DOGE (1 Viewer)

[Isaac]

Yes, I acknowledge that when it comes to the "simply setting a maximum rate by law" in an unthinking manner, wihtout considering every possible aspect..........it's quite possible that Medicare may be doing some of that, and like you said, that's why not all Doctors accept it. (oddly, I've also found doctors who quit taking insurance to focus only on their Medicare patients, but I'm not sure the reasoning behind it).

We need some damn smart solutions to this thorny problem. I personally crave the attention/listening/thoroughness/time that a Mexico doctor will give me, along with the technology and advanced treatments found in Europe or the USA, along with drug prices and patent situations that disallow billions to be made from a new drug without competition.......I want it all at once!

 

[Isaac]

Every medium sized city used to have at least one charity hospital. Many were run by religious orders. They've been gone for years. I had two surgeries at the Catholic charity hospital as a child. Near as I can tell, the treatment was good and the nuns were very kind and caring.

Yes, many people forget the major hospitals were and are run by organized religion, including the total charity ones.
Mexico still has those - they aren't total charity, but they're extremely cheap, run by churches and local Catholic organizations.

 

[moke123]

they aren't total charity, but they're extremely cheap, run by churches and local Catholic organizations.

My aunt quit her order because she wanted to treat the poor while the convent wanted to capitalize on her medical degree.

 

[Isaac]

That's very generous of her, I guess $$ concerns seeps in everywhere.
I'm so admiring of my aunts and uncles - most of them went into the catholic church, we didn't we were protestant, but they were so genuine in their faith, and spent their ENTIRE lives, all day every day, just helping people for absolutely nothing in return. Some in Columbia, poor parts of Mississippi, and the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin and Illinois. I admire people with that level of giving/committing.
Your Aunt sounds like that

 

[Pat Hartman]

I've also found doctors who quit taking insurance to focus only on their Medicare patients, but I'm not sure the reasoning behind it).

They are most likely doctors because they actually want to help people so they're not in it for the money.

If you notice, I NEVER suggested price controls, including what Medicare does. What I suggested was OPEN PRICING. That way the patient can shop around at least for non emergency situations. Granted, this goes both ways as you know if you've ever been asked to quote a fixed price for a project. You ALWAYS over estimate because you know what can go wrong and you know that the client is going to expect at least some level of "free" changes. So, even the fixed price can't technically be fixed.

I had a hernia operation 3 years ago. My doctor had been telling me for years, if it isn't bothering you, don't worry about it so I didn't. Until it bothered me and it needed to be fixed. The surgeon said the surgery would take about 1.5 hours. Instead it took 6. It appears that I should have worried about the hernia much earlier even though it wasn't bothering me since all that time, more of my intestines were finding their way outside the abdominal wall. If you have a hernia, don't wait. Get it fixed sooner rather than later. That's my medical advice and I'm stickin' to it.