[Advogado]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

My most fervent hope is that people will suspend their skepticism and crushing disappointment that things are never perfect.

My suggestion is that the Developer's voluntary sponsorship of a primary health care system available to TV'rs only a "10 minute golf cart ride away", deserves a chance to succeed.

Let's give it a chance.

I just watched the televised version of the Mr, Morse's speech. Keep in mind that the new health system is apparently a for-profit business venture of the Developer, not a "voluntary sponsorship". However, I have no problem with that. The present health-care system in this country is broken. It would appear that the Developer's approach is a possible solution, or at least a reasonable approach to a possible solution.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

I'm all for digitized records if they are designed to work the way the people who actually USE them think and work....in putting patient care first and foremost. But sadly, programmers and IT people often want nothing to do with the dr. or nurse on the front lines and the critical tasks they need to accomplish quickly and efficiently, under pressure.

Instead of rifling thru reams of paper, they now rifle thru 15 menu and submenu screens that choke, stall and take too long to load in light of the person in the bed needing something done promptly and correctly.....and in light of the captive souls in the waiting area who've waited 12 hours to be seen in the ER.

This is a case of "be careful what you wish for".

I disagree. All they have to do is enter what they're looking for into the search box and click.

[getdul981]

From what I have heard, you have to go to whatever clinic is assigned to your particular village. That is very discriminatory. You should be able to choose what doctor you want to go see. If you are not happy with the Dr.s at the clinic you are assigned, you can't go to another clinic to find one that you will be happy with.

In response to NJBlue about the Dr. asking what meds you are taking. It's quite possible that the Dr. is trying to see if you really know what your meds are. There are many people that don't know what their meds are. They just know that they take 2 little white ones, a big red one and occationally a orange one. These are just examples. I used to be on a Rescue Squad and know for a fact that many people don't know what their meds are.

[champion6]

Originally Posted by getdul981

From what I have heard, you have to go to whatever clinic is assigned to your particular village. That is very discriminatory. <snip> If you are not happy with the Dr.s at the clinic you are assigned, you can't go to another clinic to find one that you will be happy with.

This is a false rumor. During his presentation Mark Morse said we will be able to choose by location or by doctor.

[getdul981]

Originally Posted by champion6

This is a false rumor. During his presentation Mark Morse said we will be able to choose by location or by doctor.

I hope you are right.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by champion6

This is a false rumor. During his presentation Mark Morse said we will be able to choose by location or by doctor.

But will you be able to use doctors at all locations? For instance, if you love the internist at one and the cardiologist at another, can you see both?

[champion6]

Originally Posted by CFrance

But will you be able to use doctors at all locations? For instance, if you love the internist at one and the cardiologist at another, can you see both?

Well, time will tell.

My opinion is this... The context of Morse's comment was about the primary care facilities that are being built. I believe he was referring to selecting your primary care physician (PCP, a.k.a. Marcus Welby). You can pick the one you want.

If your PCP wants you to see a specialist, such as a cardiologist, you are able to use whomever you wish. My understanding is that specialists will not be located in the primary care facilities. As is obvious in this area, specialists have their own small group in an office - cardiologists, orthopedic specialists, etc.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by CFrance

But will you be able to use doctors at all locations? For instance, if you love the internist at one and the cardiologist at another, can you see both?

Apparently (I say "apparently" because, thanks to superficial reporting by The Daily Sun, other than the notion that doctors will be like Marcus Welby, few details are available), we are talking about a Medicare advantage system. That is, it will be an HMO, owned and operated by the Developer on a for-profit basis. Participating doctors, according to Morse's speech, will be paid a flat fee per patient, thus removing the economic incentive to run a lot of unnecessary tests. On the other hand, there will be a disincentive to running tests in borderline situations if the doctor thinks he can dodge a malpractice suit if things go wrong.

I don't know how all this will work out, but I prefer traditional Medicare, where I can choose my own doctors-- not just doctors who participate in the advantage plan and are disincentivated from running tests since the doctors are paid on a per-patient basis. On the other hand, I have many friends who are happy with a Medicare advantage plan, and from an economic-policy standpoint, the advantage plans seem to be more efficient and cost effective.

In any event, this new business venture by the Developer will bring more doctors (we will see about their quality) and medical facilities to The Villages, which are needed for our growing population. Participation is voluntary. Nobody has to sign up for it if it doesn't seem appealing, and, apparently, from what we have been told so far, it should be a win-win situation for the Developer and Villagers.

[Jim 9922]

This plan appears to be a PPO (Preferred Provider Plan) with a "neighborhood" marketing twist. I assume that the insurance risk and benefits coverage is actually covered by a national health insurer hidden in the background. With any health plan you need deep pockets ready to step in in case the actuarial assumptions come up short. I am sure the Developer is not going to risk his personal fortune on "insuring" the ongoing health of a bunch of aging retirees.
As for switching doctors: if you don't like yours or the system, you can always drop the plan and enroll in another "outside" of TV, just like now as in any other city.
I, for one, hope this plan works, that it is priced fairly, that good doctors are recruited and that they don't keep pushing the patient loads until the system becomes overloaded and we are back to where we are today.

[champion6]

Originally Posted by Advogado

Apparently (I say "apparently" because, thanks to superficial reporting by The Daily Sun, other than the notion that doctors will be like Marcus Welby, few details are available), we are talking about a Medicare advantage system. That is, it will be an HMO, owned and operated by the Developer on a for-profit basis. Participating doctors, according to Morse's speech, will be paid a flat fee per patient, thus removing the economic incentive to run a lot of unnecessary tests. On the other hand, there will be a disincentive to running tests in borderline situations if the doctor thinks he can dodge a malpractice suit if things go wrong.

I don't know how all this will work out, but I prefer traditional Medicare, where I can choose my own doctors-- not just doctors who participate in the advantage plan and are disincentivated from running tests since the doctors are paid on a per-patient basis. On the other hand, I have many friends who are happy with a Medicare advantage plan, and from an economic-policy standpoint, the advantage plans seem to be more efficient and cost effective.

In any event, this new business venture by the Developer will bring more doctors (we will see about their quality) and medical facilities to The Villages, which are needed for our growing population. Participation is voluntary. Nobody has to sign up for it if it doesn't seem appealing, and, apparently, from what we have been told so far, it should be a win-win situation for the Developer and Villagers.

I believe it is simply a multi-location clinic, staffed with doctors and staff who focus on primary care. They will prefer (require?) that your insurance be the Medicare Advantage plan offered by United Healthcare, which is called MedicareComplete Choice Plan 2. This insurance plan is a PPO, not an HMO. Therefore, yuou can choose your own doctors.

Originally Posted by Jim 9922

This plan appears to be a PPO (Preferred Provider Plan) with a "neighborhood" marketing twist. I assume that the insurance risk and benefits coverage is actually covered by a national health insurer hidden in the background. With any health plan you need deep pockets ready to step in in case the actuarial assumptions come up short. I am sure the Developer is not going to risk his personal fortune on "insuring" the ongoing health of a bunch of aging retirees.
As for switching doctors: if you don't like yours or the system, you can always drop the plan and enroll in another "outside" of TV, just like now as in any other city.
I, for one, hope this plan works, that it is priced fairly, that good doctors are recruited and that they don't keep pushing the patient loads until the system becomes overloaded and we are back to where we are today.

I don't think the national health insurer is hidden in the background. Morse specifically mentioned the United Healthcare Medicare Advantage plan.

I am no expert in this field by any stretch of the imagination. But in my opinion both of the above posts seem to confuse and incorrectly tie together two completely separate businesses: A) the business of owning a medical practice (aka clinic) which provides primary care services to patients, and B) the business of selling insurance which pays for medical services.

The developer has announced that he is going to offer "A" and he is willing to take the financial risk. After all, we are not obligated to use the doctors in these new clinics.

The developer is not going to get into offering "B." That will be done by existing insurance companies.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by champion6

I believe it is simply a multi-location clinic, staffed with doctors and staff who focus on primary care. They will prefer (require?) that your insurance be the Medicare Advantage plan offered by United Healthcare, which is called MedicareComplete Choice Plan 2. This insurance plan is a PPO, not an HMO. Therefore, yuou can choose your own doctors.

I don't think the national health insurer is hidden in the background. Morse specifically mentioned the United Healthcare Medicare Advantage plan.

I am no expert in this field by any stretch of the imagination. But in my opinion both of the above posts seem to confuse and incorrectly tie together two completely separate businesses: A) the business of owning a medical practice (aka clinic) which provides primary care services to patients, and B) the business of selling insurance which pays for medical services.

The developer has announced that he is going to offer "A" and he is willing to take the financial risk. After all, we are not obligated to use the doctors in these new clinics.

The developer is not going to get into offering "B." That will be done by existing insurance companies.

There is an article about the subject on page A8 of today's (Sunday) Daily Sun. It is not particularly informative about how the system will work, but we are again assured that it will be just like Marcus Welby.

If you are interested in ownership of the new health system, go to: Detail by Entity Name
Then, look up the members (owners) of the Villages Health Holding Company at Detail by Entity Name

As I have said in an earlier post, I think that the new health facilities are probably a good thing for Villagers and, if the Developer can earn another fortune from setting them up and running them, good for him. He has done a terrific job with his other endeavors here. I just wish that the Daily Sun would give us the facts of the matter (pros and cons) and not run Developer "Marcus Welby" press releases as news.

[Bonny]

My PA went with Family Drs. of Bellview. They are part of the new Health Care program & I love it there. They are in the Sharon Morse building.

[Jim 9922]

Originally Posted by champion6

I don't think the national health insurer is hidden in the background. Morse specifically mentioned the United Healthcare Medicare Advantage plan.

I am no expert in this field by any stretch of the imagination. But in my opinion both of the above posts seem to confuse and incorrectly tie together two completely separate businesses: A) the business of owning a medical practice (aka clinic) which provides primary care services to patients, and B) the business of selling insurance which pays for medical services.

The developer has announced that he is going to offer "A" and he is willing to take the financial risk. .

The developer is not going to get into offering "B." That will be done by existing insurance companies.

Sorry if I was not clear in my statement, but I did not state that THE national health insurer was going to be involved. I stated that A national health insurer will be involved, which apparently is United Healthcare, as announced.
Overall your comments sum up the situation well; the developer is establishing a Villages-wide healthcare group practice with certain ways of doing business. The costs to Villagers will be whatever rates the insurance carrier charges in addition to the government portion of Medicare premiums.

[dgammon6]

gomoho, why don't you go into your portal and send Dr. Hildner an email?

[gomoho]

Thank you for that recommendation - didn't realize it was an option.