Author Topic: Just want to clear something up... (Read 436 times)

medicboy · « **on:** September 25, 2004, 11:46:51 PM »

I have seen several post in here that blame Bush for rising health care cost. That couldn't be farther from the truth. In 1993 or maybe 94 the Klinton admin. signed a bill that put into motion a new payment schedule through HCFA .(the people that tell medicare how much to pay for medical procedures) That schedule has been impleminted over the last 10 years in steps with the most drastic cuts in the last 3 years. They are paying only about half of what they would have paid for those same procedures in 94 and the cost to the provider (payroll, insurance, operation cost) are way up. Sense in most states medicare makes up 30-50% of the total income for medical providers they had to make up that money some where. That is why an ambulance ride that cost you (unless you are on welfare than it is free:( ) $650 in 1994 now cost you $1600 today. Bush had nothing to do with it so find another issue to lie about.

Nash · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2004, 11:52:01 PM »

16 hundred for an ambulance ride??!

Holy....

AKIron · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2004, 12:02:42 AM »

If you need a chopper ride to a hospital expect to spend about $11K.

Torque · « **Reply #3 on:** September 26, 2004, 12:17:53 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKIron
If you need a chopper ride to a hospital expect to spend about $11K.

Ouch!

Nefarious · « **Reply #4 on:** September 26, 2004, 01:27:07 AM »

Putting a loved one in a Personal Care Home costs around 5 Grand a Month and under depending on where there at and who's covering the costs and what options you take.

SC-Sp00k · « **Reply #5 on:** September 26, 2004, 03:06:52 AM »

Subjecting the rest of us in the world to more rubbish about Bush and Kerry.............

...........Priceless!

Arlo · « **Reply #6 on:** September 26, 2004, 03:12:34 AM »

My, friend, SC-Sp00k posted,
"Subjecting the rest of us in the world to more rubbish about Bush and Kerry.............

...........Priceless!"

=============================================

Australians are forced, at gunpoint, to read every thread on the AH O'Club forum. I think that is terribly unfair. Bush (or Kerry, one) needs to liberate Australia and help them start a democratic government.

medicboy · « **Reply #7 on:** September 26, 2004, 05:55:05 PM »

Yep, but think about it, it's not that bad. You arn't just paying for the 15-30 min you are in that ambulance, ambulance crews have to be on duty 24/7/365 even if there are no calls. It cost a lot of money to pay people to sit around and wait for something to happen. Than factor in the people that don't have insurance and don't pay there bills but use the system about every other day, than gas (ambulances get about 8mpg). It just adds up. Even at $1600 per ride (and that is in town, add $16/mile for out of town) most privet companies are struggeling to make ends meet, even paying there medics $9/hr with no benfits....

When I worked as a flight medic out average bill was just over $10,000 for a 1hr (total flight time) flight.

AKIron · « **Reply #8 on:** September 26, 2004, 08:07:11 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by medicboy
Yep, but think about it, it's not that bad. You arn't just paying for the 15-30 min you are in that ambulance, ambulance crews have to be on duty 24/7/365 even if there are no calls. It cost a lot of money to pay people to sit around and wait for something to happen. Than factor in the people that don't have insurance and don't pay there bills but use the system about every other day, than gas (ambulances get about 8mpg). It just adds up. Even at $1600 per ride (and that is in town, add $16/mile for out of town) most privet companies are struggeling to make ends meet, even paying there medics $9/hr with no benfits....

When I worked as a flight medic out average bill was just over $10,000 for a 1hr (total flight time) flight.

The folks that don't have insurance or can't pay is the reason why the bills are so high for the rest of us. This is why I have mixed feelings about socializing medicine. Why should those that need medical care and can pay have to pay for all those that can't. Would be more fair to spread the cost to everyone. But, socializing anything almost always leads to inferior service or product.

I was pretty firmly in the keeping medicine private camp until my son was in a serious accident recently. Fortunately for us he is in college and still covered by our health plans and as a passenger the drivers insurance will help to cover the costs too. Haven't gotten the surgeons bills yet but his 2 week stay in the hospital cost $104K.

Rethinking my position on health care.

medicboy · « **Reply #9 on:** September 26, 2004, 09:01:46 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKIron
The folks that don't have insurance or can't pay is the reason why the bills are so high for the rest of us. This is why I have mixed feelings about socializing medicine. Why should those that need medical care and can pay have to pay for all those that can't. Would be more fair to spread the cost to everyone. But, socializing anything almost always leads to inferior service or product.

I was pretty firmly in the keeping medicine private camp until my son was in a serious accident recently. Fortunately for us he is in college and still covered by our health plans and as a passenger the drivers insurance will help to cover the costs too. Haven't gotten the surgeons bills yet but his 2 week stay in the hospital cost $104K.

Rethinking my position on health care.

You are 100% right about the socializing medicine will lead to an inferior product. I mean what would I have to lose, I would become a Govt employee and more than likely get paid more and have benefits, but I could never live with myself watching people go untreated or even die due to the decrease in service, which would have to happen because the govt could never afford to operate the health care system at the level it is today.