Be careful what you wish for

I'm confused(not a difficult task). You dont like single payer health care, but you propose that very thing. You must be kidding about eliminating the two programs I mentioned or you are kidding about letting private entities running things and billing the government. And we all have seen how honest companies are when Unlce Sam foots the bill. And why the heck did you call me a racist nazi?

 

With your Medicare who provides the actual treatment, goverment run hospitals or private? This is a seriouse question

 

Private. The idea is for care. If that doesnt work, then hospitalization. These days we have 'quick care' places to go to. Or 'urgent care' centers. Sort of like the 7-11s of medical care. Only it isnt in and out.

 

So what we have in reality then is a private system that overcharges the goverment? Please do feel free to tell me if I am wrong on this.

 

Wrong, lol.
The feds set the prices, not the doctors or hospital, so no overcharging at all. In many cases, doctors claim they are only getting paid dimes on the dollar, and have had to not treat in some cases due to lack of reimbursment for actual costs.

What happened with a great idea is whats happens with everything the gov does. Red tape and beaucracy ruined it.

The feds dictate what is covered, how treatment is given and what they will reimburse the doctors. Many doctors opt out of medicare and refuse to treat medicare patients due to the hassle.

Let a private insurance company handle this, and let the government pay. Keep the government out of the medical decisions is what I'm getting at. Let the doctors decide, not some beaurocrat.

 

That makes no sense at all. If the government pays, how then, is it a private company? And whats to stop doctors or the private insurance co. from overcharging? I have private insurance and they dont cover everything. If yours does, please tell me who it is. doctors who accept certsin plans are also accepting the fixed prices. The more plans you accept, the more patients you get. your profit goes up due to volume. Who sets the cost of medical treatment? The doctors and hospitals do. For instance, $150.00 to take your tempature. 2700 bucks for an anesthesiologist to do 20 minutes of work. Or to just be in the room sometimes. Thats crazy. And I'm sure that he wishes he could charge 10 times that. And you are saying that he should because the government is paying.

 

No Jack is quite correct it is the goverment who set the fees this is done under a PPS act passed by Ronald Reagan back in 1982-83

A Prospective Payment System (PPS) is a method of reimbursement in which Medicare payment is made based on a predetermined, fixed amount. The payment amount for a particular service is derived based on the classification system of that service (for example, diagnosis-related groups for inpatient hospital services). CMS uses separate PPSs for reimbursement to acute inpatient hospitals, home health agencies, hospice, hospital outpatient, inpatient psychiatric facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. It was I believe to be set at 110% of the average per case cost amongst similar hospitals with a phase in period of 120% then 115%

No wonder it is expensive if you pay more than the going rate by 10%!!

 

I had thought he meant who set the prices on which odctors charge for thier service to people without healthcarre insurance. Like just going in and getting your broken arm set without the use of any insurance. With my plan I get to see what a doctor charges in general, then what part I cover and finally what the insurance co. pays which the doctor accepts. I dont think the government sets the price of what doctors charge in general. which I thought that what AJ was talking about.

 

That is what it is Craig a list of charges based on the average for that treatment in a given area but from what I read you add 10% to the average!