The hot item now days is the progress getting made on the health care issue. I have Time, Newsweek and the newspaper that keeps updating the latest progress, its still up in the air as to how all of this is going down, or if the Republicians can railroad it out of existance again. I think changes will be made, it will depend on how powerful the insurance companies, drug co. will get their way. I wish everyone can keep a level head, we are learning things we were never aware of before, its no time to get bent out of shape about the way it has all operated, instead hope that we can come up with a better system. The public has been bombarded with all kinds of scare tactics, like killing off Grandma. The government is broke and things have to change. I would like to jump into the middle and give my two cents worth of how I have seen the abuse of medicare, scooters sold to people who didn't need them, like Tom Lyman getting a $5000 scooter that he sat in once before he died. Pauline having one that she couldn't run, and many more, aside from all of the disability caused by people running around in scooters.
In spite of AARP"s stand I think Medicare need managed care, they keep saying you can see anyone you want, what a waste that has been, it should have been monitored much more carefully, the whole system including Medicaid has not been properly monitored. I used to be assigned people who had abused the system after they had racked up thousands of dollars and believe me they were a hard bunch to contain, they prefered to see a doctor a day if possible.
Doctors are saying they are ready and willing to get things under control, themselves included. I have tried to emphasize that you could charge $140 a visit, and you got paid $29.00. So Linda the figures on your bill doesn't mean much, you should find out how much was paid if you want to know how the system really works, your MMR probably got one forth of what it was billed to be. How did it get that way? because of what was billed to Medicaid and Medicare vs insurance. They got billed as though it was insurance, had to bill that way. I know all about 15 minute appointments, that was the usual way of making appointments, then people who took longer cause the others to have to wait and wait, but on the other hand alot of appointments didn't even take 15 minutes. I read last night where a doctor in Oregon set up her own clinic, spends an hour if needed, the community helps finance her clinic, but people will get all the attention they want. I have never wanted to go to my doctor and pour out my heart and soul, I wanted to do what was necessary and get the hell out of there. I wanted to get fixed and be done, but some don't know how to fix, even their own speciality. can't really blame them even there, the body is more complicated than we might want to believe, and alot of our problems we brought on ourselves. Doesn't pay to get mad at the doctor when you've abused your body. Its still the challenge today to keep the old body in shape. Or get it back in shape.
I read Linda's blog yesterday, can't find it today, Gerry was giving her quite the lecture of her attitude, complaints and lifestyle. Who can be the judge??? Don't kick when someone is down.
Monday, November 2, 2009
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3 comments:
Well, this is a very interesting entry, shows a lot of thinking has gone on by the professional nurse about health care. I think you are right on with a lot of your observations. Very good!
As for my comment to sister Linda, for a year I have tried to show my sympathy and concern in every way possible concerning her well I guess you would say numb hands problem mainly. But if you write a blog in an angry frame of mind too many times I think it might become counterproductive so I took the risk of trying to joggle her arm so to speak to see if I could get her to remember her great sense of humor which might make her feel even better than getting mad after a while.
I, too, enjoyed this article, Margie. I am quite interested in what Medicare actually pays on what is billed...much more in what we might think of, more acceptable range. With Tom's vision and teeth this summer, we have had considerable out of pocket fees, but the Advantage Plan did help. Our biggest expense is when we drop in the 'hole'. I went in my hole just when Tom was pulling out of his. I'd hated to have us both hit the same time.
But I will never complain about not getting my money's worth through insurance. I have been paid many times over..Insurance rates are still high, but so are our medical bills. I hope everyone can have some kind of insurance...we know they can't pay otherwise.
It was good to read your comments on the health care issues. I can hardly stand to read all of the stuff I get to even learn what might effect me personally. I'm similar to you in going to the Doctors only when I feel I absolutely have too, and want to make it as quick as possible. My doctor is not the least bit chatty so we get right to business and I am out of there.
Yes, there is major abuse with scooters, wheel chairs and all sorts of things. I know people who get wheel chairs with no intention of using them, just because they don't have to pay. No one seems to connect the dots that all this waste makes for more taxes, and adds to costs in other ways. I decided to just relax and see what happens when bills are passed,the dust has settled and hope things are better all the way around. It is pretty complicated at this stage and I can't picture the congressmen and senators reading and absorbing a bill as fat as a phone book. You have had the very most experience on all this so of course we respect your opinion and love it when you write on the suject.
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