posted on September 22, 2004 02:36:24 PM new
The food is too rich for me,but fried food does taste good.
Yes,the journey to the airport looks like some third world country just got bombed.But like Las vegas,spend a few days there to forget,its worth it.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on September 22, 2004 04:10:39 PM new
If the doctor owns an interest in a lab or imaging center,should he disclose this to the patient??
Especially if the lab or center is across town and the patient is on his last breath??
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on September 23, 2004 09:10:13 AM new
stop: For whatever it’s worth, here is my experience on the lab question. I worked for the largest diagnostic lab in East Texas in client services before I retired. We had clients as far as 150-200 miles away. This lab was a separate division of one of the two large hospitals in our city. We had salesmen who called on the various doctors to convince them that we could do the tests better, quicker, and yes, cheaper. We had several other diagnostic labs as competition, some were national with small local offices and labs. The doctor would decide the lab that he wanted to use, sign up, and we would print requisitions with all the tests listed with his or her name printed on the requisitions. The doctor would then use our lab only. The doctors owned no part of the lab, but they were locked in to one lab, until they decided to change for whatever reason. In our area, no doctors owned part of any diagnostic lab. Most doctors had their own phlebotomists who drew the blood for the tests and we had couriers who picked up this blood. For the ones who didn’t have their own draw stations, we had draw stations in several locations in the city.
It is a very competitive business, to say the least.
posted on September 23, 2004 09:31:52 AM new
stopwhining - I don't know if that's necessary - maybe they should. In many cases there are standard fees that are charged on certain procedures like say a mammogram. Many insurance companies stick with 'standard' amounts they're willing to pay for certain procedures. Like say if the 'industry standard' is $300.00 for a mammogram and an imaging facility charges more....the insurance will not pay the 'overcharge'. Then the patient would probably question why the facility was charging about the 'standard set' amount.
posted on September 23, 2004 09:51:32 AM new
Another cause of our escillating health care costs....paying for illegals health care. And the dems don't want studies taken to show how much this is costing the American taxpayer.
posted on September 23, 2004 10:40:26 AM new
Despite Homeland Security, President Bush has what looks to be an "open border" policy and illegal immigrants are allowed to come into the country.
Time Magazine had a recent article called "Who Left The Door Open".
Each day over 4000 illegal aliens, many from Central America, cross the Mexican border into the US and most are free to roam the country and do what they want to. Even if some are arrested they are released again and told to return for deportation hearings but over 90% never do. Yes, some of them will require health care.
posted on September 23, 2004 01:10:22 PM new
I don't have to take care of anything, linda_k. BTW, I can cross the border whenever I please. In fact Canadians can just go across and if they stay in the US it seems like no one ever questions it...... looks like they can stay forever. Neat, eh?
posted on September 23, 2004 02:22:08 PM new
There is an interesting article in yesterday's wall street journal -a funrniture salesman making 80k and his wife a university secretary ,he quitted his job to go back to school and decided to have no insurance to save money.
Well,he spent 21 hours in a hospital for heart problem and his bill =40k.
Itemised bill shows 1k for ambulance (16 miles),dyes 300,saline solution,stent,cardiologist6k,hospital stays etc.
Some one did some comparison of how much it would cost him if he was covered by medicaid or medicare,and the difference is shocking.
He is now suing the hospital.
It is scary .
But then they think they are young and healthu and can go with no insurance,but they are not really that young,he is now 40 and she is 36.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
"Take care of your own border issues...then worry about ours."
There is NO border security in this country, lindak and if you think so you are engaged in fantasy again. Shores are just as vulnerable. I know that in the Annapolis Maryland area near my home, there is no security. Bush is so focused on Iraq that the only consideration that he gives terrorists is how to pronounce the word correctly.
posted on September 23, 2004 02:59:55 PM new
The borders are much more secure now than they were. I've been saying for a long time that both Canada and Mexico have been fighting to give any help with border control. Had to use leverage with Canada to get the little we did get.
Oh...and I'll be sure and tell your friends how they can reach your house easier. That way you can help them more than you do with words alone.
posted on September 23, 2004 03:04:04 PM new
Yes, stopwhining, I have a girlfriend who did that too. She was 62 and decided she wasn't going to pay for medical insurance....she'd be like helen and 'chance it'..pay if necessary out of her own funds...but they don't realize how expensive it can get. Overnight hospital stay for me was right at $25,000. too. Anything major..boy watch out...you've just given up everything you've spent a life time accumulating. It's a gamble for sure.
Glad to hear your friend is going to sue. Hope it works out well for them. If enough people would do that might get them to change how they charge more to those not insured than they do to the insurance companies. I know my ins. company gets a 'discounted rate' from all hospital admisstions...a certain percentage off the bill IF they pay it within one month.
posted on September 23, 2004 03:11:45 PM new
No linda_k, your borders are not more secure, it's worse now than before 9/11. Get your head out of the sand.
Oh...and I'll be sure and tell your friends how they can reach your house easier.
You mention Canada and then you have that statement. Who are you talking to? My friends already know where my house is. And what makes you think they would they be listening to you anyways?
posted on September 23, 2004 03:17:15 PM new
lindak....Don't presume to know what I can afford and what my circumstances are. As I age I may choose to buy insurance - probably a very high deductable policy. Right now, I'm able to take care of myself.
posted on September 23, 2004 03:20:19 PM newYou mention Canada and then you have that statement. Who are you talking to? My friends already know where my house is. And what makes you think they would they be listening to you anyways?
Linda reads what's not written and hears whats not stated...It's those "voices", Kiara...lol
posted on September 23, 2004 03:38:13 PM new
Maybe because she talks to me more than her real friends she kind of slipped up and thought she knew my circle of RL friends? That's okay, linda_k....... my friends and I would welcome you as we're good people. Want to come up for a barbeque?
posted on September 23, 2004 04:18:49 PM new
i have a policy with high deductible.
You can save some money taking out high deductible if you are relatively healthy and willing to pay regular checkups and tests.
anyway they are not my friends,they are in Virginia and i will dig out more of the details later.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on September 23, 2004 07:39:23 PM new
No, etexbill...You asked how in the hell did the topic change from health care to borders and then you blamed Kiara.
It was linda's statement..."Another cause of our escillating health care costs....paying for illegals health care. And the dems don't want studies taken to show how much this is costing the American taxpayer."
posted on September 23, 2004 08:07:20 PM new
Hello helen: No, Linda was still on the subject of escalating health costs. She said nothing about border security, she mentioned illegal aliens, not how to secure our borders. Kiara was the one who started up on border security and President Bush. I do not read links,and did not read hers since this discussion has nothing to do with politics. Or it didn't until kiara started mentioning names. Since you are up there in la la land, you know nothing of the thousands of miles of border that you can't protect in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
Now back to the subject at hand.
Your quote:
"In our area...Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia hospitals accept emergency patients only, sometimes diverting those patients to another hospital if they are unable to pay. There is no free transportation or free medical tests such as stopwhining mentioned at the beginning of this thread. Some very poor people may qualify for Medicaid but those people who are not insured are expected to pay a fee that they usually can't afford."
In the first place, it wasn't stopwhining who mentioned free medical tests and free transportation. It was me.
And I'm so sorry that you don't put your tax money to work to get these things. Come on down to Texas where we know how to do these things right. No, on second thought, your kind wouldn't last five minutes in Texas. We can smell a liberal from miles away. Why do you think Texas went from only 8 republicans in the House of Representatives, everthing else was democrats, 15 years ago to a Republican Governor, Lt. Governor, Senate and House now. And I was one of those democrats who learned better. Now I'm an Independent.
Now, so much for politics. I'm out and maggie, I'm sorry to go, since you asked me to come back in, but these people are preaching to the choir. No one is going to change their mind from either side. You're wasting you breath. No one can start a thread here on any subject without it turning to politics.
posted on September 24, 2004 05:44:59 AM new
etexbil,
i am in Houston and i am not sure what you mean that Texas knows how to do it right??
There are plenty of people in Texas who have no insurance .
Anyway,the deadbeat rate of self pay,uninsured patients are very high and this is one reason given by hospitals why they charge more,it is just a high risk category when it comes time to pay.
Some do offer a 20% discount when you pay right after treatment received.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on September 24, 2004 06:25:36 AM new
I would prefer not to use the term "deadbeat" to refer to those people who cannot afford health insurance in this country whether they are illegal immigrants or legitimate citizens of this country.
etexbill. How on earth can the topic of health care be discussed without mentioning the political ramifications involved. Republicans want to give tax money to the wealthy and protect the insurance industry while democrats want to make health care affordable to everyone.
posted on September 24, 2004 07:14:21 AM new
deadbeat refers to those who receive product/service but DO NOT PAY.
uninsured illegal or legal citizens with no insurance are not deadbeat if they do not seek medical treatment or if they do,they pay.
They did a study and show deadbeat rate as high as 80% among uninsured and for those who are insured ,when it comes to paying their share (deductible,co-pay),deadbeat rate is pretty high to.
But to present a bill of 40k to someone who has no insurance is a good way to turn that person into a deadbeat.
I wish i could copy this article i read from wall street journal-21 hours hospital stay in VA for heart treatment-1k for ambulance,32 for saline solution,340 for dyes,6k for cardiologist,etc.
It also show how much medicaid and medicare would pay for these services and they are a lot less.
They called the private insurance carriers and they all said they will pay 70% of what this poor guy is asked to pay.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on September 24, 2004 07:36:18 AM new
Again, yes there are many people in Texas and in the US who do not have health insurance. But there are no people who cannot receive health treatment. There are facilities that will and do take care of their treatment, especially in Texas. Go back to my post about the treatment they receive free and the free transportation in my city. Lack of insurance does not prevent anyone from receiving treatment. The hospitals in my city write off thousands of dollars monthly in bills that people cannot pay. As mentioned above, even illegal aliens receive treatment. Houston is full of facilities where the un-insured can receive treatment. And yes, that is one of the many reasons that health care is so expensive.
stop: the politically correct and nicer term that the hospitals use for "deadbeat" is "indigent care".
[ edited by etexbill on Sep 24, 2004 07:47 AM ]
posted on September 24, 2004 08:10:07 AM new
etexbill, perhaps you failed to notice but the political statement made before mine, Another cause of our escillating health care costs....paying for illegals health care. And the dems don't want studies taken to show how much this is costing the American taxpayer. was linda_k's and so was the link.
You have an arrogant little rant assuming I don't know border size or that I've never travelled south. I know you don't click on links but here is a map of North America for those who wish to check the size of the Canada/US border as well as the Mexican one. I am quite familiar with both.
etexbill, you pout and threaten to leave if the conversation includes politics yet you have no trouble adding them to your own posts. Almost every topic at the RT turns political.
"And Helen, I apologize for the remark that I made last evening."
I understand, etex...and I understand your aversion to anything political right now. It's the proliferation of blatant lies that bothers me so much. I could list those lies but not in this thread.
You say that you can smell a liberal a mile away...Well, actually, I'm smelling pretty sweet...even close up. My heart is in the right place too.
It's a myth that everyone is able to get the medical help that they need. Just in my little circle of friends I know a few. One fellow, for example needed back surgery but since he had no medical insurance he was sent home with a bottle of pain pills. Another friend of mine is a single mother living just on the edge...not eligible for medicaid yet unable to afford health care. She simply goes without the tests that stopwhining is discussing in this thread.
