Cost of health care

[Tom]

Kelso posted an excellent question in another thread that probably deserves it's own home.

Doctors are equally free to CHARGE A DAMNED SIGHT LESS for their services.

Isn't one of the main causes of high health care costs the concious desire of the medical community to insulate itself from the business end of the profession? Aren't doctors now able, like 46 does all the time, blame the HOMs for all the problems, while everyone one of them has the power to cut prices? With health insurance paying so much so often, what market forces exist to control health care costs? If people had to pay for thier own proceedurs and drugs, you can probably make book that prices would be dropping faster than McCain in Iowa!

[46zilzal]

There are a lot of doctors who overcharge, but MOST people do not know the HUGE overhead in running a practice (usually about 45-50% of your gross income), no safety net themselves unless they are in a group practice, huge malpractice premiums, continuing medical education requirements and need to continually keep up with journals (this alone requires a lot of time), and long long hours. Your life often is put on hold for a very long time.

The overhead for dentists is even higher so before you rag on all of them, try to understand the process.

The "bean counters" who try to practice medicine, ARE the cause of higher premiums as they don't know shit, just the bottom line. Their entire purpose of being is to DENY coverage.

[Grits]

DOCTORS are some of THE MOST BUSINESS SAVVY individuals, I know.

Doctors are big business, THE bottom line, and they are excellent at arranging and creating every opportunity to benefit their line.

I have a 30 year relationsip with Duke Medical Center. My son's doctor is Professor of Pediatric Cardiology and Associate Dean of Admissions of Duke's Medical School.

For so many years, she has taught, and practiced pediatric cardiology at Duke, while noting the majority of her students who go into private practice in cities throughout the nation upon their graduation, where in their first year of practicing medicine they bring home, many times over, the salary that a long tenured physician makes at a large teaching hospital.

Honey, there ain't nothing more business savvy than a young, promising, physician with a lucrative career ahead of him or her. If you don't believe it, ask one in private practice.

[46zilzal]

Originally Posted by Grits

Honey, there ain't nothing more business savvy than a young, promising, physician with a lucrative career ahead of him or her. If you don't believe it, ask one in private practice.

Another of the long line of reasons why I left. The newer generation, on the whole, doesn't give a crap about the patient and just grope for more and more cash. It is disgusting.

We had a few when I was going through school and they would drag old drunks off the street and talk them into surgery ...do outrageous things to people. I am sad to report that, down the line, these same individuals caused a lot of harm and un-necessary suffering as two of them had their licenses revoked.

[Grits]

Originally Posted by 46zilzal

There are a lot of doctors who overcharge, but MOST people do not know the HUGE overhead in running a practice (usually about 45-50% of your gross income), no safety net themselves unless they are in a group practice, huge malpractice premiums, continuing medical education requirements and need to continually keep up with journals (this alone requires a lot of time), and long long hours. Your life often is put on hold for a very long time.

The overhead for dentists is even higher so before you rag on all of them, try to understand the process.

The "bean counters" who try to practice medicine, ARE the cause of higher premiums as they don't know shit, just the bottom line. Their entire purpose of being is to DENY coverage.

You really wanna go 'round and 'round--let's talk denistry. And understanding the process ain't rocket science Zilly.

You ARE right, today's breed of doctor, albeit, medical, dentistry, whatever specialty . . . 99% of them have $ signs for hearts.

How many dental assistants you know living in 300K homes or above? With an even greater priced home at the beach? And driving, foreign made automobiles?

How many dentists working beyond 4 1/2 days a week? Cut out every Friday at noon for that beach house, if the office is open at all on Friday. Play golf late Wednesday afternoons as well.

How many dentists on call weekends? Zero.

How many dentists paying the same malpractice premium as an Obstetrician?

Cosmetic dentistry, oh man, there's one even more lucrative. There's no end to what these guys and gals charge. Everybody wants that million dollar smile. Few have the dental coverage to pay for it though. And these folks are laughing all the way to the bank.

Dentistry, in this country has become a formal degree and license in outright theft.

. . . I have to be really careful here 'cause I've had far, far, too many years of experience with physicians--fine ones, some of the best; to be tolerant of what is coming out of medical and dental schools today.

[46zilzal]

On the whole, I agree with you, they are over-priced, but they have a per room overhead of about $125,000.

And a few, at our major General Hospital, are on call.

[Grits]

Originally Posted by 46zilzal

On the whole, I agree with you, they are over-priced, but they have a per room overhead of about $125,000.

And a few, at our major General Hospital, are on call.

For a dentist . . . . $125K is nothing more than "walk around money" Zilly.

[Marshall Bennett]

I spent two days in the hospital a year ago . Basically a few blood test , an IV , not much else . My doctor blamed medication on my problem so he cut it in half and I was released . My insurance Co. was billed $14,000 for the two days . I had the bill audited . Turns out I was charged over $5000 for test I didn't receive and another $1500 for drugs I didn't receive . Needless to say the bill was adjusted .
Now just imagine how many others receive the same bullshit billing and do nothing . You'd think this practice would be deemed illegal but isn't . These institutions have a free hand in ripping off as many as they can for however much they want ..... So much for the cost of health care !!!!!

[lilmegahertz]

Three years ago, I suffered an ectopic pregnancy, appendicitis and had a partial hysterectomy done at the same time. We almost lost our home and our cars. I work in a warehouse. I do not make the sort of wage which allows me to get seriously ill. The message I got was only the rich can afford to get sick and the middle-classers better not think of having surgery no matter how life threatening.

[ljb]

Prescription drug costs began escalating right after the ftc allowed drug companies to advertise their wares. The giant pharmaceuticals now spend as much or more on advertising as they do on research. Hmmmm ?

[46zilzal]

My father paid into his health insurance for over 45 years at the same company. He used it twice....TWICE in all those years and when he died, after three days in the hospital the insurance carrier refused to pay.

A quick court appearance later with a geriatric specialist lawyer and lo and behold they came through.

Disgusting parasites. The "bean counters" think people don't have the where with all to fight back. Surprise.

[46zilzal]

Originally Posted by ljb

Prescription drug costs began escalating right after the ftc allowed drug companies to advertise their wares. The giant pharmaceuticals now spend as much or more on advertising as they do on research.

I saw a drug ad the other day which simply gave the drug name, NOT A MENTION OF WHAT IT WAS FOR.....then said "ask your doctor." What a load of crap. Self-diagnosis is one thing but to just throw a drug NAME up there? ludicrous.

Most all drug ads should be where the experienced practitioners can evaluate them one to another. The internet is large enough and if the user is smart, often providing enough real information, for interested patients to find out about the meds they are interested in without "trumpin up" business this way.

[jognlope]

The insurance execs play golf with the AMA heads, it's a fact.

[jognlope]

What about electricity, a government-sanctioned monopoly posing as a nonprofit? You're paying for the life styles of the employees, not electricity or its delivery. You're paying for inflated customer service pool that might as well be replaced be a computer menu since they don't do anything but regurgitate what the computer tells them anyway. You're paying for high salaries, huge pensions and early retirement. Not electricity or the delivery of it.

[46zilzal]

Originally Posted by jognlope

What about electricity, a government-sanctioned monopoly posing as a nonprofit? You're paying for the life styles of the employees, not electricity or its delivery. You're paying for inflated customer service pool that might as well be replaced be a computer menu since they don't do anything but regurgitate what the computer tells them anyway. You're paying for high salaries, huge pensions and early retirement. Not electricity or the delivery of it.

My wife recently found that out as she quit her position with the Hydro company here.