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The Right Prescription
A Pimp for Obamacare Feels the Pain
Next time, be more careful what you wish for.
When I began writing about the menace of increased federal involvement in our medical delivery system, I was surprised to discover that some doctors actually supported it. These misguided medicos represented only a small minority of practicing physicians, and most were profoundly ignorant about health care economics, but the “M.D.” following their names provided them with a façade of credibility. A number of these people took advantage of their illusory expertise in health care policy to launch blogs which they used to promote their notions of “health reform” and extol the virtues of government-run health care in general.
Among them was an ER physician who writes under the nom de plume “Shadowfax.” This particular “docblogger” stands out in my memory because he was peculiarly uninformed about the nuances of the issue and yet utterly dismissive of anyone, including other physicians, who attempted to make him understand that he would one day regret advocating an increased government role in medicine. I occasionally crossed swords with him myself, but it was an exercise in futility. Like most soi disant progressives, this self-satisfied sawbones couldn’t imagine that he might be on the wrong side of this or any other issue.
This unshakable belief in his own infallibility regarding government-administered health care was partly due to his hopelessly naïve view of Medicare, which he called “the most successful government program ever.” Never mind that this “success” had produced a $38 trillion unfunded liability, it was somehow “more efficient than private insurance.” Imagine my surprise, then, when I looked at the byline for this scathing piece bemoaning the depredations of that very program. The outraged author of “Medicare made the rules and now punishes doctors for following them” is none other than the redoubtable Shadowfax.
I haven’t read his blog for a while, but it would appear that the virtues of government-run health care have begun to pall for the good doctor. He has finally discovered what I and others told him years ago: Medicare rules are, as he apparently now realizes, “arbitrary and disconnected from reality.” He has also noticed that, when a physician runs afoul of these bureaucratic vagaries, the government is the judge, jury, and executioner. The immediate cause of his disillusionment is Medicare’s trick of performing a superficial audit of a doctor’s billing practices and, based on a hopelessly flawed statistical sampling method, accuses him of fraud.
Shadowfax querulously explains: “You get a letter from the Medicare … telling you that you’ve been reviewed, found guilty of upcoding, and this finding, based on a handful of charts, is extrapolated back several years.” The term “upcoding” is industry jargon indicating that a provider has submitted a claim using codes that produce inappropriately high payment. It’s rarely done deliberately, assuming it has actually occurred, but that doesn’t matter. “The result is a large demand for reparations, usually in the mid-to-high six figures. The physician group can either write a check or lawyer up and argue it chart by chart.”
Although physicians have been spared this kind of skullduggery until recently, hospitals have been enduring it for years, and the amounts involved are much larger. Moreover, as Shadowfax suggests, it’s a no win situation. Because Medicare uses a sampling method that makes a mockery of statistical analysis, its refund demands are often unjustified. But huge expenses are required to prove that. Either way, a lot of money disappears from the bank account of the hospital. And it gets worse. The recent “fiscal cliff” deal changed the rule so that Medicare can now demand refunds for “overpayments” made as far back as 5 years ago.
The most ironic feature of this program is that it proves our Beltway masters intend to do what Shadowfax and other advocates of government-run health care claimed they would never do — tell doctors how to practice medicine: “Medicare is … reviewing charts and claiming that the physicians are fraudulently upcoding because we are documenting complete Reviews of Systems when they were not … medically necessary.” In other words, the ultimate arbiter of medical necessity is no longer your doctor. This program means that the medical need for an examination, test, or procedure is retroactively determined by the government.
And “medical necessity” is the number one target in these retroactive chart audits. Why? Because, ultimately, the need to order a test or perform a procedure is a judgment call. Thus, it is easy for someone far removed from the situation, years later, to read a medical chart and claim that some feature of your doctor’s orders or documentation fails to conform with government standards. And these retroactive determinations are not made by brain surgeons. Most of the audits are carried out by nurses under the loose supervision of a “medical director,” usually some M.D. who finished medical school at the bottom of his class.
But that’s what you get when you let bureaucrats and politicians make the rules. Now Shadowfax whines, “What I hate about this is the underlying dishonesty.… If there’s an argument to be made that physicians are paid too much, then let’s have that debate on its merits. But the attempt to save money by harassing physicians and exploiting the contradictions within the rules that the government itself wrote is beyond maddening.” Well, dude, this is what you advocated for years. Government-run health care is — by its nature — dishonest, coercive, and corrupt. Now you, along with those of us to whom you refused to listen, are stuck with it.
About the Author
David Catron is a health care revenue cycle expert who has spent more than twenty years working for and consulting with hospitals and medical practices. He has an MBA from the University of Georgia and blogs at Health Care BS.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (212) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 1.11.13 @ 6:37AM
Be careful what you wish for, lest you get it.
Aristocat| 1.11.13 @ 6:42AM
Obamacare could be stopped if House Republicans had the courage to cut off funding for it....(Which they don't)
darcy| 1.11.13 @ 8:05PM
Oh, please. I am so tired of hearing about House Republicans who have no courage to do the job they were elected to do. Perhaps one in a hundred, maybe two, have even the principle to do what is needed, much less the courage, given the political -- and cultural -- climate.
The rest have no courage because they have NO CONVICTION. They are PART OF THE PROBLEM. And a very big problem, since they campaign as if they will oppose the degradation of the nation, when truth be told, they are in it to amass their own special status as rulers over serfs.
Tina B| 1.12.13 @ 12:41PM
Amen.
Rhoetus| 1.13.13 @ 4:03PM
The US hasn't had a budget for several years. Since the Constitution [a barbaric relic of the past according to Left-Liberals] requires that spending and taxation originate in the House of Representatives, Mr. Aristocat: 1. How do the House Republicans cut off funding when there clearly isn't a budget to adjust? 2. How does Congress intervene to stop the IRS from punishing individuals under this law? 3. How does Congress intervene with Federal Agencies to prevent them from punishing doctors and health care providers?
delahaya| 2.13.13 @ 1:20PM
Exactly. The whole flouting of the budget law by Obama is not incompetence, it was deliberate. It also allowed him to run up $6 trillion on new debt and hid some of the pain of his miserable policies.
Stormy| 1.14.13 @ 10:11AM
Yes, and we would never have gotten Obamacare if we did not have a corrupt and dishonest Democrat majority in Congress in 2009. And, how did they get there? Blame the clueless voters who put them there, along with a little bit of voter fraud (Al Franken).
dickdata| 1.17.13 @ 2:49PM
The House has repealed Obmacare 33 times. What no online conservative seems to realize is that to pass a law, it has to pass both houses of Congress and be signed by the President. Obamacare is a self-contained law - all of the funding necessary for it to operate are contained withing the original bill. The House Republicans have done everything that they can to stop Obamacare - they will probably vote to repeal it another 33 times in the next two years - all to no avail.
Gary B| 1.11.13 @ 6:51AM
Blow back for yet another pack of pseudo-intellectual, useful idiots. These empty-suit MDs can join the ranks of other Obama voters whose 2013 paychecks look a little different.
Jack in Wi| 1.11.13 @ 7:49AM
We nominated an inarticulate dunderhead who gave us Romneycare. No wonder the Republicans are in the toilet? We haven't had a real conservative nominee except Reagan in my long life. I could include Goldwater, but he was an inarticulate dunderhead as well. Even Reagan was an old man who could only do so much.
C. Vernon Crisler | 1.11.13 @ 9:34AM
Jack, you are not a conservative. Please stop pretending to be one. You are an anti-semitic, McGovernite, anarchist, libertarian sychophant of Ron Paul.
Jack in Wi| 1.11.13 @ 10:26AM
Chisler: You are no conservative, but a fifth columnist for a nasty foreign power. I consider you right up there with Julius and Ethel. America First. You forgot to include Buchanan? I have been a Republican and a conservative my whole life. Pray and work to end abortion and war. Praise be Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.
Drunken Sailor| 1.11.13 @ 11:01AM
And I can call myself a NBA Star but that doesn't make it so.
Jack in Wi| 1.11.13 @ 11:17AM
Who listens to a drunk? I voted the Republican ticket in 13 straight elections. I have pictures of myself with G. H W Bush Babs on 2 occasions, Oliver North. Tommy Thompson, William F. Buckley, and Michael Medved at a pro-life dinner. I have those pictures because I was the biggest contributor in the room. I subscribed to and read National Review for 42 years. I was also a financial contributor to the magazine for many years. In fact I was invited to the 25th aniversary party of the magazine in 1980 and I went. I met Lowell Thomas and his wife and beat Walter Cronkite to the buffett table. You on the other hand are a Fifth columnist of a nasty Middle East regime and an admitted old drunk.
Drunken Sailor| 1.11.13 @ 11:37AM
My, my, One thing for sure is your a blotivated, self-pimping, egotistical blowhard that thinks throwing around a bunch of names you may or may not have know means something.
Were you also married to Morgan Fairchild?
And 46 aint old. Now go chase someone off your lawn.
loulou| 1.11.13 @ 12:48PM
Ignore the lose in Wi. He/she/it is becoming unhinged.
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 4:53PM
DS
Very good. You remembered the Jon Lovitz character, the liar, who said whatever, and then "yeah, I was married to Morgan Fairchild."
Jack has lost it. He comes here only to start complaining about Israel. Maybe he is auditioning for Algore's Aljazeera.
Cabermon| 1.13.13 @ 2:47PM
So you beat ol' Walter to the "buffett" table, eh?
Would that be the "jimmy buffett" or "warren buffett" table?
If you had a mind, I'm sure you'd be a legend in it.
Rhoetus| 1.13.13 @ 4:13PM
You got 'em on the run now Jack in Wi. For Pete's sake I hope that AmSpec doesn't replace the observation of one being "soft on Communism" with one "being soft on Islam."
C. Vernon Crisler | 1.11.13 @ 11:32AM
Israel is a nasty foreign power? In comparison to whom?
I would be honored if Israel ever wanted to use my services.
Jack in Wi| 1.11.13 @ 1:31PM
Chisler: At least you admit you are a Fifth Columnist. You will notice I didn't bring up your homeland here first, you did. America First! Sic Semper Tyrannis. Pray for peace and the oppressed and brutalized people of Palistine. They are the cousins of Jesus and the Apostles.
C. Vernon Crisler | 1.11.13 @ 2:41PM
I understand now; you must be a Moslem and a member of the Palestine First committee.
Occam's Tool| 1.11.13 @ 2:55PM
Mr. Crisler: no, my dear, dear sir: Jack is a self admitted coward who made lots of money off government contracts who refers to the Holocaust as "so-called" and claims he's not antisemitic.
He's an idiot, and a Packers fan.
Occam's Tool| 1.11.13 @ 2:56PM
By the way, Mr. Crisler: I generally agree with your arguments, and I like your writing style. Feel free to nail Jack every day. He reminds me a good deal of that British television icon who recently died---Jack is in favor of child abuse.
C. Vernon Crisler | 1.11.13 @ 11:21PM
Thanks OT. As you know, Jack is one of our broken record posters, who copies and pastes the same stuff every day. It's impossible to respond to everything he says, but every once in a while, he inspires me.
Jack in Wi| 1.12.13 @ 3:20AM
Obviously I am a Christian and worship Jesus, and revere the Apostles. Just as you are of the Hebrew faith in some way. There are so many divisions in your faith. You can get citizenship in Israel if you are 25% Jewish and have no ancestors who ever liveed there. But the Palistinians who have roots going back 5000 years are treated like vermin and dogs. You can be a Jewish atheist, agnostic, reformed, Orthodox etc and get in. But if you are 100% of Jewish background and a practicing Christian here is no citizenship for you allowed.
C. Vernon Crisler | 1.12.13 @ 11:37AM
Jack, I'm am not of the Hebrew faith in some way. I am a Christian. Nor am I Jewish, though I would say along with Tolkien that I regret I have no ancestors among that gifted people.
Rhoetus| 1.13.13 @ 4:07PM
The pop-corn is now hot and fresh!
TNcracker | 1.11.13 @ 5:56PM
Hey Jack-- you are such a bitter old fool Jew-hater I will be pulling against the Packers. I am so sick of reading your sickening harangues.
Jack in Wi| 1.12.13 @ 3:10AM
The Fifth Column pats itself on the back again. The more nonsense comments I get from you birds the happier I am. As the old saying say about sticks and stones breaking bones but names will never hurt. In fact in your cases I consider it a compliment. I usually try to stick to the point. You guys are the disrupters.
delahaya| 2.13.13 @ 1:24PM
Jack,
The Palestinians are a murder cult akin to the Thugees of ancient India. To add insult to injury, they are also a welfare state - literally, not figuratively - and their victims are actually paying a lot of the welfare! Yep, if the Palestinians actually ran Israel "into the sea" their governments and economy would collapse overnight.
Stan Redmond| 1.11.13 @ 4:07PM
Mostly right. Dole, McCain, Bush, Romney... Libearl establishment types.
But not about Reagan. I was a youngen then but grew up in a world watching the soviets crumble and have the great pleasure to work in places like Poland where his footprint is still felt and appreciated.
Cats1cowboy| 1.13.13 @ 10:54AM
"Romneycare" was voted in by The People of Massachusetts for The People of Massachusetts. That is a State right and not one of the enumerated powers granted to the federal government. Look it up and then apologize for being too lazy to look it up before you posrtewd your uninformed comment.
Occam's Tool| 1.11.13 @ 2:53PM
This MD has despised Obamacare for a long, long time. I've worked in an NHS: Shadowfax deserves to get the anal raping by the government auditors he requested. I hope he hurts and screams a long, long time.
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 8:58AM
If it sounds to good to be true....................
This "THING" was written for only one reason. To Fail. That's Liberalism. It's the old "Road to Hell......Good Intentions" thing, for like the Thousandth time.
FDR's New Deal was gonna be the best thing since Hostess Twinkees. (Oops) The Government would throw Money around in every direction. Not so much to help the people, as to Control them. Control Wages (Nice Work if you can get it) Control the means of Production. Control every aspect of everybody's lives.
Unions used to be a Good Thing. Now they have become like Locusts, descending on Businesses and Cities and Stripping them Bare, til nothing is left but Detroit.
LBJ's Great Society was gonna Save Black America. It Destroyed it.
School Busing would help all of the Children. All it did was make the White Kids worse, while doing nothing at all for the Black Kids.
Sex Education was gonna stop Teen Pregnancies. It Quadrupled them, at least.
Affirmative Action has made every Minority Hire a Suspect. Is Dr. Jones really a good Doctor? Or did some Liberal Judge force some Medical School to give him a Diploma?
Obama got $900 Billion for Job Creation. THANK GOD! He pissed it all away. No Jobs.
By Electing him, we were gonna shed that Racist label once and for all. Race Relations are worse than they've been in a Generation.
FREE HEALTHCARE.
Really?
Von Mises Jr| 1.11.13 @ 9:45AM
If you understand "progressivism," it could not have worked out better. "Progressivism" was the baby of the Wilson regime "Brain Trust" such as Croly, Dewey, Goodnow and La Follette and other intellectuals (read socialist) educated at the Frankfort School. The failure of the Soviet/Bolsheviks and others led to a revision of Marxist doctrine from ownership of the means of production to "control."
So it has been a stunning success for the socialist. For the sick, not so much. There will be many very wealthy bureaucrats and other socialist as a result.
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 10:23AM
Tim and Von
I know many doctors who voted for Obama, and most cannot explain why.
Von Mises Jr| 1.11.13 @ 10:32AM
I know a doctor who was a fund raiser for Obama. When he gives a prostate exam, he uses his head.
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 10:37AM
Which head?
Oldefarte| 1.11.13 @ 1:11PM
Well if he was "a fund raiser for Obama" then his head and its brains are contained in his right middle/rubber-gloved finger that he customerially inserts within the object of that "prostate exam"!!!!
Occam's Tool| 1.11.13 @ 2:57PM
Oldefarte: usually we use our index fingers for this type of exam. I'm serious.
lost| 1.11.13 @ 12:01PM
Everyone I know that voted for Obama can not explain why they voted for Obama. The most they can say is he is fixing what Bush messed up. To them the banks failing is his doing only.
loulou| 1.11.13 @ 12:50PM
I had an Obama voter tell me she voted for him "because his heart is in the right place."
chuck| 1.13.13 @ 8:57AM
Too bad his head is up his ASS!
Oldefarte| 1.11.13 @ 1:13PM
Oh he's "fixing" it okay, and same solution is similar to the process VMJ describes above regarding a prostate exam by a doctor!!!!!!!!
Tom Kyba| 1.11.13 @ 11:38AM
At the risk of eliciting a comment re my lips and his ass, TLP you've absolutely knocked it out of the park this time.
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 1:34PM
If this was The Contest?
You would have already Won.
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 4:02PM
And, what do you mean - THIS TIME?
old white guy| 1.11.13 @ 9:31AM
they are going to get it.
C. Vernon Crisler | 1.11.13 @ 9:31AM
Yes, it's time to get out our violins and start crying crocodile tears. People deserve what they vote for.
spike59| 1.18.13 @ 6:20AM
"Be careful what you wish for, lest you get it."
------------------------------------------------------
and get it good and hard; i'm LOVING all those Obamazombies whining about payroll taxes going up
The Avenger| 1.11.13 @ 6:38AM
It is amazing how a progressive whines like a little school girl when they get hoisted on their own petard. I hope Shadowfax suffers till the end of his career for his terminal case of stupidity.
Darin| 1.11.13 @ 6:53AM
People like Shadowfax need to be called out, and the only way they can regain credibility is if they publically (and repeatedly) state that they were wrong and include the specifics. Yes, this seems over-the-top, but the general public is dull-witted and slow on the uptake.
Gary B| 1.11.13 @ 6:53AM
Another stupid intellectual...
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.11.13 @ 7:35AM
Liberals never get the facts. They always act like there's a prize in every box.
Cats1cowboy| 1.13.13 @ 10:56AM
The prizes in the boxes were cheap, plastic junk. Go figure.
chuck| 1.11.13 @ 7:55AM
Nothing quite like seeing a liberal bitch-slapped by reality.
Just makes my day.
John Navratil| 1.11.13 @ 8:46AM
chuck,
Some people figure it out for themselves. Others can be taught. The rest have to get mugged by reality. Sadly, the last group votes, too!
Von Mises Jr| 1.11.13 @ 9:54AM
The amazing thing is that many liberals are so brainwashed that if they are mugged daily they get used to it and seem to develop the Stockholm syndrome of loving their abusers.
When things get really bad, their lack of any connection to reality forces them to blame the people trying to save them from the menace.
It is amazing to listen to Rush as he explains how the liberal media apparently misunderstands his statements using his hyperbole and satire as if it were serious. But I think Rush is either wrong or perhaps playing with the MSM since I think that the so-called intellectuals understand they are using his words out of context. They simply know that the average liberal idiot like our troll Perp, Jefferson, Arnie, nathan or whoever Caliban plays today is too stupid to know they are propagandizing the liberal base since they ARE too stupid to figure it out.
PolishKnight| 1.11.13 @ 10:38AM
I had an epiphany when arguing an issue with a liberal on the bus: She said "Don't try arguing with me. I know how to win arguments!" which means she prides herself on the ability to lie.
Purp and the rest of 'em know what they're doing and they're proud of it. They think if they have guns in the right hands (the government) pointed at people who disagree with them, then 2+2=5. Reality is what those in power say it is. In the very least, it doesn't really matter since the most important thing to them is: "winning" (at least their party winning) and showing how everything bad is due to some evil Republican hiding under the bed.
I pride myself on having rejected an ideology that's embraced by the young and then slowly discarded by them as they approach middle age because I'm ahead of the curve. Another trait of the left is how they love being cool and trendy. Are you trending on twitter? Being a conservative is about being "uncool" and caring about your family responsibilities, end results for your community, and personal success based upon your own merit. These are all adult things and not for the playboys (and playgirls) in college and their 20's just having a good time.
Drunken Sailor| 1.11.13 @ 11:05AM
"In the very least, it doesn't really matter since the most important thing to them is: "winning" (at least their party winning) and showing how everything bad is due to some evil Republican hiding under the bed."
Well put PK, in simpler terms, they are the Charlie Sheens of the politcal world. They live in their own reality.
PolishKnight| 1.11.13 @ 12:36PM
One of the neat things about facebook and connecting with childhood chums, and bullies, and gals who wouldn't give you the time of day in high school is that it puts things into perspective. Most people grow up and part of growing up for most people is becoming wiser. Some people move past their "glory days" and have kids, get a normal job and stop being both insecure and arrogant and others don't. The others are usually lifetime liberals.
For all the talk of the Democrats being the party of the young, the reality is that the Obama election demographics showed that among whites and especially white males, for the first time in history a majority of them "get it" that the Democrat party is not about helping them. The realities are so obvious that even the "young" get it. The only way Obama can win elections is via Jim Crow policies projected upon his opponents and voter apathy among the right.
Being a leftist is cool but also rather lonely which is why they like to hang out here. As they get old and fight for handicapped parking spaces at Rolling Stones concerts, there are fewer of them around to compliment each other on how cool they are. The Fonz now pushes reverse mortgages to seniors. We're now the guys in the leather jackets who are rebels with a cause.
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 4:12PM
And, by the way?
2+2 always = 5 to these people.
Von Mises Jr| 1.11.13 @ 1:07PM
They are Sophist who argued such nonsense as "Is a man that seeks knowledge wise or ignorant?"
If you answer wise, then the reply is that it cannot be since if he is already wise, why would he need to learn?
And if you answer then he must be ignorant, then the reply is that if he is ignorant then he cannot learn.
The trick is "learn" and "wise" are used both as nouns and verbs to confuse the logical conclusion by confounding the terms. This is what our politicians and MSM do repeatedly to lie today.
Rhoetus| 1.12.13 @ 10:57AM
Being ignorant and willing to learn makes one wise in regards to seeking knowledge. Ignorance and stupidity are different words with entirely different meanings.
Von Mises Jr| 1.12.13 @ 2:52PM
The Sophist deception was to conflate the meanings of words. This is what politicians, MSM and other liberals do today as well.
When Plato's dialogues of Socrates were translated, the words did not correspond directly in the first place. They had different words for things we might use the same such as “to read” versus “to have read,” or perhaps like Eskimos that have over a dozen words for snow.
When we try to talk to liberals it is even worse, since they have reversed the meanings of words such as "liberalism" or "freedom" or "justice."
Von Mises Jr| 1.13.13 @ 8:29AM
Another example might be "drive." The Ancients up to and including the Greeks would "drive" a chariot into battle that is unrelated to the "drive" they may have to win the battle. But by using the word inconsistently in an argument, one could say that if he turned and fled, would he still "drive" and/or have "drive."
Occam's Tool| 1.11.13 @ 3:01PM
PK: did you answer, well, then I suppose a *&^% is out of the question?
That's a good way to bring the argument to a screeching halt.
Another, which I used with a beautiful mixed breed French/Vietnamese girl when we we arguing about how evil America was:
"Yes, we Americans are evil. We only saved your French tails in 3 wars in the last Century." (I had already decided she was too Liberal to screw, so I didn't mind pissing her off---even at age 19, I tried to maintain some standards, even though she looked like a cat, and I find Asians particularly attractive.)
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 4:32PM
Why do you care WHAT the government is doing, since you are so individualistic, able to care for yourself, a self-made man?
Why do you even concern yourself, UNLESS YOU want the government to do something else? How is that limited government, if it does YOUR bidding?
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 4:57PM
Purp the Village Idiot says God caused Hurricane Sandy to help Obama. Purpie believes God killed hundreds and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials.
Some soul searching of conservative attitudes is in order, for sure."
Why answer this stupid, bigoted moron, just mock and ridicule him with his own words
Kwan| 1.11.13 @ 8:30AM
Past: Community Reinvestment Act=HousingCare=Caused financial meltdown.
Present:HealthCare for everyone including illegal aliens=ObamaCare= Another financial meltdown.
Future:Income Equality for all including illegal aliens=IncomeCare=Another financial meltdown.
Yes it's your Democrat Party in action bankrupting the nation and winning the future thru legislative insanity.
Simon Templar| 1.11.13 @ 8:55AM
Excellent synopsis.
Allow me to add.
In all instances of liberal government intervention it is expressly forbidden to question any aspects, elements, corruption, failure, or inefficiency. Punishment will be labeling as a racist or hater of any minority group whether that be the aged, women, blacks, or whatever and the accusation that you want to do harm to these groups or individuals. One is expressly forbidden to offer any alternatives, discontinuation of the intervention, or propose any changes to these interventions. Any such actions will result in the same punishment.
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 1:51PM
Simon - what the hell are you blabbering about? It makes no sense.
Occam's Tool| 1.11.13 @ 3:06PM
Purp: Government run health systems do not like their power challenged in any way. Try, for example, bringing up that Maori are being killed off by their own NZ government because Wellburtrin for smoking cessation is not covered, and you will be severely criticized by your own psychiatric colleagues. Groupthink is pervasive in the NHS systems of Britain and the Commonwealth; that is what makes the Nobel Prize in Medicine won for H Pylori etiology of gastic ulcers particularly impressive. It is also why the US beats the snot out of the UK in Nobels in Medicine, and why individualistic Jews win Nobels in Medicine more than any other ethnic group.
Capisce?
Jack London| 1.11.13 @ 4:22PM
I just checked and in overall Nobels the UK is way ahead of us per capita, and since 2000 they've had eight medicine Nobels to our 16 which isn't 'beating the snot out of them' given we are 5-6 times bigger.
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 4:40PM
And yet, it was the government that invented the Internet, the Polio vaccine, abolished Smallpox from the planet, defeated Naziism and Communism, and put Men on the Moon.
I might also point out that the United States garnered more Nobels (I thought you didn't like Nobel Prizes on the Right), patents and inventions than any other country for over 100 years - far longer than any National Healthcare system - except Germany perhaps, who have had National Healthcare since the 1880's.
Notice you never mention Germany's Century old Healthcare system - why is that? How about Sweden or Switzerland's? Why? Because THEY are all quite successful and equal or better to our system and far, far cheaper.
You on the right are wrong, making profits in healthcare off of other's misery is immoral and wrong. We had and will have again a good healthcare system without all the profit mongers running the show. The proof is all over the world, the parts you don't examine, of course. You cherry pick.
So your "All Bad Government" isn't really "ALL BAD" is it?
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 4:58PM
Purp the Village Idiot says God caused Hurricane Sandy to help Obama. Purpie believes God killed hundreds and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials.
Some soul searching of conservative attitudes is in order, for sure."
Why answer this stupid, bigoted moron, just mock and ridicule him with his own words
Jack London| 1.11.13 @ 5:01PM
Hey Occam - you can add CJW to your funny farm list.
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 5:08PM
thanks Commie Jack, coming from you, purpie's defender, it is a compliment.
Jack London| 1.11.13 @ 4:58PM
Indeed - I've never understood why people here want to shut down out great labs such as Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Livermore, the NCI and Sandia, and NCI/Bethesda, and defund academic research in universities. Where do they think massive amounts of our innovation come from?
C. Vernon Crisler | 1.12.13 @ 11:40AM
It was not government that did these things. It was taxpayers.
Kwan| 1.12.13 @ 8:47AM
You are entirely correct Mr. Templar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWr_1uLjqic. Please pay no attention to the Purpabatamas. He's the result of a medical experiment that went wrong, and now a Net Squad is attempting to capture him so that he can be placed in an Institution for the Criminally Insane.
Gary B| 1.11.13 @ 11:42AM
"Yes it's your Democrat Party in action bankrupting the nation and winning the future thru legislative insanity."
Aided and abetted behind the scenes by Republicans. The public show takes place on the floor of the House and Senate. The deal making takes place in bars and at cocktail parties. It's another form of incest.
Tina B| 1.11.13 @ 12:55PM
And bedrooms.
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 1:50PM
Total Right Wing Blather Bulls**t.
You Conservatives and Republicans did bankrupt the country TWICE - in 1929, and in 2008 - don't shirk your responsibility. YOU added 10.5 Trillion to the debt, didn't pay for what you spent, EVER, and then want to blame those that raised taxes to pay for what was spent? Puhlease.
Scream all you want and believe the propaganda spin from those hiding the facts from you - but too many Americans know the truth. You need to catch up, Hon.
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 2:14PM
Purp the Village Idiot says God caused Hurricane Sandy to help Obama. Purpie believes God killed hundreds and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials.
Some soul searching of conservative attitudes is in order, for sure."
Why answer this stupid, bigoted moron, just mock and ridicule him with his own words.
Tina B| 1.13.13 @ 8:12AM
Don't Hon me AH. I have not absorbed any propaganda since becoming an American Citizen at 16. My Polish Dad taught me all I needed to know about Communist takeovers and facts can be researched and that's what I do a lot ofvthe time now that I've retired.
You want propaganda? Go to any public school and walk into a revisionist history classroom, any evolution and AGW promoting science classroom, and soon any non-self-respecting language arts teacher's classroom, (see Common Core) you will find copious amounts of anti-American anti-Biblical anti-family propaganda. I thank God I became a math teacher who never had to speak the
Party line about how to factor and graph quadratic equations. Math is one of God's languages to mankind, says Galileo and Mrs. B, to anyone who would listen. You, Purple plague, are the propaganda machine. Prove me wrong.
Jack London| 1.11.13 @ 8:47AM
So everything is just fine in the private insurance sector then - no complicated rules, denials etc at all. And remind me - just which private insurers will insure an 80 year old with chronic health conditions?
Simon Templar| 1.11.13 @ 8:56AM
Thank you for illustrating my point.
Jack London| 1.11.13 @ 9:26AM
Your point in this case isn't much of one - this Shadowfax guy would argue to improve Medicare, not to consign our elders to the uninsurable hell of the private 'market'.
Simon Templar| 1.11.13 @ 10:03AM
The point was not directed at Shadowfax.
It was directed at you.
Jack London| 1.11.13 @ 11:09AM
I say the same as him.
Drunken Sailor| 1.11.13 @ 11:11AM
It's above his pay grade Simon.
Another thing that boggles my mind is how Liberals scream for goverment run healthcare like in Europe but don't even bother to see how those countries pay for it.
Universal health care is paid for by taxes. The connection they fail to make is it is paid for by taxing EVERYONE, not just the rich.
Take Italy for example:
Taxable Income (EUR) Tax Rate
Up to 15,000 23%
15,001 – 28,000 27%
28,001 – 55,000 38%
55,001 – 75,000 41%
Over 75,000 43%
In addition to the above progressive rates, a regional surcharge (variable rate from 0.9% to 1.4%) is payable and an additional municipal tax could be charged and fixed locally.
Can you imagine the screaming that would insue if we suggested taking the lowest incomes at 23%, not to mention any surcharges or municpal taxes?
They want their candy but want someone else to pay for it. Worse than spoiled children.
Jack in Wi| 1.11.13 @ 11:23AM
You forgot a huge value added tax. No wonder the black economy is all that Italy has going for it. No one can live at these tax rates. You have to cheat on your taxes to exist.
Drunken Sailor| 1.11.13 @ 11:39AM
Stand on a street corner in Naples for 30 minutes and you will see the black economy happen all around you. Coming to a market near you.
Frank Drackman| 1.11.13 @ 12:33PM
Jack, I usually just call you a Homo in the modern useage, you know, shorthand for "Stupid", but if you think all Italy's got going for it is the Black Economy(I've been to Italy, hardly any Blacks) you really are a Homo. Have you been there? even the MILFs have MILFs...
Frank
Jack in Wi| 1.12.13 @ 8:37AM
Dreck: I have been there 3 times, from Venice to Palermo. Been to Naples 3 times, Rome 3 times. Venice twice, Avelino twice, Sorrento twice, Verona, Palermo, The Amalfi Coast, Leghorn, Florence, Sienna, The straights of Taranto, Mt Stromboli, Pompei, the Tuscan country side, The Po Valley, Capri once and places in between. My ancestors came from Avelino on the back side of Mt Vesuvius. It is a beautiful place. We are the most artistic and wonderful people in the world. My ancestors ruled the world a long time. Yours on the other hand well, sad very sad? The economy on the black side is the only thing keeping the people able to feed themselves. We are going to have to do the same thing here. Now put on your new dress and head down to the bath house with Occam, TLP, and Drunken Sailor. They are awaiting you. They say in the Israeli press that Tel Aviv is the most gay friendly place in the world. No wonder you guys love it so much.
TLP| 1.12.13 @ 6:08PM
The only person you might find there, is President Gay Bathhouse Boy.
And, you know it.
Gary B| 1.11.13 @ 11:48AM
"Liberals scream for government run healthcare like in Europe but don't even bother to see how those countries pay for it."
A famous person once said, "Stupid is as stupid does." Watch a liberal for ten minutes if you want to see quintessential stupid. There is no rational explanation, so you have to put it down to mental illness.
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 1:54PM
Gary, Gary - do you bother to read the nutcases here?
Your belief system is so out of whack and your facts are gathered from the Conservative Entertainment Media who wouldn't know a fact if it bit them, you have no clue how to analyze your own kind, let alone someone else.
Keep to your own, you're out of your league.
Frank Drackman| 1.11.13 @ 12:31PM
when you add in Social Security, State, Local we already do tax the lowest incomes at umm lets see,
15% fed, + 15% FICA, 3-5% State, and thats not even counting all the Tobacco/Alcohol/Lottery ticket taxes the Least (productive/smart) among us pay...
Frank
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 1:56PM
It's quite simple Frankie - America wants it, it has to pay for it... and that means higher taxes.
Get used to the idea. You want it, you have to pay for it. No more borrowing. Pay for it. Higher taxes pay for it. Period.
Get it now?
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 2:16PM
Purp the Village Idiot says God caused Hurricane Sandy to help Obama. Purpie believes God killed hundreds and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials.
Some soul searching of conservative attitudes is in order, for sure."
Why answer this stupid, bigoted moron, just mock and ridicule him with his own words.
Frank Drackman| 1.11.13 @ 2:29PM
Get it now? That you like Cock? I think its pretty self evident from your Monacle "Purp"??? Why not just call yourself "Dick Throb-Vein"????
And I like what some of my taxes pay for, Electric Chairs, Jails, Abortions...
Frank
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 7:30PM
You are obsessed with cock - get laid will ya? Maybe you can get it off your mind. Go find a nice boy and have it it... you'll feel better and stop projecting your needs onto others.
Otherwise get to a doctor quick... uh, not Dr Dum-Dum ... he's a homo
Doctor Right| 1.11.13 @ 4:02PM
LOL!
A liberal telling people that if they want something, they have to pay for it!!!
TOO PRICELESS FOR WORDS!!!!
(Purp...you REALLY are ignorant. Truly, hopelessly ignorant.)
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 7:28PM
Doctor Dum-Dum - you do know who put the most on the National Debt, don't you? Go ahead, I'll wait.... lalalalala ... time's up !
Ronald Reagan, HW Bush and GW Bush - $10.5 Trillion worth. An inconvenient fact that apparently you are oblivious to... but I expected that from Dr Dum-Dum.
YOU and your party are the irresponsible jokes that spend and borrow, not the Liberals. They pay their way.
But you'll be paying your way from now on, Bubba.
spike59| 1.18.13 @ 10:12AM
#1-you're forgetting bubba clinton and every president since the beginning of the Republic....
#2-you're neglecting to mention that, even if your contention were true ($10.5 trillion in 20 years, or just over $.5 trillion per year), then ObaMao makes them look like pikers, racking up $6 trillion in 4 years ($1.5 trillion per year)
talk about 'an inconvenient fact'...oopsie?
George S| 1.11.13 @ 12:24PM
So how do you improve the system for seniors? By taking 700 billion out of it so you can insure EVERYBODY? Boy, the math sure adds up on that!
You cannot "improve" Medicare and -- and -- at the same time expand it to cover everybody (which is what ObamaCare does once it puts the private insurers out of business -- check that -- makes the private insurers agents of the government).
I suppose we could print money to pay for health care (just borrow it from China). But if we could do that, why not borrow the same money that tax increases would realize? Then everybody doesn't have to pay taxes and can then afford to pay their health care.
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 1:58PM
They didn't "take 700 Billion out of it".
But let's say they did - So does Paul Ryan and he does worse by putting the costs over a set amount on the back of the Seniors. Republicans believe in Death Panels, only they are called - can't pay - DIE.
You think that is a solution?
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 2:17PM
Purp the Village Idiot says God caused Hurricane Sandy to help Obama. Purpie believes God killed hundreds and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials.
Some soul searching of conservative attitudes is in order, for sure."
Why answer this stupid, bigoted moron, just mock and ridicule him with his own words.
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 9:13AM
And which Health Care System's RATIONING BOARD will give that 80 year old lady a Pain Pill, instead of the Expensive Medicines and Treatments that she needs, to stay alive?
Go back to England, get sick, and Die like that Country is dying from all of ITS Liberal Utopian Stupidty.
Leftist Libealism - RUIN BRITTANIA!
DEATH TO AMERICA!
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 2:00PM
None Timmy, and they don't today either. Insurance companies make that decision right now to let Grandma die and that's without the Government involved at all.
You just didn't know because Fixed News didn't scream about THAT ...
Otherwise you don't know what you're talking about.
Doctor Right| 1.11.13 @ 4:05PM
...And of course, once the Government has their hands on the money, they'll be so magnanimous with it, won't they?
They'll set your sick granny up in a spacious, modern, fully-furnished apartment, with all the latest appliances and all the best healthcare money can buy, right???
LOL!!! Say "Hello" to the Death Panels, and say "Good-Bye" to granny, you blithering idiot.
If you think arguing with your private insurance company is a drag, wait 'til you have to argue with the Feds!!!!
(Oh, the Libs are in for SUCH a rude awakening!!!)
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 7:35PM
Hyperbole as usual... snarky at that. Useless idiot that you are. Making useless arguments that sound so stupid.
You can change the people that run the government - ya know, it's called "Elections" - but you CAN"T change the CEOs that run insurance companies, now can you?
Moreover, Seniors have enjoyed Medicare for decades ... and aren't about to ditch it - ask any Senior. I guess that doesn't tell your pea brain anything, huh?
OMG you're dumb.. Dr. Dum-Dum fits so well.
Frank Drackman| 1.12.13 @ 8:17AM
only Homos and 13 year old girls say "OMG"
"Elections"???
there's another way to change the people that run government.
Don't call the FBI, it's called "Impeachment"
or "Lung Cancer"
Frank
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 4:59PM
Purp the Village Idiot says God caused Hurricane Sandy to help Obama. Purpie believes God killed hundreds and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials.
Some soul searching of conservative attitudes is in order, for sure."
Why answer this stupid, bigoted moron, just mock and ridicule him with his own words
spike59| 1.18.13 @ 10:14AM
purp the village idiot says Ambassadors Stevens is to blame for his own murder...
old white guy| 1.11.13 @ 9:33AM
hang on to your hat. being 80 in america is becoming a severe liability. obamacare will see to that.
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 2:00PM
It already is - didn't you know? Didn't Rush tell you THAT?
Obamacare has nothing to do with it.
Doctor Right| 1.11.13 @ 4:07PM
Ever listen to Limbaugh?
Better yet, try calling him! He'll put you to the front of the line.
And make sure to give a shout-out to all your fans here at TASOnline, too.
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 7:36PM
What are you blabbering about now? Some more useless nonsense I see, Dr Dum-Dum.
spike59| 1.18.13 @ 10:16AM
being 80 in america will become a rare occurance. obamacare will see to that.
--------------------------
there-fixed it for ya
Nancy in NC| 1.11.13 @ 9:43AM
Typical liberal logic...point to one bad thing to justify another.
The insurance industry has been controlled by the government too, you thick witted moron. There is no free market in America.
If we were able to buy insurance like we did a car or other consumer goods, we as the consumer would have a voice.
Drunken Sailor| 1.11.13 @ 11:13AM
Exactly, Heaven forbid we be able to buy health insurance across state lines and have competition work to our advantage.
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 1:47PM
All you in the RED states that allow the Federal govt to set up your Health Exchanges, will, in effect, have insurance bought across state lines - For those 30 states you will have come closer to the Single Payer System that Liberals want.
Thank You.
Gary B| 1.11.13 @ 11:50AM
As the saying goes, "You think it's expensive now, wait 'til it's free."
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 2:01PM
As if you would have the medical knowledge to make that decision. You wouldn't and you would get screwed... and you wouldn't even know.
It's not the same hon for the things we comparison shop.
Frank Drackman| 1.11.13 @ 2:30PM
"hon" ???? how is that T4 cell count anyway????
Warrior| 1.11.13 @ 2:45PM
I read his scattered and inarticulate talking point bullshit. He like a cross between those little transformers that keep getting electro shock, a yapping chihuahua with hot sauce rubbed on his ass, R2D2 after a laser shot and Ellen DeGeneres reading a Playboy magazine.
Answering Frank "Purp's a f&$^g idiot' Drackman
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 3:40PM
Warrior - so what's your point boy?
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 3:39PM
How did you now I infected you?
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 4:59PM
Purp the Village Idiot says God caused Hurricane Sandy to help Obama. Purpie believes God killed hundreds and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials.
Some soul searching of conservative attitudes is in order, for sure."
Why answer this stupid, bigoted moron, just mock and ridicule him with his own words
pogybait| 1.11.13 @ 10:00AM
The only way we're going to make this a perfect Socialist Utopia is if we put a stop to this voodoo rhetoric from right-wing polemicists that sabotage the system! GET ON THE BOXCAR!!!! NOW!!!!
Tom Kyba| 1.11.13 @ 11:41AM
I'm still looking for the article or comments declaring the private insurance health care system perfect, or even fine, for that matter.
Nope, still can't find it.
cheeflo| 1.11.13 @ 6:29PM
It isn't perfect, but most rational people don't look for perfection. They look for what works and the market typically adjusts enterprises that don't work. That's not true of liberals, who labor under the delusion that perfection is achievable and double down when reality doesn't comply. Much of what is wrong with the private insurance business is a result of government meddling. Do you think that ObamaCare is going to work perfectly? As a matter of fact, it's not going to work as intended at all. That's true of virtually every government program in existence.
lost| 1.11.13 @ 12:09PM
You do know that private insurers are heavily regulated by the government and is fairly large reason they have complicated rules?
George S| 1.11.13 @ 12:13PM
Private insurers approve treatment codes at a far higher rate than Medicare. Plus, private insurers can easily be dealt with if they deny a claim. Just call them. All it takes is a little homework on your part and you too can pick up an error on the physician's coding and then have a reasonable conversation with a reasonable employee of a private insurance company.
As far as that 80 year old goes: how is he helped if Medicare questions his doctor's treatment? What good is Medicare if doctors are afraid to prescribe a treatment that may be denied five years into the future?
See, Jack... having Medicare is one thing. Having doctors not be afraid of it is another. Or in other words: you have access to the system but the system will deny you care in the form of a physician or hospital being stingy on the care they provide because the government may call them on it.
Welcome to Utopia.
Jack London| 1.11.13 @ 2:47PM
I guess you didn't understand the point that an 80 year old with chronic illness will not be insured in the private sector. Maybe you should ask why we set up Medicare.
As for treatments, it is indisputable that much of what we do is either futile or unnecessary. Otherwise how do you square our far higher costs with average outcomes?
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 4:19PM
If an 80 year old with Chronic Illness can only get a Pain Pill?
Then she's not really covered, is She?
No, she is not.
Warrior| 1.11.13 @ 5:49PM
She could always to an airport for a free x-ray, full body lump check up and a cavity inspection.
loulou| 1.11.13 @ 12:52PM
Obama said the elderly could take a pain pill so spare me your faux compassion.
spike59| 1.18.13 @ 6:25AM
but bloomberg says she can't
Occam's Tool| 1.11.13 @ 3:07PM
All the time 80 year olds get additive AARP insurance. Medicare covers 80 year olds---the problem comes both in failure to detect legitimate fraud, and obnoxious audits of no fraud at all.
Who Won| 1.11.13 @ 9:18AM
GAO has a new website now too. The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that oversees the program at the federal level, faces many challenges in overseeing payments and ensuring that children covered by Medicaid receive needed services. Because of concerns about inadequate federal oversight of the large and growing program, Medicaid has been designated as high risk.
CMS has not developed an effective program integrity strategy to identify and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, despite estimated improper payments totaling more than $20 billion a year in federal funds. It currently uses different audit approaches with varying results. http://www.gao.gov/key_issues/....._integrity
Louis Jenkins| 1.11.13 @ 9:34AM
Another one bites the dust. Reality vs pretending is a hard thing to digest, but they were told ahead of time in no uncertain language. Too bad they didn't listen.
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 10:45AM
I just wanna see the look on the faces of the 70% of Jewish Voters who voted for this guy, when Hamas' Deliverer Outlaws all Circumcisions, Unleavened Bread, Gefelte Fish, Matzos, and SATURDAYS.
That's the one I wanna see.
Mazel tov!
Frank Drackman| 1.11.13 @ 11:57AM
So what are you sayin Julius Streicher?
Cause I'm Jewish, and I didn't vote for him.
Wanta blame somebody try the Schwarzes.
And I'd bet money you're Circumscribed, like most Americans, and if you don't like Gefelte Fish, Matzos, or Chicks, No smegma off my crank, just leaves more for me.
Gefelte Fish, Matzos, and Chicks I mean, you can have the Smegma...
Frank
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 1:36PM
How does he write all these things with that Straight Jacket, that I have to believe he's wearing, on?
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 1:38PM
And, it's Schvartzes.
Frank Drackman| 1.11.13 @ 2:33PM
Who's the Jew here anyway?
Occam's Tool| 1.11.13 @ 3:09PM
I am. TLP is right, Frank: it's schvartzes. Love ya!
Frank Drackman| 1.11.13 @ 2:32PM
when's the last time you were in a hospital?? when White Males still were a majority of Physicians??
We call them "Restraints" now-a-days, ask your wife, she's quite fond of them.
Frank
Occam's Tool| 1.11.13 @ 3:11PM
We don't use straightjackets---too high a risk of rhabdomyolysis and subsequent renal failure.
Use restraint chair designed to minimize dangerous struggling and tissue damage.
Jack London| 1.11.13 @ 4:39PM
You've got some candidates right here for the funny farm Occam - I'd round up Frank and TLP if I were you - anything else would be negligent.
spike59| 1.18.13 @ 6:27AM
if Occam hasn't rounded up you, Purp, Vtwn, and Dred by now, what makes you think he's gonna round up ANYONE?
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 4:23PM
How does he write all these things with those "Restraints" (that I have to believe he's wearing) on?
cheeflo| 1.11.13 @ 6:31PM
Circumscribed? Seriously?
Frank Drackman| 1.12.13 @ 8:20AM
If you don't know, how should I?
John Navratil| 1.12.13 @ 11:14AM
That's what happens when you get careless with lipstick.
Frank Drackman| 1.11.13 @ 9:44AM
If there's any Karma at all, a certain leader of a certain nation who smokes certain tobacco products will come down with a certain cancer of a certain organ, for which theres no certain curative treatment(ask Joe Paterno)not that I want a certain idiot vice president to become president of a certain country...
Seriously, it'll be funny watching the equivalent of the Apollo Moon Project being spent to prevent a certain idiot from getting his hands on the Nuke-ular Baseball...
Frank
Job| 1.11.13 @ 12:30PM
HAH evil fackers seem to live fore ever; guess it depends on the deal they made at the crossroads though...
squalis| 1.11.13 @ 10:03AM
Two little tid-bits were not mentioned in this fun to read article.
First, CMS (formerly HCFA) contracts with private regional organizations to perform these reviews. These private organizations performing the review are "paid" by receiving a cut of the monetary call backs. One can only imagine the degree of objectivity promoted.
And 2nd-the AMA was the big pimp for Obamacare. Most docs I know (and I am one) can't stand that organization.
Gary B| 1.11.13 @ 11:58AM
squalis,
It must be hell having your profession taken over by creatures from the black lagoon. You have my deepest sympathy. I hope you're close to retirement.
Occam's Tool| 1.11.13 @ 3:12PM
Dear Squalis: I don't like any AMA type organization that doesn't get its money from dues. The AMA gets it from codebooks. They are worthless. Concur.
cicero| 1.11.13 @ 11:40AM
Where to start? The health insurance industry was coopted by the state governments, when the legislatures in the various states began mandated coverage in all policies sold in their state. They then made it impossible for citizens to purchase policies across state lines, thereby guaranteeing the business to those companies that went with the mandated coverage. Monolopy equals higher costs to the consumer.
About 1/3 of all federal medical money paid out in M-care and M-caide claims is paid on frauddulent claims. As for the quality of care now being rendered by too many M-caide "clinics", I recommend you visit one soon. Does the description "pill mills" ring a bell? In addition, I hear more and more docs claim that they cannot serve M-care patients at the current reimbursement rates, What is going to happen when they are lowered?
We tend to give way too much credence to individuals who are educated in a certain discipline, only, when they talk about things outside of their descipline. In days of yore, that was why our professionals had to have what used to be called a liberal education (broad based) before entering professional school.
Gary B| 1.11.13 @ 11:56AM
You mean like all the 2nd Amendment and foreign policy experts from Hollywood. You know, like an actor being invited to testify before Congress because they once played a doctor. Who the hell are these people?
squalis| 1.11.13 @ 12:09PM
Or pols legislating on everything from business to medicine to the economy to environmental legislation to national defense, and then having our know nothing President sign it into law.
Oy vey!
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 4:25PM
To Salt, Butter, Trans Fats, and 64 Ounce Sodas.
squalis| 1.12.13 @ 11:47AM
Mmmmmm, it went down smooooth!
Frank Drackman| 1.11.13 @ 11:53AM
You seen any Medical School Classes lately??
Over half with Vaginas, rest a motley crew of East Asian H1-B's(isn't that a disease? it is)happy to work for peanuts(literally) and if you see a White Male, he' s probably there by mistake or hanging dry-wall in the anatomy lab...
Frank
loulou| 1.11.13 @ 12:59PM
It's enshrined in Obamacare: Quotas must be met to include high numbers of the stupid minorites in medical schools.
So where we can now avoid physicians who are probable affirmative action beneficiaries we will have a much more difficult time of it in the future because of the sheer numbers of them (the stupid minority doctors).
JP| 1.11.13 @ 1:53PM
It's here already. Where I live is a large hospital whose pediatric ward has no MDs. Just foreign born DOs and few nurse practioners.
PolishKnight| 1.11.13 @ 12:17PM
When someone pitches the claim that socialist healthcare in western nations costs half as much per capita as the "private" American system, they are stunned when I point out that half of the healthcare costs in the states is medicare/medicaid and, therefore, socialist in nature but ONLY covers seniors, the disabled, and the poor. So even if we were to convert 100% to a socialist model, it could not result in any cost savings here since it currently only covers a fraction of citizens at the same cost. Granted, those are the most needy but that also raises the specter of "death panels" and rationing. In addition, medicaid and medicare not only are seeing costs spiral out of control but that's despite the doctors and hospitals having billing issues resulting in them secretly dumping the costs upon private insured citizens. If a doctor is taking medicaid/medicare, try to avoid them! The socialist healthcare systems work in a similar way by buying pharmaceuticals from the USA at rock bottom prices and having the companies dump the costs on the private system.
In other words, if the Soviets succeed and get rid of the "rich" private system, there goes the hidden "cost saver" for the socialist system and it's time to wait in line for overpriced, rough toilet paper. Or the DMV.
Job| 1.11.13 @ 12:57PM
douchblogger just don't understand that their big ideas for big boondoggles, big government rip offs, big businesses that can't fail are a suck on the economy. course the folks that are tryin to wreck it for their own purposes know just what their doing.
Insurance is a protection racket that's time is up because everyone has a million dollar bill in their future; the way knee jerk, cover your ass (to keep the lawyers off it), medicine is practiced; even if the million dollar bill is just end of life care.
Job| 1.11.13 @ 12:57PM
insurance is just about too effin expensive because face it, "hey everybody watch me cut my nuts off", is not gonna be one of their business practices anytime soon; so they are gonna charge you megabucks for care that is gonna cost them. used to be only a few of us had a catastrophic medical bill in our future but now it all of us. do the math we can't all pick each others pockets and everything is cheerio. if we could it would be sensible to believe, which many who will remain nameless do, that we can all work for the government.
Top shelf Insurance coverage for a single person is 6 grand a year which leaves lots of options opened like putting the lab and radiology equipment in the mall beside a doc in the box with a straight 39$ fee for each you take the chest xray and the basic labs like chem panel, lipid, ck, and cbc to the doc in the box and pay cash. when he doesn't have to code the bullshit, then fight with the government and the insurance racket to get paid this will be feasable.
Stephie| 1.11.13 @ 1:09PM
I wish the obamacare was understandable. I want to know what happens to me when I can no longer afford my private insurance. Will I then get the "free care" that the ignoramuses are touting? Or do I just get the pain pill. Who the hell is going to explain this bullshit to us?
I hate not knowing what to expect as far as coverage and what to plan for.
I have a friend who lives outside of DC and she had a hell of a time finding a white American physician for her 14 year old daughter. All were from India she said. She had to call Blue Cross and ask for a white American doctor.
JP| 1.11.13 @ 1:52PM
The poor will soon find out that there is no "free" government health insurance. They will have to enroll in one of the policies offered through the state exchanges or the federal government. And the premiums will not be cheap. By not enrolling, the person will be fined by the IRS.
Funding of the exchanges will go over to the states by 2017, in which case the states will more than likely raise property taxes to subsidize the bureaucracy. This will get very ugly.
Scotty| 1.17.13 @ 2:45PM
That's becuse "white american doctors" won't do GP work, because you can't make big $$ doing so, only being a specialist can you make the big bucks.
Purp| 1.11.13 @ 1:22PM
"But that’s what you get when you let bureaucrats and politicians make the rules. " - And can you possibly explain how when Insurance bureaucrats and politicians make the rules, and they have for decades, the outcomes different and are for the patient, or is the motive simply for profit?
The market doesn't work well in Medical care because most of us don't have the knowledge to know when we are being snookered or given valuable treatments - not like we know a good pair of shoes or a car we prefer when we go shopping.
That's what regulations are all about. To protect the consumer from horrible treatment (unless politicians are being bribed by the companies involved, of course)
Like your ShadowFax says " In the ER, administration expects us to fill beds and admit patients to hospitals when it isn't medically necessary. " That's not medicine, that's for profit. Unconscionable.
I think you're whistling a sour tune, Sir, with only cherry picked facts to suit your point of view. But that isn't truth and certainly not the whole truth.
The truth is that ANY healthcare provided that has a profit motive is banking making money off of sick people, and keeping them chronically ill to make profits for CEOs and investors. The patients are just fodder for the mill.
How do you propose to end THAT abuse, oh Brilliant One?
BTW - here is the ShadowFax Blog, if you're interested, still published today:
http://allbleedingstops.blogspot.com/
PolishKnight| 1.11.13 @ 1:36PM
Purp, in a way, the evil capitalists are winning. After all, Obamacare does not make healthcare more efficient but actually slurps money over to insurance cronies, lines the pockets of trial lawyers, and the complexity in the long run helps the hospitals make tons of money from the middle class. After all, big business has plenty of resources to hire lawyers, accountants, and lobbyists to find ways to make the code preferable to them (GE, we bring good things to life!) while the middle class can't go through all the complex regulations to make their case.
So where's the Sweden you and Obama promised us? When do we get windmills in every background and an electric car in every garage? Oh, wait, that's not happening. It's just the same-old same-old war on terror, economic malaise (worse than the Bush era!) and bashing Republicans. Not that you care since you're just a cheerleader. If you had a life, you might care.
I'm going to alter an old saying about a conservative being a liberal whose been mugged and make it more modern: A conservative is a liberal who got married, had kids, and got a real job.
JP| 1.11.13 @ 1:49PM
Most people didn't need health insurance until the 1970s. My own father raised 6 children and paid for all of our medical expenses out of pocket (including child births and ER visits). It was the government involvement in the form of Medicaire and Medicaid that drove both medical costs and health insurance premiums up. By 1986 the problem was so acute that Congress reformed the health insurance industry (written in large part by Kaiser). This just made things much worse, as the self insured were being priced out of market. Of course, Congress and Obama told the voters they had all of the answers for problems government in fact created.
The need for health insurance is an artificial need created by Congress. And lest we forget, the first national health insurance laws were written during WWII as a sop to corporations.
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 4:32PM
I don't have any Health Insurance. I'm SUPPOSED TO, because I served in the Military for four years, but we make more than $33,000 a year. Hello?
Warren Buffet will get his Social Security Checks, even though he's a Billionaire. But I can't go to the V.A. Because it's a Means Tested Welfare Program, now.
What's up with that?
TLP| 1.11.13 @ 4:33PM
I pay Cash.
You can't believe how cheap it is.
I just had a Physical.
The Cost - $79.
Jack London| 1.11.13 @ 4:42PM
You need a 'mental' - I expect they'll do you for free given the research potential.
Frank Drackman| 1.12.13 @ 8:27AM
for a so called educated liberal you have a surprisingly backwards view of (educated peoples call it "Mental Health") how medical care works, and all the research money's been goin to that Holey Grail, I mean "AIDS vaccine" for the last 20 years anyway....
Frank
CJW| 1.11.13 @ 2:18PM
Purp the Village Idiot says God caused Hurricane Sandy to help Obama. Purpie believes God killed hundreds and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials.
Some soul searching of conservative attitudes is in order, for sure."
Why answer this stupid, bigoted moron, just mock and ridicule him with his own words.
Job| 1.11.13 @ 2:55PM
i know this is gonna go over swell: don't understand that since a computer can beat the world champion in chess and i think Harvard developed a computer program that could diagnose better than 5 expert docs for over 90 percent of the time on 10,000 diagnoses 20 years ago. why we don't use them more? uh oh bet big pharma and their cronies in big government have somethin to do with it, big medicine can't even come up with a cure for a big zit on your forehead and they do tend to practice knee jerk cure as opposed to prevention. course the shit we are feeding our food aint healthy and of course big macs are the reason we need big cures...
Who Knows?| 1.11.13 @ 3:21PM
Ah, the “doc fix” is in.
One should never say “never” or “always”, or even always say them. However---
“We all know a fool when we see one, but never when we are one.”----what about THAT?
Well, “almost” is a word that begs to be inserted, like a dick in a hole, in between “almost” all words strung out in sentences that are meant to say something.
So, it’s like this---
“We ALMOST all know a fool when we see one, but ALMOST never when we are one.” Thusly do imperfect humans slip and slide amidst the dirt and dung of humus life, from birth to death, from beginning to exit---hey, we’re ALL fools, ALWAYS, in every moment, in SOME way or the other, and humming along as a bodily being who THINKS they have “thoughts”, the always present NOW necessarily is simply an expression of THAT fact.
I write as one who was mugged by reality. Having chosen to drop out and join a hippie commune in 1973, at the age of 30---such a righteous know-it-all fool!!!---it took until 1979 when I became a controller for a small business, and started reading the Wall Street Journal (originally, to find out what the “enemy” was up to) that revulsion was adequate to flip me out of my blind foolishness.
Hey, fellow fools!
Rejoice!
The real condition of our economy and political realm is primed to pop the delusions of the majority of fools who are running the country—down.
squalis| 1.12.13 @ 11:55AM
They will blame GWB
Dobbs| 1.11.13 @ 3:42PM
Thank you for this piece, David.
By comparison, this federal government isn't the least bit interested in Planned Parenthood's pattern of defrauding the government -- nay taxpayers -- for years! The sacred cow of abortion cannot be allowed scrutiny.
Bill8472| 1.11.13 @ 11:14PM
Yeah, it's always far easier to bear somebody else's pain.
Scottsbluff| 1.12.13 @ 11:36AM
Interesting comments here. Sounds like you are all familiar with each others arguments. I would agree that some government health care works, Sweden for example. It seems in Sweden taxes actually go for what they are intended and the government takes this role seriously. So, in the U.S., we have SS, Medicaid, Medicare at least 110 trillion dollars (with a "T") as a liability. What happened to all that money taxpayers have been putting in over so many years? SS has been in existence since, what? 1940?. Where's all that money that was being put away for each individual at retirement? What we did in trying to fund Obamacare is just give another huge pot of taxpayer money to the government to waste away or use for whatever reason they see fit while speeding some on the people in the form of controlled and rationed healthcare. Our government officials are not good stewards of the taxpayers money as in Sweden.
mike 3/505| 1.12.13 @ 1:21PM
Please quit grouping MedicAID in with MediCARE. They are two different things. Medicare is a contractual entitlement, paid for by monthly withdrawals out of employee paychecks. Medicaid, is charity...pure and simple. It is NOT an entitlement.
mike 3/505| 1.12.13 @ 1:24PM
Here's a question that will cause the liberals to go into vapor lock...Why should a Medicaid patient receive the same level of medical service as a Medicare patient, or a fully insured patient or a patient who is paying cash?
mike 3/505| 1.12.13 @ 1:26PM
Among the evils in Obamacare, I believe on of the worst, is that adding all the non payers ...charity to the system, will cause us folks who are paying our own way, longer wait times.
TLP| 1.12.13 @ 6:15PM
I always thought that The Power to Regulate the Purchase of Gold, was the biggest Evil in the Health Care Bill.
Fred in Boise| 1.12.13 @ 6:04PM
Everything Catron says is true, BUT he does not hint at how to nail the docs that DO ABUSE the system. I worked thirty years in healthcare mgmt and agree MCare is arrogant and abusive. Got news, so are docs! I personally pissed off many informing them that making money by ordering bucket full of tests generically was illegal, inefficient and unethical--didn't matter to them.
So tell me David Catron, you got half the equation correct, but what do we do about the other half?
squalis| 1.13.13 @ 11:27AM
Fred, to suggest all docs (yes-you did not use the word "all", but that can certainly be inferred from the tone of your post) are arrogant and abusive is absolutely untrue. That said, I do know of docs who are abusive. The most sensible way to combat that is to have a national set of investigative and treatment guidelines created and published by recognized authoritative practicing physician groups. THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. I will give a perfect example of this below. This should serve two functions. First, payors should be obligated to pay for any test or treatment as long as they do not conflict with the authoritative guidelines. Second, regardless of outcome, as long as established guidelines have been followed, immunity against malpractice should be granted.
My example would be the National Comprehensice Cancer Network (NCCN). I am an oncologist. All reputable oncologists I know use these guidelines. Look up the NCCN at www.nccn.org . This should be an excellent example for all medicine.
squalis| 1.13.13 @ 11:33AM
Forgot to add that payors should have the absolute right to deny payment for any test or treatment not meeting established guidelines outside of IRB approved investigations.
Tina B| 1.13.13 @ 8:43AM
Fred, this is similar to the compulsory public Ed system "problem" and the other half of the equation. What do we do? Think, pray, act.
Tina B| 1.13.13 @ 8:53AM
Oh, and read both sides of the issues to keep up with the facts of the matters. That's what the Libs do not do. They keep up with only one side, the propaganda, which is pervasive. We Conservatives must keep up with both the Truth and the MSM and their lies. If you have a family and a job this is not going to be easy. Time consuming in fact. That's what's convenient about both TAS and the bloggers who respond.
In truth, for me, that is the only "useful" part the useful idiots who blog here play. I get both sides of many stories when I read libs responses to cons articles and letters. When Purp and the other dweebs get too crazy, I just stroll on by. No more high BP for me, I gave too much of my good health to the mad stress of teaching middle schoolers math in a sea of Ed insanity among the admin and the staff. Just strolling on by these days. And learning.
Michele San Pietro| 1.13.13 @ 11:50AM
That's just one of the countless madnesses of "Obamacare"!
sineperde | 1.14.13 @ 6:40AM
Stand on a street corner in Naples for 30 minutes and you will see the black economy happen all around you. Coming to a market near you.
interaktifblog
Scotty| 1.17.13 @ 2:41PM
That's interesting and not suprising, but what does that have to do with Obamacare?
CMS doesn't have any regulatory authority the private insurers that are going to be in the new exchanges. And what you describe here has been part of the Medicare system forever. You can't squak about Waste/Fraud/Abuse in the Medicare system in one breath, and then totally attack CMS for trying to do something about it in your next.
Unless your solution is to abolish Medicare than what exactly is your point of this?
soldiermom11| 1.17.13 @ 3:34PM
The doctors treating white house staff and Senators should should ask if they would like to be treated based on a "sampling" of what government says works best or years of honest medical practice by their physician. Then the doctor should have them sign a form waiving liability for the results if the patient chooses the government treatment.
Burlington| 1.17.13 @ 3:48PM
What is a review of systems? It is a series of questions that the doctor asks when taking a medical history. Example-Respiratory--"do you have chest pain, cough, blood in sputum, shortness of breath etc." Coding for a complete exam might triple the charge of a brief office visit.
I would bet the doc is a cheat and is in deep do do.
Longplay| 1.17.13 @ 7:26PM
"If there’s an argument to be made that physicians are paid too much, then let’s have that debate on its merits. "
After not arguing the merits on his blog, he now whines. Let's hope he's now learned that libs such as he likely still is never argue on the merits but appeal to emotion, put up straw men, and demagogue. And with those tactics they hide their true intent. Let's hope shadowfax doesn't get fooled again.
Marc Jeric| 1.18.13 @ 2:57AM
I heard of a case of a doctor in Washington DC who billed Medicaid for an average of 145 patients per day. Let us assume that this "doctor" worked only 5 days/week, 48 days/year; that means he "looked" at 145x5x48=34,800 patients per year. And voila! - a new millionaire! - if he charged only $50/visit; that's a gross of $1,740,000 per year.
Karlo Bones | 2.5.13 @ 5:36PM
How often have you experienced the feeling of solitude?
delahaya| 2.13.13 @ 1:27PM
Anyone notice how dealing with liberals is a lot like trying to deal with a sullen, entitle teenager? Its like they never finished growing up, like they are stunted somehow. I almost worry that they can't help but pick liberalism due to this character defect.