Government run health care

[Puckstop31]

Puckstop, I don't think it's supply and demand, R&D costs, or government regulations. I think it's Big Pharma's goal of profit.

Is it profit or "too much" profit that is the problem? Not supply/demand? Then why are the drugs cheaper in areas of the world with WAY less demand for them?

Also, a little research will show that many companies generate a MUCH larger proft % than the pharmaceutical industry. It is very expensive to get a drug to market.

I don't think health care is in need of reform; I think health insurance (including Medicare, Medicaid, and prescription drug coverage) is desperately in need of reform.

I agree. But if you take the profit motive out of the equation, health care WILL need reform... Because it will suck because nobody with talent will want to do it anymore.

Profit is not evil. Greed, however, is. Put more responsibility into the hands of the patient. Let everybody see what it REALLY costs. Then people start shopping around, like we did with Tanya's pregnancy. We found AMAZING care for less than half the cost of the "usual" hospital here in town. Competition breeds cost cutting and better service. Lets face it... Healthcare IS a business.

No, its not "easy" to get there. Yes, not everybody will do well in such a system. It will still be better than what we get if government runs it all. Ask my father in law... Ask my brother in law... YEARS waiting for stuff that I could get next week, at worst, here.

[cassiesmom]

Put more responsibility into the hands of the patient. Let everybody see what it REALLY costs. Then people start shopping around, like we did with Tanya's pregnancy. We found AMAZING care for less than half the cost of the "usual" hospital here in town. Competition breeds cost cutting and better service. Lets face it... Healthcare IS a business.

No, its not "easy" to get there. Yes, not everybody will do well in such a system. It will still be better than what we get if government runs it all. Ask my father in law... Ask my brother in law... YEARS waiting for stuff that I could get next week, at worst, here.

They tried that at some of the hospitals in Chicago for awhile but it seems to have fallen out of favor for now. There was a big push to get people to ask about how much this service costs, and to call around and compare prices before (example) their colonoscopy, but I don't know how much it ever caught on.

[Edwina's Secretary]

They tried that at some of the hospitals in Chicago for awhile but it seems to have fallen out of favor for now. There was a big push to get people to ask about how much this service costs, and to call around and compare prices before (example) their colonoscopy, but I don't know how much it ever caught on.

It is not practical for a number of reasons.

All the different for profit insurance companies have negotiated deals with certain healthcare providers. If my carrier doesn't have a deal with the hospital with the lowest rate it won't make any difference.

Many providers have no idea what the rate will be until they submit the claim. Too complex - too many different rates.

When you are in an emergency situation - calling around for the lowest rate could kill you.

Anyone see the piece on The Daily Show last night about the number of Americans moving to Mexico for better quality and lower cost - government healthcare?

Although I am sure you could fine two guys in Mexico who are dissatified with it...

[Puckstop31]

It is not practical for a number of reasons.

All the different for profit insurance companies have negotiated deals with certain healthcare providers. If my carrier doesn't have a deal with the hospital with the lowest rate it won't make any difference.

Many providers have no idea what the rate will be until they submit the claim. Too complex - too many different rates.

When you are in an emergency situation - calling around for the lowest rate could kill you.

These are among some of the reasons why I agree with you that the system needs to be "fixed" and/or changed.

What I don't agree with is what either house has come up with. Simply put, we cannot afford the monstrosity they have put together. Unless, of course, we are willing to have a lower standard of living. You can only tax the producing class so much.... History shows us this time and time again....

Anyone see the piece on The Daily Show last night about the number of Americans moving to Mexico for better quality and lower cost - government healthcare?

Although I am sure you could fine two guys in Mexico who are dissatified with it...

First, The Daily Show? Really? I'd love to see the source material for THAT.

Next, its WAY more than 2 people. Some polls have it WELL over half of America does not like what is currently being debated.

Its statements like this why the left is losing traction on almost every issue. You continue to not listen to the people or reality. All you can do is try to shut us up or just ignore the facts.

Carry on....

[RICHARD]

Are we going to 'hijack this thread' and start insulting the Mexicans?

----------
CM,

THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO ALL SALESPEOPLE FOR PHARM COMPANIES.

Most of the female reps had the business acumen of a stripper.

Once the wallet, or any possibility of making a buck, disappeared? They dropped the 'sweetness and attention', along with the 'personal touch' they would give to the contract.

Because I worked in the office with the purchaser,I got to see the best of the sales pitches.

Being the sexist pig, with low morals, I really liked it when the gals would dress 'professionally' and flash cleavage and undies, all while sitting on the counter in those midis!

Sometimes I had to leave the office because the sweetness in the room would have put me into a diabetic coma.


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The reason that "shopping" for rates fell out of favor is that the med companies/pharms and institutions would have to justify the profit made on each admission/procedure.

http://stores.ebay.com/TheMedWarehouse?_rdc=1

LOLOLOLOL,

Ebay for replacement parts.


Look at the prices for one screw?

50 dollars for a effing open end wrench in 11 mms?

150 dollars for a t-handled wrench to drive a bone screw?

I could take what I know about medicine, buy all the stuff and parts at a Sears/Craftsman sale and open up a clinic in Mexico.

Oh, I am sorry Mexico people, I meant no harm.

[Edwina's Secretary]

THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO ALL SALESPEOPLE FOR PHARM COMPANIES.

Most of the female reps had the business acumen of a stripper.

Once the wallet, or any possibility of making a buck, disappeared? They dropped the 'sweetness and attention', along with the 'personal touch' they would give to the contract.

Because I worked in the office with the purchaser,I got to see the best of the sales pitches.

Being the sexist pig, with low morals, I really liked it when the gals would dress 'professionally' and flash cleavage and undies, all while sitting on the counter in those midis!

Sometimes I had to leave the office because the sweetness in the room would have put me into a diabetic coma.

Wow. Could you imagine if anyone else said something like this?

Most of the Asian reps had the business acumen of a stripper.

Most of the African American reps had the business acumen of a stripper.

Certainly not all pharma reps...just most of the female reps...

Apparently insulting 51% of the population is acceptable.

[cassiesmom]

Anyone see the piece on The Daily Show last night about the number of Americans moving to Mexico for better quality and lower cost - government healthcare?

I don't know if they still do, but UnitedHealthcare used to sell a product for U.S. citizens and residents who chose to obtain their care across the border.

PacifiCare and UnitedHealthcare Partner With SIMNSA to Enhance Cross-Border Health Care Services for Latinos and Their Families
Posted on: Wednesday, 27 September 2006, 09:00 CDT (source: redOrbit.com)

CYPRESS, Calif., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- PacifiCare, a UnitedHealthcare company, is partnering with Sistemas Medicos Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. (SIMNSA), to make available innovative health plans for Latinos who prefer to visit doctors in Tijuana and other border cities in Baja California, Mexico.

PacifiCare's partnership with SIMNSA enables PacifiCare to market SIMNSA products and services alongside PacifiCare and UnitedHealthcare programs that provide Southern California-based businesses affordable, comprehensive coverage for their employees. SIMNSA offers a host of health plans with low or no copayments as well as dental and prescription drug benefits.

Based in Chula Vista, Calif., SIMNSA is a California-licensed health plan that was developed to provide affordable, quality health care coverage for a growing segment of the U.S. work force that prefers to access health care services in Mexico. Health care services are rendered by a network of more than 200 doctors and specialists in Baja California. SIMNSA also contracts with clinics in the San Diego area for members who need access to urgent care.

SIMNSA members must access all routine care in Mexico, but are covered for qualified urgent and emergency care while working or living in the United States. SIMNSA plans are open to Mexican nationals who are legal residents of the United States, U.S. citizens of Mexican ancestry and dual nationals. In addition, SIMNSA can also accommodate employers that want to offer their employees a "split-family" coverage option. This option allows employees to choose PacifiCare for themselves and SIMNSA for their dependents.

Latinos of Mexican origin comprise nearly 60 percent -- or more than 20 million -- of the Hispanic population nationwide, and more than 32 percent of the total Latino population nationwide resides in California. More than 52 percent, or 40,510, of the Mexican foreign-born citizens who became naturalized in 2005 reside in California, according to the Migration Information Resource -- Spotlight on Naturalization Trends, Sept. 1, 2006. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics shows that, "among immigrants, Hispanic adults were the most likely to be without health insurance (37 percent)."

"According to San Diego's regional planning agency, nearly 35,000 people are commuting across the border into California each day to work," said Frank Carrillo, CEO of SIMNSA. "However, this doesn't include those who live in Southern California and support their families in Mexico. For these individuals, a California-based health plan may often not be an option. Through SIMNSA, however, our 20,000 members -- many of whom might otherwise be uninsured -- are able to attain employer-sponsored health care coverage for themselves and their families. By partnering with PacifiCare, we look forward to enhancing SIMNSA's brand and its health care programs throughout Southern California."

"We share SIMNSA's goal of improving access to quality, affordable health care coverage for Latinos, particularly those who are legally employed in Southern California and may live and have families in either Southern California or Mexico," said Russell Bennett, UnitedHealthcare's vice president of Latino Health Solutions. "Data published by the Yankelovich Hispanic Monitor indicate that the majority of Latinos prefer to receive health care information in Spanish. By offering health care programs that are linguistically and culturally appropriate, we believe PacifiCare and SIMNSA have a tremendous opportunity to leverage our mutual experience and expertise in better addressing Latinos' unique health care needs."