Comments on: Doctors Vindicated http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gerald Clarke http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/comment-page-1/#comment-91566 Gerald Clarke Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:48:37 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=407#comment-91566 I am an ophthalmologist, doing LASIK (totally Free Enterprise) and cataracts (mostly Government paid) We definitely have to compete for both groups of patients, so while there is a difference in 'waiting rooms' - different age groups, different teaching materials, etc., the competition for the patient is equally fierce. The benefit for us in the cataract group is that the patient is allowed to purchase extras - premium lenses, post op laser touchups, and these profit sources drive the competition. We work just as hard for each group because 1) I like what I do and I do it well and 2) I make a good living, an honest living, and I work hard for it. I am an ophthalmologist, doing LASIK (totally Free Enterprise) and cataracts (mostly Government paid) We definitely have to compete for both groups of patients, so while there is a difference in ‘waiting rooms’ – different age groups, different teaching materials, etc., the competition for the patient is equally fierce. The benefit for us in the cataract group is that the patient is allowed to purchase extras – premium lenses, post op laser touchups, and these profit sources drive the competition. We work just as hard for each group because 1) I like what I do and I do it well and 2) I make a good living, an honest living, and I work hard for it.

]]> By: Botox Side Effects http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/comment-page-1/#comment-39377 Botox Side Effects Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:19:24 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=407#comment-39377 My name is Diana Lee and i would like to show you my personal experience with Botox. I have suffered with migraines and neck pain for many years. Botox has given me my life back. I have arthritis in my neck and Botox is the ONLY thing that has given me relief. Side Effects- None…miracle drug I hope this information will be useful to others, Diana Lee <a href="http://www.drug3k.com/drug/Botox-10782.htm" title="Botox Side Effects" rel="nofollow">Botox Side Effects</a> My name is Diana Lee and i would like to show you my personal experience with Botox.

I have suffered with migraines and neck pain for many years. Botox has given me my life back. I have arthritis in my neck and Botox is the ONLY thing that has given me relief.

Side Effects-
None…miracle drug

I hope this information will be useful to others,
Diana Lee

Botox Side Effects

]]> By: Beverly Gossage http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/comment-page-1/#comment-39199 Beverly Gossage Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:07:57 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=407#comment-39199 Before 1943 few in this country had any form of health insurance. If they did, they called it hospitalization, because it only helped with unexpected expenses in a catastrophic situation at a hospital. The premiums were very cheap. It didn't cover doctor visits, prescriptions, maternity, or many other conditions that are now expected to be covered by health insurance. Most people made every effort to stay healthy and tried to set aside funds in the budget in case a family member needed medical care. They had a friendly relationship with their local physician. In the 1950's my father was a car mechanic and traded services with our doctor in case he needed to treat one of our family members. We have now become a nation of unhealthy people who see no direct correlation to our life style choices and our wallet. We expect the top of the line care and want someone else to pay for it. We want the insurance company to accept everyone and not base premiums on potential risk because that isn't fair. Then we wonder why premiums are so high and many people choose not to have insurance until they have a health issue. We expect our employer or the government to pay our premiums to an insurance company who should then pay for any conceivable claim we have. Then we wonder why we haven't had a raise in three years, and complain about how much is withheld in taxes from our paycheck. What if we all purchased our own plan like we do our car and home owners insurance? What if it had nothing to do with our employer. (For over 50% of employees of small businesses this is reality.) Many of them have already purchased a private health plan. They now realize this: 1) The healthier you are when purchasing, the lower the rate. Once you have a policy, the carrier cannot raise your rate or drop you based upon your claims (Lesson:apply while you are healthy) 2) If you stop smoking, and lower your weight to within a normal BMI, you can save between 30%-70% on the premium (Lesson: make healthy choices and save) 3)The younger you are, the lower the premium (Lesson: since the majority of the uninsured are young and healthy, most could afford a policy)My 26 year old pays $37 a month for 5 million dollars of coverage. 4)The higher the deductible, the lower the premium. An HSA qualified plan limits your out of pocket. (Lesson: pick the low premium, budget for the small things and use your insurance plan to protect from the catastrophic) 5)Aprivate plan is truly portable. (Lesson: you never have to consider a health plan when considering a career.) 6)Nearly all carriers now offer individual policies giving more choice to the consumer. 7)Most states have a high risk pool for those whose health issues prevent them from purchasing a private plan. Maybe so many employers not offering health insurance has a silver lining. People have found a better alternative. Before 1943 few in this country had any form of health insurance. If they did, they called it hospitalization, because it only helped with unexpected expenses in a catastrophic situation at a hospital.

The premiums were very cheap. It didn’t cover doctor visits, prescriptions, maternity, or many other conditions that are now expected to be covered by health insurance.

Most people made every effort to stay healthy and tried to set aside funds in the budget in case a family member needed medical care. They had a friendly relationship with their local physician.

In the 1950′s my father was a car mechanic and traded services with our doctor in case he needed to treat one of our family members.

We have now become a nation of unhealthy people who see no direct correlation to our life style choices and our wallet. We expect the top of the line care and want someone else to pay for it.

We want the insurance company to accept everyone and not base premiums on potential risk because that isn’t fair. Then we wonder why premiums are so high and many people choose not to have insurance until they have a health issue.

We expect our employer or the government to pay our premiums to an insurance company who should then pay for any conceivable claim we have. Then we wonder why we haven’t had a raise in three years, and complain about how much is withheld in taxes from our paycheck.

What if we all purchased our own plan like we do our car and home owners insurance? What if it had nothing to do with our employer. (For over 50% of employees of small businesses this is reality.)

Many of them have already purchased a private health plan.

They now realize this:
1) The healthier you are when purchasing, the lower the rate. Once you have a policy, the carrier cannot raise your rate or drop you based upon your claims (Lesson:apply while you are healthy)
2) If you stop smoking, and lower your weight to within a normal BMI, you can save between 30%-70% on the premium (Lesson: make healthy choices and save)
3)The younger you are, the lower the premium (Lesson: since the majority of the uninsured are young and healthy, most could afford a policy)My 26 year old pays $37 a month for 5 million dollars of coverage.
4)The higher the deductible, the lower the premium. An HSA qualified plan limits your out of pocket. (Lesson: pick the low premium, budget for the small things and use your insurance plan to protect from the catastrophic)
5)Aprivate plan is truly portable. (Lesson: you never have to consider a health plan when considering a career.)
6)Nearly all carriers now offer individual policies giving more choice to the consumer.
7)Most states have a high risk pool for those whose health issues prevent them from purchasing a private plan.

Maybe so many employers not offering health insurance has a silver lining. People have found a better alternative.

]]> By: M Muenzer MD http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/comment-page-1/#comment-39197 M Muenzer MD Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:50:57 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=407#comment-39197 Thank you, John, for framing and wording this post so pointedly! Thank you, John, for framing and wording this post so pointedly!

]]> By: M Muenzer MD http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/comment-page-1/#comment-39196 M Muenzer MD Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:49:44 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=407#comment-39196 Dr. Bob, again, where do you get your notion from? Pretty much all my colleagues in my department and in my hospital in a Boston suburb are teamplayers and good ones at that. Why would I ever want to compete with an internist or neurologist? I am glad he or she is here and can help me take better care of my patients. Colleagues of my specialty work very nicely together, by nature and because we actually need each other. You never know when an unexpected emergency puts you in a tough position and the one that you assume we see as "competition" will help me out. And they always do. Sorry, cannot validate your concerns. Are you a physician? Dr. Bob, again, where do you get your notion from? Pretty much all my colleagues in my department and in my hospital in a Boston suburb are teamplayers and good ones at that. Why would I ever want to compete with an internist or neurologist? I am glad he or she is here and can help me take better care of my patients.
Colleagues of my specialty work very nicely together, by nature and because we actually need each other. You never know when an unexpected emergency puts you in a tough position and the one that you assume we see as “competition” will help me out. And they always do.
Sorry, cannot validate your concerns. Are you a physician?

]]> By: M Muenzer MD http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/comment-page-1/#comment-39195 M Muenzer MD Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:44:34 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=407#comment-39195 R Bar, nice try of wiggling out of it. As a physician I can assure you that it truly feels the way JG presents it. R Bar, nice try of wiggling out of it. As a physician I can assure you that it truly feels the way JG presents it.

]]> By: Catherine Daniell http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/comment-page-1/#comment-39182 Catherine Daniell Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:16:22 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=407#comment-39182 More on the doctor vs. payment structure debate and comments in health business news at kansas.com, here -- http://blogs.kansas.com/business/2008/09/02/who-screwed-up-our-health-care-system-doctors-or-insurance-carriers/ More on the doctor vs. payment structure debate and comments in health business news at kansas.com, here — http://blogs.kansas.com/business/2008/09/02/who-screwed-up-our-health-care-system-doctors-or-insurance-carriers/

]]> By: Dr. Bob http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/comment-page-1/#comment-39180 Dr. Bob Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:29:36 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=407#comment-39180 As I started to read your Health Alert, I was about to get angry, when I suddenly realized that my old adage the "you can always tell a doctor, but you can't tell him much" basically echoed your thoughts. Collaboration , cooperation, and communication are not part of the thinking of doctors today. Competitive best describes them, and all it does is make physicians take it on the chin even more. Keep up your good work. As I started to read your Health Alert, I was about to get angry, when I suddenly realized that my old adage the “you can always tell a doctor, but you can’t tell him much” basically echoed your thoughts. Collaboration , cooperation, and communication are not part of the thinking of doctors today. Competitive best describes them, and all it does is make physicians take it on the chin even more.

Keep up your good work.

]]> By: Ed Harper http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/comment-page-1/#comment-39166 Ed Harper Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:32:18 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=407#comment-39166 John, You have our vote!!! John,

You have our vote!!!

]]> By: doctorsh http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-vindicated/comment-page-1/#comment-39165 doctorsh Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:06:32 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=407#comment-39165 The entire argument that healthcare costs in the country is based on the premise that a third party is paying the bills. This is the wrong premise. Third parties have greatly increased the cost of medical care in our nation. Having insurance tied to employment is the other downfall of our system. Individual responsibility and free market reforms has brought down the cost of care in every other industry in our country, it will do the same when given the chance. The entire argument that healthcare costs in the country is based on the premise that a third party is paying the bills.
This is the wrong premise. Third parties have greatly increased the cost of medical care in our nation. Having insurance tied to employment is the other downfall of our system.
Individual responsibility and free market reforms has brought down the cost of care in every other industry in our country, it will do the same when given the chance.

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