Do you have an opinion on Health Care? Most of us do. What do you do with that opinion? Is it a constitutional right to state your opinion, or isn’t it? Why is there such an uproar with this administration about people speaking out on what they think is right or wrong?
Isn’t the public square, the public square anymore? Wasn’t that the place where old fogies’ used to go and tell everyone what they thought about this and that? I seem to remember you could say what you thought and no one said you couldn’t say it. Some would get angry with you for disagreeing with them but they never said you weren’t entitled to your opinion. Now I am not really sure what you will call it? I call it the KBG, the Gestapo who want you to turn in everyone who doesn’t agree with the way this administration looks at things. The last time I checked the sign at the borders still read, you are entering The United States of America. What is the nation coming to? When you speak what you think then the next thing you know it is filed with the government. By the way, it is forever recorded since it is archived and cannot be deleted or removed and whoever said they would be deleted, well, he or she was wrong. The politicians have put a pad lock on all those files and they are now part of the national archives.
There have been thousands if not millions of opposing opinions on every subject the government has ever brought up. Why is it now that there is a place to report people who do the same thing that has been going on for over 200 years? There is definitely something "fishy" about all this.
I see a constant trend by the Oval Office to put binders on anyone, on any subject that conflicts with their agenda. What is so important about a problem that has been brewing for so many years, that it now has to be resolved in a matter of days? There is none that I can see. Reform, yes, change maybe.
There is no reason that a Health Care program needs to be implemented with the current Medicare programs and Medicaid programs. The problem with them is as follows and it extends to the health insurance companies as well. These are but a few examples that can be multiplied by millions of patients all over the USA.
I had a back injury years ago. I was given a device by the doctor to apply electrical pulses to my back, which never did any good, as a medical treatment. It ran on two 9 volt batteries. This unit cost over 300 dollars and I have never met anyone that told me that this type of device had actually helped them. I received replacement batteries from the supplier every two weeks. They would send me two Duracell’s, which do not fit into this particular unit as they are shorter than standard batteries. I asked the insurance company why they were paying over ten dollars for two batteries that could be purchased at the local grocery store, with a cost of four for just over five dollars. Their answer was, we don’t argue with the supplier we just pay the bills. You know why they don’t care, because it’s your money they are spending and it makes them look good.
I then went to the local office of my representative from Washington. They told me that they were aware of the over charges being made by companies and hospitals to insurance companies and the government. They assured me that they were looking into it and it was a very high priority. That was over 15 years ago. If they did look into it nothing was ever done about it.
There was also a story and questions about Valium and why it was costing $5.00 a pill here and the same company was flying the same items to Europe and selling them there for $1.00 a pill. Do you think this question has ever been answered? Don’t kid yourself, it hasn’t happened and it won’t. So do you have to wonder why there is an escalating cost here and not Europe?
A friend and business associate of mine, had to have a knee replacement. On his bill he had been, or I should say the government had been charged $700.00 a day for a stainless steel bar that was put on his bed so he could pull himself up. Is this a normal charge? Why is the government not looking into these and like charges that have no reason to be paid? Want to cut cost, investigate these and other type charges you are receiving and not questioning. Ones that ordinary people can even see are wrong.
Now for me, I had a outpatient back operation. The doctor did a procedure and when he finished the nurse asked how he wanted it close, and his remark was, "Put a band aid over it." That band aid was listed on my bill at only $7,000.00 as a surgical covering. Wow I could sure use some sales like that. I questioned my attorney about this charge and his response was, "They do that because they know they will have to settle this account through negotiations."
Now since I am not too smart on health care, can someone please explain to me why these problems can’t be dealt with so you, me and everyone else can get proper care at reasonable prices?
Want to stop the escalating cost of medical bills? Have the hospitals, the doctors, clinics, put up their prices so people will know what to expect when they go to one.
I got a quote for my wife on a scan from Holy Cross Hospital, through the doctor who recommended the procedure for $385.00. I was standing there when his nurse made the call, and I heard what was said. She finally got someone on the phone that came back with a price. She told them we did not have insurance and would be paying it out of our own pockets. She then told us the cost and told them we agreed to pay this amount. The bills started coming in. $85.00 for someone to look at the pictures, and the hospital bill was over 800 dollars. We contacted the hospital and they denied they had told us anything at all. So we got jacked up for over double what we were told it would cost. No outs, as it was too costly to get an attorney to make them abide by what they had told us. Sure we should have asked for a written contract but I am from the old way of doing things where a person’s word was their bond and this hospital is suppose to be a religious one.
Now if I was in business and gave a quote or any other business gave a quote, first, I do believe I would know that I needed someone to read the outcome, and that would be included in my quote. With the number of years the hospitals have been doing these scans, it only seems reasonable they would be very knowledgeable about how much they should charge and all the other charges that would be associated with the procedure.
So why can’t they be held responsible like other companies that have to tell people up front what the cost are? No reason at all except they don’t want you to go to the place down the street where you can see how much you’re being ripped off for. Thousands and thousands of dollars you can bet. Why can’t the insurance companies tell them," we have done a cost evaluation for this procedure in your state and find this is what the normal cost are and unless you can document reasons why you’re higher, then we will only pay this amount". Then give them the ammunition to make it stick. Then you will see hospital bills starting to drop, along with doctor bills. Make them like any other business and completive. Without competition there is no cost control. Prices will continue to rise as long as they are not required by law to show in advance what the costs are going to be. Stop insurance companies and government agencies from having to pay for stainless steel bars that don’t wear out at $700.00 a day or for batteries that cost retail four for five dollars and them paying for two at ten or more.
The other problem is the courts and in some parts the insurance companies. The courts have contributed as much to the problem and maybe more by the high compensations given in lawsuits along with insurance companies caving in just to avoid this higher cost in court. Set up an arbitrator to look at a case and determine if it is a negligent problem, or a simple mistake or no one is at fault problem.
Then let the courts have the ability to either give compensation, and in cases where there is long term problems, allow them to have the person put on Medicare and or Medicaid. Then, if there is any insurance money left, give the money to Medicare to cover some of the cost they will incur, thus cutting the governments overhead. Then put attorneys on a set fee bases and don’t let them get any richer off the victim.
Here is an example of what attorney’s make from my own experience. I was hit by a speeding motorist. There was five years of medical treatment, which was doing nothing but spending money to satisfy the court system. My attorney told me that if I didn’t continue to go to the doctors the case would be thrown out as me having been cured or no permanent injury. I could not sleep on my back for five years and the doctors were getting money to do things that were not doing any good. I can assure you that a physical problem cannot be cured or fixed with a back rub or hot pads. I became their money in the bank machine.
Then a mediator gave my attorney a little over $86,000.00 to settle the total of $125,000 (by calculation of bills I had received) claim. After they took over 33,000 and paid off the rest of the people I got a whole 1,600 hundred dollars, a injured back for life and they all went away happy. Oh, did I mention, it took five years, five letters, and 30 minutes to earn $33,000.00.
Want good health care? Then do the right thing. Make the industry that is over charging change its habits.
