Prepare to be angry.


Reply
 
Topic Tools Search this Thread
zal is offline zal Post #11  October 8,2009, 12:42pm
zal's Avatar

Virtuoso

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 3,105

See profile

hazmat wrote :
This is copied in it's entirety from Fox news. It will show you better than any argument why government run health care will doom this country.

Washington
From wheelchairs and walkers to orthopedic shoes and needles, Medicare buys tens of thousands of products every day for elderly Americans. And as the single largest buyer of medical products, you'd think it would at least get a volume discount.
But it doesn't. In fact, Medicare doesn't even get the best price.
According to their own auditors, Medicare knowingly overpays for almost everything it buys. Examples include:
-- $7,215 to rent an oxygen concentrator, when the purchase price is $600.
-- $4,018 for a standard wheelchair, while the private sector pays $1,048.
-- $1,825 for a hospital bed, compared to an Internet price of $1,071.
-- $3,335 for a respiratory pump, versus an advertised price of $1,987.
-- $82 for a diabetic supply kit, instead of a $47 price on the Web.


Last year, the Health and Human Services Department tried to replace its archaic fixed-price fee schedule for 10 commonly purchased products with a competitive bidding program in 10 cities. The department said the program could save Medicare $125 million in a single year, or $1 billion if adopted nationwide. But Congress stepped in to stop it.
"There were products that we had as much as 75 percent savings. The average was 29 percent," said Mike Leavitt, the former HHS secretary who oversaw the program.
"It would have saved billions if we could've actually implemented it, but Congress deferred it. In Washington speak, that means we put it off forever," he said.
Leavitt blames Congressmen Pete Stark (D-Calif.) and Dave Camp (R-Mich.) for introducing legislation that terminated the contracts and postponed the program for 18 months. Leavitt says the congressional intervention helps explain why many are suspicious of claims that Washington can cut enough waste to actually pay for health care reform, as President Obama told a joint session of Congress last month.
"Reducing the waste and inefficiency in Medicare and Medicaid will pay for most of this plan," Leavitt said.
"The problem here is one man's waste is another man's living, and whenever there is an effort put forward to actually make an efficiency, someone goes on the offensive and hires lobbyists and does what they can to constrain Congress from doing it," Leavitt said.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the health care industry is currently spending $2 million a day lobbying Congress. Leavitt's pilot program died after small business suppliers claimed it would have put them out of business. Eventually, industry agreed to help pay the cost of terminated contracts that Medicare had already negotiated.
Industry officials argued the new system would unfairly disqualify some suppliers, and others with little experience would get the business, causing a decline in quality and service.
Hazmat,

Can you provide a link to the article? I deal with Medicare constantly and it has many many problems, but overpaying for services is typically not one of them. I'd like to verify some of the claims in the article. Admittedly, my experience with Medicare is limited to its reimbursement for medical services for which it drastically underpays, which, of course, is the basis of the argument made in favor of a "public option" or one-payer system. (a.k.a. "socialized medicine.) What's ignored is that Medicare is bankrupt.
 
  Reply With Quote
D_Lion is online now D_Lion Post #12  October 8,2009, 5:37pm
D_Lion's Avatar

- Ladies want to wring my neck - you have been warned!

Sage

Joined: Aug 2008

NJ

Posts: 30,743

See profile

This is not a fault of Medicare per se.

This is because Medicare is a benefit program established by congress, which gives certain enumerated benefits to certain individuals, while being supported by a tax on payrolls.

Over time, the payouts have grown, due to growth in the underlying services (health services offerings) and the consuming population exceeding growth in the paying population and the tax base.

If payrolls or workers had grown faster than beneficiaries or consumers, Medicare would be running a surplus. This is a structural problem unrelated to Medicare or government.

The bankruptcy of Medicare is a problem related to inadequate economic growth, such that there are not enough people upon which enough payroll tax is assessed, to keep pace with the promised benefits.
 
  Reply With Quote
ThePriestess is offline ThePriestess Post #13  October 10,2009, 3:25pm
ThePriestess's Avatar

It's a glow-in-the-dark compass ring, so you don't get lost.

Sage

Joined: Apr 2008

Canadian POW held in Florida

Posts: 15,919

See profile

hazmat wrote :
This is copied in it's entirety from Fox news.
And this will show me why I shouldn't even read the article :P
 
  Reply With Quote
Diann1950 is offline Diann1950 Post #14  October 10,2009, 3:47pm
Diann1950's Avatar

Beginning to check seed catalogs, hope this year will be better for the garden.

Enthusiast

Joined: May 2009

Wichita Ks

Posts: 816

See profile

Fox --- news oxymoron. I used to occasionally watch for the amusement value, I can no longer stand the self righteous justification for all the venom that passes for what ever. I remember when adults could disagree and still remain civil.
 
  Reply With Quote
hazmat is offline hazmat Post #15  October 13,2009, 8:44pm
hazmat's Avatar

is not back

Veteran

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 2,060

See profile

Diann1950 wrote :
Fox --- news oxymoron. I used to occasionally watch for the amusement value, I can no longer stand the self righteous justification for all the venom that passes for what ever. I remember when adults could disagree and still remain civil.

News is news and facts are facts. I hope you're not claiming the CNN lineup is any different except in the way they tilt. Most of the personalities on each of these stations spew from the far left or right, helping nothing.

I copied the article for the facts and that's it.
 
  Reply With Quote
ThePriestess is offline ThePriestess Post #16  October 13,2009, 8:54pm
ThePriestess's Avatar

It's a glow-in-the-dark compass ring, so you don't get lost.

Sage

Joined: Apr 2008

Canadian POW held in Florida

Posts: 15,919

See profile

hazmat wrote :
News is news and facts are facts.
Facts are statements which are either true or false, in contrast with opinions. So yes, they're facts ... unfortunately that doesn't necessarily make them correct.
 
  Reply With Quote
dwreese182 is offline dwreese182 Post #17  October 14,2009, 11:51pm
dwreese182's Avatar

Pag-ibig ng isla

Veteran

Joined: Oct 2008

Afghanistan

Posts: 2,215

See profile

Why would I be upset at that article? You think that companies charging the government 10 times actual value is something new? My company sells the government a 20 foot power cable (just the power CABLE, not the lugs or adapter attached to each end [those are extra]) for US $1000. It's made out of copper and rubber. Nothing special about it....other than who it is being sold to.

I have all intentions to open my own company and provide material for the US government. Of course I would be in a "free trade zone" such as Dubai so that I don't have to pay taxes to the US. would hate for my taxes to go towards purchasing overpriced equipment that comes from the lowest bidder.

The US is a cow with big whohaas (sowwi lawi forgive me). Hop on and milk that sucker for as long as possible.
 
  Reply With Quote
hazmat is offline hazmat Post #18  October 16,2009, 7:36am
hazmat's Avatar

is not back

Veteran

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 2,060

See profile

Anyone find it disturbing that we will lose 60 BILLION dollars in Medicare/ Medicaid fraud this year. (assuming the numbers stay the same as 2007) ? To put that in perspective...We will spend 65 Billion this year on our mission in Afghanistan....
 
  Reply With Quote
dwreese182 is offline dwreese182 Post #19  October 16,2009, 8:53am
dwreese182's Avatar

Pag-ibig ng isla

Veteran

Joined: Oct 2008

Afghanistan

Posts: 2,215

See profile

What is it they determine to be fraud? Can you provide me a link that shows in detail what is considered fraud and how much money is lost in each category? Is there some estimating going on or is this just the people they catch? Is some of it coming from employees within or is all of it external? I'm sure it's a little bit of both but what are the percentages? Any additional information would be wonderful. Not doubting you, I would just like to see it for myself.

And I would assume that there is much more than 65 Billion being spent in Afghanistan a year. I couldn't imagine that even being close to what's spent. Perhaps some of it is "off the record".
 
  Reply With Quote
hazmat is offline hazmat Post #20  October 16,2009, 11:36am
hazmat's Avatar

is not back

Veteran

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 2,060

See profile

dwreese182 wrote :
What is it they determine to be fraud? Can you provide me a link that shows in detail what is considered fraud and how much money is lost in each category? Is there some estimating going on or is this just the people they catch? Is some of it coming from employees within or is all of it external? I'm sure it's a little bit of both but what are the percentages? Any additional information would be wonderful. Not doubting you, I would just like to see it for myself.

And I would assume that there is much more than 65 Billion being spent in Afghanistan a year. I couldn't imagine that even being close to what's spent. Perhaps some of it is "off the record".

I can't do links, but go to www.insurance fraud.org, Reuters AlertNet - Homepage, Texas Health Insurance, Health Insurance Quotes in Texas, Insurance Plans and that should answer any questions you have. The waste is disgusting.

Just one example...From 2000-2007 Medicare paid out 478,500 claims to dead physicians totaling 92 million dollars.

And the 65 billion for Afghanistan was quoted in this week's Newsweek in an article on VP Biden.
 
  Reply With Quote
Reply


Topic Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new topics
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off

Similar Topics
Topic Topic Starter Board Replies Last Post
Am I jealous? Angry? Is he clueless? an alcoholic? mbb543 Ask a Dating Expert 13 October 7,2009 1:45pm
To Empty Oneself and Make Room For The Holy Spirit winn A Peaceful Oasis 60 May 23,2009 2:33pm

Looking for a Great Relationship?

Get started now. Fill out this form and take the questionnaire to receive your matches.

First Name:

I'm a:
seeking

Postal Code:

Country:

Email:

Confirm Email:

Password:


How did you hear about us?


Latest on our Dating Advice Discussion Boards

“It's important to understand the way a site works. Rigidly assuming / insisting that eH works likes all the others you're used to isn't utilizing the site functions to your best advantage. No.... ... ” –  Wiseman2

Join the “First contact on eHarmony, smile, questions, email?” discussion

“ If you have yet to meet, you don't know him or whether you two will form a connection. Connections formed over e-mail tend to be fantasies. You will see this echoed over and over by experienced ... ” –  shapeShifter79

Join the “How do i recoonect with him again?” discussion

“ Then it's a bit premature to worry about being friend-zoned. The first step is to go out on dates! What specific steps did you try? How many women did you ask out in person? Did you buy a ... ” –  shapeShifter79

Join the “For women to answer: How to avoid the friend zone” discussion

“ This is an old thread. She asked this in 2010. By now they are likely very exclusive or very over. ” –  shapeShifter79

Join the “is there a reason to ask if we're exclusive?” discussion

“ I'm sure he wouldn't get that. And I can't be sure that was the actual message. But it sems kind of likely to me.” –  boomer_gal

Join the “Why am I not successful?” discussion

“Hi eccemuliere and welcome to eHA.On an internet forum like eHA, you're going to get a wide variety of responses; some you'll like and some you won't. It's best to focus on the ones that speak to ... ” –  Sassafras54

Join the “Being blown off, or something else?” discussion

“ Although I have ignored my gut at times, in hindsight it's always been right, in terms of recognizing bad choices. QUOTE] But once we realize our past mistakes, we can use our reason to clue us ... ” –  eccemuliere

Join the “Is Your Gut Leading - or Misleading You?” discussion



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:38pm.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0