Comments on: The “R” Word http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Fri, 25 May 2012 13:13:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Phil Pfeiffer http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-46980 Phil Pfeiffer Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:37:41 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=5051#comment-46980 John, I have Medicare Advantage(MA) and my spouse has traditional Medicare with a supplemental Insurance program. I have not seen any information regarding Insurance cost increases for seniors who have supplemental programs and those seniors who lose their MA and now will be forced to obtain an suppemental insurance program. What will be cost increases for those seniors as noted above? Thank you. Phil Pfeiffer John, I have Medicare Advantage(MA) and my spouse has traditional Medicare with a supplemental Insurance program.

I have not seen any information regarding Insurance cost increases for seniors who have supplemental programs and those seniors who lose their MA and now will be forced to obtain an suppemental insurance program. What will be cost increases for those seniors as noted above?

Thank you. Phil Pfeiffer

]]> By: Linda Fink http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-46710 Linda Fink Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:11:14 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=5051#comment-46710 who are these 45,000 Americans? Are they all poor? Is it a mix of income/socioeconomic levels? People do not die because they have no health insurance. They die because they may not seek treatment for something. If you get into a car accident, do you die because you have no car insurance? Name an instance where someone is turned away from a hospital for treatment. What are these 45,000 Americans dying from? Everyday I see drug companies on TV advertising that if you cannot afford medication "xyz", contact so-and-so and they can help you. How is not having insurance not your fault? If you are denied because of a pre-existing condition why not pay for what you need yourself? Or, if this is not possible for you, many people look to charities, their communities, their churches, etc... to help pay for expensive medical procedures. What happened to personal responsibility. Why do people look to the government to solve their problems? Back in the day, people would see a physician and pay for it themselves. No insurance, no nothing. Just you and your doctor. You talk about money and greed. Did you spend $200k to go to med school, four extra years of schooling and then maybe residency? And then when you get out, you must spend more to either join an existing practice or set up your own. Then, you have to buy A LOT of insurance in case someone decides to sue you. You know, Steve Johnson, these greedy people give other people jobs. They buy products from companies who give people jobs, and in turn, many times, other people use profits to reinvest in their businesses, develop new products, new drugs, new technologies, so that someday, maybe we could save your eye. What does being a republican have to do with money and greed that hasn't been seen on the democratic side as well. Let's look at all of the tax evaders in Washington who are our democratic representatives. Why they are still there, I don't know. I think that is a ridiculous accusation to infer that republicans are not charitable or compassionate. I am sorry for your eye, but I think there must be something you can do without looking for it in government. Government has its place, but not in our healthcare. There are other solutions to bringing down costs. I wonder if the healthcare bill does not pass, will they still try to go after the $900 billion in medicare waste? If this is a true statement, they should be doing something about this now, healthcare reform or no healthcare reform. who are these 45,000 Americans? Are they all poor? Is it a mix of income/socioeconomic levels? People do not die because they have no health insurance. They die because they may not seek treatment for something. If you get into a car accident, do you die because you have no car insurance? Name an instance where someone is turned away from a hospital for treatment. What are these 45,000 Americans dying from? Everyday I see drug companies on TV advertising that if you cannot afford medication “xyz”, contact so-and-so and they can help you. How is not having insurance not your fault? If you are denied because of a pre-existing condition why not pay for what you need yourself? Or, if this is not possible for you, many people look to charities, their communities, their churches, etc… to help pay for expensive medical procedures. What happened to personal responsibility. Why do people look to the government to solve their problems? Back in the day, people would see a physician and pay for it themselves. No insurance, no nothing. Just you and your doctor. You talk about money and greed. Did you spend $200k to go to med school, four extra years of schooling and then maybe residency? And then when you get out, you must spend more to either join an existing practice or set up your own. Then, you have to buy A LOT of insurance in case someone decides to sue you. You know, Steve Johnson, these greedy people give other people jobs. They buy products from companies who give people jobs, and in turn, many times, other people use profits to reinvest in their businesses, develop new products, new drugs, new technologies, so that someday, maybe we could save your eye. What does being a republican have to do with money and greed that hasn’t been seen on the democratic side as well. Let’s look at all of the tax evaders in Washington who are our democratic representatives. Why they are still there, I don’t know. I think that is a ridiculous accusation to infer that republicans are not charitable or compassionate. I am sorry for your eye, but I think there must be something you can do without looking for it in government. Government has its place, but not in our healthcare. There are other solutions to bringing down costs. I wonder if the healthcare bill does not pass, will they still try to go after the $900 billion in medicare waste? If this is a true statement, they should be doing something about this now, healthcare reform or no healthcare reform.

]]> By: steve johnson http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-46368 steve johnson Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:13:54 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=5051#comment-46368 45,000 americans will die because they have no healthcare. You say this is not true. Well how many do you say have died? If you say none, your wrong. If you say one, its one to many. Its all about money and greed. Those who have it want to keep it, those who dont have it want it. I dont have insurance and will probably loose my sight in my right eye because I dont have insurance throught no fault of my own. If I was your son, daughter, or close relative, would that be ok with you. If your a republican, it probably would be. 45,000 americans will die because they have no healthcare. You say this is not true. Well how many do you say have died? If you say none, your wrong. If you say one, its one to many. Its all about money and greed. Those who have it want to keep it, those who dont have it want it. I dont have insurance and will probably loose my sight in my right eye because I dont have insurance throught no fault of my own. If I was your son, daughter, or close relative, would that be ok with you. If your a republican, it probably would be.

]]> By: matt jones http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-46066 matt jones Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:08:32 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=5051#comment-46066 The issue of health care rationing is a term that many have debated but few in the correct context. rationing may seem dangerous, but in reality, the only dangerous medical practices are the ones that an individual can sue for, as mal practice. Consider, during the course of an examination, a very ill patient dies. the crash cart is brought in, and medical staff try everything in their power to resusitate their patient. now technically it can be argued from logic, though impratical that the chances of reviving a patient even after a lengthy amount of time has based never has no value. thus it can be argued that it holds marginal value, after all, patients who have been dead have been revived, and chances, though incredibly slim, are at least existent. so, it can be held then that if such attempts thought futile because they are so marginally valued, because they almost never work, or help to better the patient as a whole, but still might work are therefore medically nessesary and should be held as essential prcatices for medical staff to perform. this would be, to say the least, idiotic, yet it is where the fear of rationing comes from. in addition the examples provided are highly speculative, as those proposing health care reform that is found in this bill are underlying cases in which individuals are extremely unlikely to get better or benefit from the treatment, not deny every purchaser of the plan who needs a hip replacement the care they seek. also what is higher quality care exactly as the author opined it is impossible to determine if a treatment is life saving. it is also impossible to determine high quality care. this because health care unlike, say, ones microwave, or digital television does not supply a subjective use/service. a microwave cooks food that is developed to do so, a tv displays programs. either one can be determined to be malfunctioning, or inferior to another. however health care does not work in this way. rather low cost high quality health care is a nice sentiment but not a realistic one. many factors effect the treatment of a patient including a home environment. this is why tvs and microwaves manufacturers have a department to handle product quality, while health care is presided over massive councils, boards and by extension litigators and court attourneys, because health care is complex and requires much thought. this is why health care reform is not decided in the same supply demand infastructure as products are. there is no reliable scale, just suggestions and theories that examine the circumstances and provide advice. so health care is not better managed under private companies it's merely cost effective, as all companies develop their practices towards that standard. when it comes to health care, providers have loop holes and circumstances to protect them is it is a nessesity to have such policies. but it also means they can get away with a lot, if they are creative, even pardon the reference here-murder. The issue of health care rationing is a term that many have debated but few in the correct context. rationing may seem dangerous, but in reality, the only dangerous medical practices are the ones that an individual can sue for, as mal practice. Consider, during the course of an examination, a very ill patient dies. the crash cart is brought in, and medical staff try everything in their power to resusitate their patient. now technically it can be argued from logic, though impratical that the chances of reviving a patient even after a lengthy amount of time has based never has no value. thus it can be argued that it holds marginal value, after all, patients who have been dead have been revived, and chances, though incredibly slim, are at least existent. so, it can be held then that if such attempts thought futile because they are so marginally valued, because they almost never work, or help to better the patient as a whole, but still might work are therefore medically nessesary and should be held as essential prcatices for medical staff to perform. this would be, to say the least, idiotic, yet it is where the fear of rationing comes from. in addition the examples provided are highly speculative, as those proposing health care reform that is found in this bill are underlying cases in which individuals are extremely unlikely to get better or benefit from the treatment, not deny every purchaser of the plan who needs a hip replacement the care they seek. also what is higher quality care exactly as the author opined it is impossible to determine if a treatment is life saving. it is also impossible to determine high quality care. this because health care unlike, say, ones microwave, or digital television does not supply a subjective use/service. a microwave cooks food that is developed to do so, a tv displays programs. either one can be determined to be malfunctioning, or inferior to another. however health care does not work in this way. rather low cost high quality health care is a nice sentiment but not a realistic one. many factors effect the treatment of a patient including a home environment. this is why tvs and microwaves manufacturers have a department to handle product quality, while health care is presided over massive councils, boards and by extension litigators and court attourneys, because health care is complex and requires much thought. this is why health care reform is not decided in the same supply demand infastructure as products are. there is no reliable scale, just suggestions and theories that examine the circumstances and provide advice. so health care is not better managed under private companies it’s merely cost effective, as all companies develop their practices towards that standard. when it comes to health care, providers have loop holes and circumstances to protect them is it is a nessesity to have such policies. but it also means they can get away with a lot, if they are creative, even pardon the reference here-murder.

]]> By: Chris Ewin, MD http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-45968 Chris Ewin, MD Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:14:29 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=5051#comment-45968 Bruce, Your response about CPT/ICD9 codes are very correct. That is how the AMA gets much of their revenues... There is a disincentive to change the business model. Maybe that's why less than 20% of physicians are AMA members. As a family physician with a direct practice, I haven't used CPT or ICD9 codes for 7 years...and I'm not worried about learning ICD 10... I like medical devices and new technology....Boscobobb..what new device have you developed? Does it involve using CPT/ICD 9 codes? Bruce,
Your response about CPT/ICD9 codes are very correct. That is how the AMA gets much of their revenues…
There is a disincentive to change the business model.
Maybe that’s why less than 20% of physicians are AMA members.
As a family physician with a direct practice, I haven’t used CPT or ICD9 codes for 7 years…and I’m not worried about learning ICD 10…

I like medical devices and new technology….Boscobobb..what new device have you developed? Does it involve using CPT/ICD 9 codes?

]]> By: Sheldon Richman http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-45964 Sheldon Richman Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:17:55 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=5051#comment-45964 John, You've been writing great stuff on the current health-care debate. I watch for it every day. I was appalled that Keith Olbermann, who apparently hasn't the courage to invite you on his pitiful program, used a New York Times quote of yours to the effect that we could get a bipartisan bill if we ignored the special interests. He's never quoted you on a substantive point that I am aware of. How does the guy live with himself? (Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews, too.) Anyway, keep up the great work. John,

You’ve been writing great stuff on the current health-care debate. I watch for it every day.

I was appalled that Keith Olbermann, who apparently hasn’t the courage to invite you on his pitiful program, used a New York Times quote of yours to the effect that we could get a bipartisan bill if we ignored the special interests. He’s never quoted you on a substantive point that I am aware of. How does the guy live with himself? (Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews, too.)

Anyway, keep up the great work.

]]> By: Martin http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-45951 Martin Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:42:45 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=5051#comment-45951 What an excellent explanation! What an excellent explanation!

]]> By: Frank Timmins http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-45950 Frank Timmins Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:11:07 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=5051#comment-45950 Boscobobb says, "I saw the disinformation campaign on C-Span tonight while taking a break from work on our new medical device." That's interesting Boscobobb. What new medical device are you working on? Is it something you are going to patent? Boscobobb says,

“I saw the disinformation campaign on C-Span tonight while taking a break from work on our new medical device.”

That’s interesting Boscobobb. What new medical device are you working on? Is it something you are going to patent?

]]> By: Bruce http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-45949 Bruce Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:02:22 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=5051#comment-45949 One more response to Boscobobb: Canada essentially pays doctors the same way we pay doctors and Canada's prblems are worse than ours even thought they have a single payer system. It doesn't matter how many payers there are. What matters is: how easy is it for doctors and patients to agree to different packages and prices? In a single payer sysgtem is it impossible. One more response to Boscobobb: Canada essentially pays doctors the same way we pay doctors and Canada’s prblems are worse than ours even thought they have a single payer system. It doesn’t matter how many payers there are. What matters is: how easy is it for doctors and patients to agree to different packages and prices? In a single payer sysgtem is it impossible.

]]> By: Bruce http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-r-word/comment-page-1/#comment-45948 Bruce Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:58:55 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=5051#comment-45948 Boscobobb: you forgot to mention that the CPT codes and indeed the entire payment system was put in place and agreed to by the AMA -- which actually profits form their use. Also you forgot to mention that almost all private payers pay the way Medicare pays. Bottom line: The problem is not the insurers or the AMA or even Medicare. It's a third party payment system that is favored under the tax law. That's why the NCPA is right to say that real reform involves liberating doctors, patients and eveyone else from the party payment bureaucracy. Boscobobb: you forgot to mention that the CPT codes and indeed the entire payment system was put in place and agreed to by the AMA — which actually profits form their use. Also you forgot to mention that almost all private payers pay the way Medicare pays.

Bottom line: The problem is not the insurers or the AMA or even Medicare. It’s a third party payment system that is favored under the tax law. That’s why the NCPA is right to say that real reform involves liberating doctors, patients and eveyone else from the party payment bureaucracy.

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