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What would it take for UHC to get broad support of docs?
Guaranteed reimbursement rates?
It will be tough as it has been for the last few decades. But the docs bottom line has to stay acceptable. Tom Price may have a better handle on this dilemma as he has been in private practice.
Could you elaborate on that, I'm interested but not entirely sure what you are describing
Hospitals would be private entities, with rates and profits controlled by some public input/oversight like with electric utilities. Maybe an elected local board, county HC commission or such thing.
It will be tough as it has been for the last few decades. But the docs bottom line has to stay acceptable. Tom Price may have a better handle on this dilemma as he has been in private practice.
Maybe better for Doctors, but not so great for medicare recipients who would get stuck with balance billing
"To an unusual degree, even for a doctor-politician, Dr Price puts doctors' interests high on his political agenda....The bill would also remove restrictions that have prevented physicians from raising their charges. First, the act would allow physicians to "balance-bill" Medicare beneficiaries—to charge them more than Medicare's allowable charge—which is currently illegal."
Hospitals would be private entities, with rates and profits controlled by some public input/oversight like with electric utilities. Maybe an elected local board, county HC commission or such thing.
I could see that, but I'm not sure how effective it would be, private utility companies seem to have little trouble getting their rate hikes approved by utility commissions. Why not just legislate that hospitals have to accept rates established by medicare?
I could see that, but I'm not sure how effective it would be, private utility companies seem to have little trouble getting their rate hikes approved by utility commissions. Why not just legislate that hospitals have to accept rates established by medicare?
Yes, all it would take is a bit of a campaign donation and up goes rates. We could lessen this by completely removing the Wall Street aspect.
Doctors will get increases now and then. Wall Street demands them every year.
Yes, all it would take is a bit of a campaign donation and up goes rates. We could lessen this by completely removing the Wall Street aspect.
Doctors will get increases now and then. Wall Street demands them every year.
Maybe better for Doctors, but not so great for medicare recipients who would get stuck with balance billing
"To an unusual degree, even for a doctor-politician, Dr Price puts doctors' interests high on his political agenda....The bill would also remove restrictions that have prevented physicians from raising their charges. First, the act would allow physicians to "balance-bill" Medicare beneficiaries—to charge them more than Medicare's allowable charge—which is currently illegal."
I could see that, but I'm not sure how effective it would be, private utility companies seem to have little trouble getting their rate hikes approved by utility commissions. Why not just legislate that hospitals have to accept rates established by medicare?
The utility idea is a right/left and private/public compromise.
In our town about 10-15 years ago a bunch of us docs along with local community leaders were going to put together a competing community hospital. In that way we would have had to a larger degree more direct control of rates, charges and profits with the public interests higher on the totem pole.
Heinous moves by the local hospital monopoly squelched the effort. But soon thereafter we drove those hospital owners off, and a new owner/management system took over with a much more favorable style.
What we witnessed directly in our case in the '90's, when an unfavorable company took over our hospital, was that the patient's, staff and local docs best interests were pushed aside in favor of corporate profits. Our hospital had/has been a cash cow for corporate interests since the early '80's. Before and after those unfavorable owners we had much better owners.
Better for the patients, staff and docs. Yet still with good profits.
What we witnessed directly in our case in the '90's, when an unfavorable company took over our hospital, was that the patient's, staff and local docs best interests were pushed aside in favor of corporate profits. Our hospital had/has been a cash cow for corporate interests since the early '80's. Before and after those unfavorable owners we had much better owners.
Better for the patients, staff and docs. Yet still with good profits.
We lost my mom to cancer earlier in the year. She fought it off and on for around 9 years. Her doctor was a really good person besides being a good doctor. If my mom was taken to the closest hospital they would not allow her doctor in to see her as she was not a part of their system of doctors.
This lady made calls to the house to check on my mom but she was not allowed to see her in the hospital.
Eff those who make these kinds of decisions for Wall Street. Eff them.
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