

Originally Posted by waynet

I do think our healthcare system is the best in the world but it is far from perfect and the prices we pay continue to grow. It is estimated that $100 billion is stolen from us on bogus bills. Again follow the money and you will see why again nothing is done to improve the system Until the lobbying industry is contained it will never be about the common good but only the corporation good.

I am very CURIOUS to know-from where do you get your information? Our hospital (and ALL hospitals in the USA) is routinely and randomly audited by Medicare. If you don't have documented order, CPT code number correct, ICD9 code correct, etc,etc,etc,...You are asked to give money BACK!!! The one good thing is that Medicare doesn't pay alot in reimbursement in the first place, so the loss isn't that great. However, private insurances go over every bill with a fine tooth comb. They can even go back 6 months and sak for money back. You have no clue how tightly our billing/revenue department must be run. Nor the intense scrutiny they are under. Not to mention that every year, Medicare makes 1000's of changes in how billing needs to be done and changes CPT and ICD 9 codes annually. It takes an entire department, fully staffed, to stay on top of the changes, so as not to send an erroneous bill out the door!

Originally Posted by waynet

I do think our healthcare system is the best in the world but it is far from perfect and the prices we pay continue to grow.

By what metric do you believe we are best in the world?

Originally Posted by djplong

By what metric do you believe we are best in the world?

You won't believe if he tells you, so why do you bother to ask?

Originally Posted by KatzPajamas

You won't believe if he tells you, so why do you bother to ask?

Yours is the perfect quote!!

You've made a passionate case about how unrealistic the original post was, about how medical bills are so scrutinized, blah, blah, blah...

What I said happened, really happened. A number of bills were generated in a Sarasota hospital by doctors who did nothing significant for the patient. These bills are going to the Canadian medical system to which my friend belongs. He intends to "blow the whistle" because he is outraged that it happened, and that may well stop payment on these bogus charges. But you missed the point completely. IT HAPPENED!

So back to your know-it-all quote: "You won't believe............

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

Yours is the perfect quote!!

You've made a passionate case about how unrealistic the original post was, about how medical bills are so scrutinized, blah, blah, blah...

What I said happened, really happened. A number of bills were generated in a Sarasota hospital by doctors who did nothing significant for the patient. These bills are going to the Canadian medical system to which my friend belongs. He intends to "blow the whistle" because he is outraged that it happened, and that may well stop payment on these bogus charges. But you missed the point completely. IT HAPPENED!

So back to your know-it-all quote: "You won't believe............

There are certain folks on this forum who won't believe they are wrong if every link they find tells them otherwise. That is an entirely different issue from what your friend is going through. If he truly is going through what you say, then he SHOULD set them straight. It won't be a difficult thing to do, due to the scrutiny that the medical profession is under. Heads will literally be rolling, and the medical facility is at risk of being shut down!
As far as being a know it all...I know very little for sure, but the little that I know, I do know for sure!

Originally Posted by KatzPajamas

There are certain folks on this forum who won't believe they are wrong if every link they find tells them otherwise. That is an entirely different issue from what your friend is going through. If he truly is going through what you say, then he SHOULD set them straight. It won't be a difficult thing to do, due to the scrutiny that the medical profession is under. Heads will literally be rolling, and the medical facility is at risk of being shut down!
As far as being a know it all...I know very little for sure, but the little that I know, I do know for sure!

You've done it again!! Read your first sentence. Now look in the mirror.

Perfect.

Regarding the title of this thread, some alleged charlatan doctors generating bogus bills to see what they can scare a Canadian into paying for himself (so he can come back next year) is NOT a systemic, national "healthcare" problem to expect charlatans in Washington to fix by generating bogus bills in Congress.