Posted on 10/15/2016 2:08:02 PM PDT by GilGil
Main Points Emergency care is the safety net of the nation’s health care system, caring for everyone, regardless of ability to pay. [i]
Emergency physicians provide the most uncompensated care for uninsured and underinsured patients of all physicians.[ii]
America’s emergency departments are under severe stress, facing soaring demands. They are essential to every community and must have adequate resources.
Having health insurance does not mean you have access to medical care...
Q. How do undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who are uninsured affect emergency care?
Most undocumented immigrants are unable to obtain health insurance and this means many are unable to pay – contributing to uncompensated care, especially i n Border States, such as California, Texas and Arizona.Billions of dollars of uncompensated care has resulted in the closure of hundreds of emergency departments in America, which is reducing capacity and threatening everyone’s access to lifesaving care.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsroom.acep.org ...
Having health insurance does not mean you have access to medical care...
and
Billions of dollars of uncompensated care has resulted in the closure of hundreds of emergency departments in America, which is reducing capacity and threatening everyone’s access to lifesaving care.
I live in Arizona. A few years ago my wife was quite ill and I took her to the ER. We waited over 6 hurs before we left. During that time wave after wave of illegals came in with children and the rule was that children go first.
So we went home and called the ambulance via 911. We took my wife to the same ER and she went right through since ambulance people go first.
Blame the open border crowds - don't bring me your self inflicted problems ...
Emergency rooms...and other hospital departments tend to over charge so even if you do have insurance, you can still have a huge bill. How many people are charged $10 for an asprin and $45.00 for a bedpan?
Sheesh! Makes you wonder about the charges of everything else, too!
My hometown hospital had to close some 20-25 years ago due to so many illegals not paying their bills. It’s a 40 minute drive to a small hospital or over an hour to a larger hospital.
On a related note, this summer, hubby had to lay in the street for over half an hour because 911 refused to call the ambulance that was 2 miles away and instead sent one 20 miles away. When they finally picked him up, instead of going to the 2 mile away ER, they drove right past it and another 20 some miles to a hospital in the opposite direction of where they originally came. Hey, gotta pad the bill somehow.
We had the same experience with my MIL. She was 100 years old and they left her in the waiting room with symptoms of a stroke. For hours. We finally took her home and called an ambulance. They still didn’t want to treat her because of her age. Today, she is home and 102 and doing quite well. She developed some short-term memory loss from her illness and I think lack of timely care caused it. She lives with us and we will never take it to an emergency room again. Plus, we all ended up with the nastiest flu that darn near killed me. I am positive we got it in the ER.
To prevent duplication, please do not alter the published title. Thanks.
Older people with chest pain get priority treatment also. You can guess how I know this.
Oh wow...
This is the communist way:
1) Use the public sector to create a crisis.
2) Blame the private sector for the crisis.
3) Demand even more power be given to the public sector in order to fix the crisis.
Single payer, here we come.
I have not been to a medical doctor in over 20 years. (I studied diet and nutrition to restore my health, and have never gone back to the cut-burn-drug crowd.)
The only reasons I might go would be: tests (to inform myself), traumas (to set bones and the like).
I severely damaged a foot several years ago, and went to the local emergency room.
It was filled to overflowing with over 40 Hispanic persons; some of them stared at me as if I did not belong there. There was not a single white patient there beside myself (even though whites were the majority population locally).
There was no place for me to sit. I eventually left unprocessed and untreated, and settled for my own first aid.
If your answer to that is "yes", then you have to figure out WHO is going to pay for it, and HOW MUCH INPUT whoever is paying for it has into how much service, and how many consumables, are provided.
Right now, the popular answers are, "yes" (the service must be provided), "somebody else or the government" (who), and how much input into how much "not a lot, or at least, not so much that he/she doesn't get the same thing as people who pay".
This state of affairs has bankrupted the government, ruined the currency, turned debt into money, and (naturally) multiplied non-payment manyfold.
Single payer, with strict rationing, is inevitable UNLESS the people, in their wisdom, turn the answer to question #1 from "yes" to "no", OR unless the people, in their wisdom, re-create a charity system which provides free care within a budget which stops when the budget is exceeded, and which recognizes that WHAT is provided will be, inevitably, less than what is provided to people who pay.
Nope.
Blame EMTALA. Congress mandated that a service that costs a lot must be provided for free, and did not create a means of making the providers of that service whole.
What the f*** did the supporters of EMTALA think was going to happen?
If hospitals and clinics could only charge the price of that aspirin, they wouldn't last a week.
Look, here's a simple example: In 1968, my grandfather had a heart attack in the small town I live in. He went to the hospital, was put in a bed with a nice view of the lake he loved, got visited by nice nurses, took some simple medicines, and died in a few days. It cost $275.00 My grandma wrote a check to pay the bill.
Now, in this same town, if you have chest pain at 1 AM in February, you call 911, and a mobile coronary care unit is in your driveway in fifteen minutes, broadcasting your EKG to a fully-staffed heart center. Within 45 minutes, you receive a shot of a cloned human protein that dissolves clots. If that doesn't work, within 1 hour you are on a chopper on the way to the heart center where you are met by a team of 5-6 professionals who attempt to open your blocked artery in 30 minutes or so. If THAT doesn't work, you are wheeled down the hall and met by a surgical team of ten people who make a small (very small) incision between your ribs, fix your blockage, send you to a bed with a nice window where you can watch the sun rise, free from the shadow of premature death. You will probably go home that afternoon, or the next day. The bill is $145 000, and you (probably) can't write a check for it..
NOW.
That whole infrastructure has been created since 1968. All the equipment being amortized, all those professionals waiting for you to call at 1 AM so they can get out of bed and save your life, COST MONEY EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT PRODUCING ANY INCOME.
The source of the money that permits the whole system to exist, to be standing by in every hamlet in America, in case you ate too much carbs and didn't exercise for the last 40 years, is $10 aspirins.
Looked at in that light, they're cheap.
Ambulance charges...they know how to make money.
My wife and I did the same here in NJ (she had fainted); we waited a couple of hours then left. They sent us a bill and I let them know nobody had seen her except the triage nurse that sent us back to the waiting room. They dropped the matter; I made it clear I would never pay it. We were the only Americans there (and probably the only ones who would have paid the bill).
The mass deportations can start in ERs; most of the people there are illegals. Then go to the schools; many of the children are as well.
That is a big issue: ObamaCare forced people to buy “health insurance” but they can’t afford to use it - so they don’t have “health care”.
The Supreme Court was right in labeling it a tax; that is exactly what it was. Productive Americans are forced to buy these inferior products (policies), while gibsmedats continue paying for NOTHING.
Most illegals and refugees are on some form of State run medical care. SO take this article with a grain of salt.
Our health ins is totally fed gov’t controlled, as we are Medicare and Tricare Life (Ret. Military over 65)as secondary. Hubby’s 3 day stay in the ER because there was no bed in the hospital was over $50K. What services did he receive, 1 adult aspirin, 3 doses of Nitro Paste, heart monitoring. IV and a stress test. And of course they fed him. St Francis Hospital so it is a private hospital.
The Regional Medical Center aka The Med is the only public hospital in Memphis, TN. Its ER is a third world doctors office. A hospital stay can net you STAFF, MERSA or NORWALK viruses. The Trauma Unit and NIC U are world class. Rest is trash.
Obama Lied. My Third Health Plan Just Died.
Medicare paid $9.3 million in benefits to illegals
Over 14,500 claims to nearly 500 people unlawfully in U.S.
http://www.wnd.com/2016/10/medicare-paid-9-3-million-in-benefits-to-illegals/
$ 60 billion Medicare Fraud
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/medicare-the-60-billion-fraud/
Health-care fraud
The $272 billion swindle
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21603078-why-thieves-love-americas-health-care-system-272-billion-swindle
Here’s The MASSIVE Gift Obama’s Medicare Program Gave 500 Illegal Aliens
http://conservativetribune.com/obamas-medicare-500-aliens/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=ConservativeTribune&utm_content=2016-10-09&utm_campaign=manualpost
Dead People Received $1.5 Million in Benefits Through Medicare Program
Medicare paid 1,047 claims for services performed after the individual’s date of death
http://freebeacon.com/issues/dead-people-received-1-5-million-benefits-medicare-program/?utm_source=Freedom+Mail&utm_campaign=11083ed185-WFB_Morning_Beacon_10_12_1610_11_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b5e6e0e9ea-11083ed185-46016061
Rising Cost of Medicaid Expansion Is Unnerving Some States
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/rising-cost-medicaid-expansion-unnerving-states-42585163
The doctor isn’t in: Medi-Cal patients struggle to find primary care
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article106271347.html
It’s Working: Democrats Divided, Flailing Over Obamacare’s Ongoing Meltdown
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2016/10/06/chuck-todd-bill-clintons-obamacare-attack-is-a-real-problem-for-democrats-n2228875?utm_source=thdailypm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl_pm&newsletterad=
http://nypost.com/2013/10/18/doctors-worried-sick-over-obamacare/
Blue Cross eliminates Obamacare coverage in Tennessee’s biggest markets
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/sep/26/bluecross-slashes-statewide-coverage-obamacare-half/388673/
California Becomes First State To Request “Waiver” To Offer Obamacare To Illegal Immigrants
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-10-06/california-wants-obamacare-illegal-immigrants
ObamaCare’s Meltdown Has Arrived
Tennessee is ground zero for ObamaCare’s nationwide implosion.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/obamacares-meltdown-has-arrived-1475709560
Obama Denies Servicemen 2.1% Pay Raise
http://defund.com/obama-denies-servicemen-2-1-pay-raise/?utm_source=fnot2&utm_medium=facebook
Massive Voter Fraud Sweep Under Way By Texas AG
http://townhall.com/columnists/lawrencemeyers/2016/10/06/massive-voter-fraud-sweep-under-way-by-texas-ag-n2228904?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl&newsletterad=
Clinton Kicked $125K to Hospital After Receiving Treatment for Blood Clot
http://freebeacon.com/politics/clinton-kicked-125k-hospital-receiving-treatment-blood-clot/
Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Throws In The Towel, Admits Obamacare Is Not Affordable
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2016/10/12/democratic-governor-obamacare-is-not-affordable-n2231368?utm_source=thdailypm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl_pm&newsletterad=
Obama is gutting Medicare
http://nypost.com/2016/06/21/obama-is-gutting-medicare/
Barbara Boxer & Chelsea Clinton join Bill Clinton in slamming ObamaCare
http://canadafreepress.com/article/barbara-boxer-chelsea-clinton-join-bill-clinton-in-slamming-obamacare
Obama Administration Is Willing to Break the Law to Save Obamacare
http://dailysignal.com/2016/10/04/obama-administration-is-willing-to-break-the-law-to-save-obamacare/?utm_source=TDS_Email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CapitolBell&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTlRCbE56STJOREZtTURSaSIsInQiOiJmd3Z1YkJcL25mVTRManRvY0RuMXpROXRuc2pKZGY2K0
UnitedHealth sued over prescription drug co-pay costs
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/05/unitedhealth-sued-over-prescription-drug-co-pay-costs.html
The real reason the Clintons - and the New York Times - are suddenly trashing ObamaCare
http://canadafreepress.com/article/the-real-reason-the-clintons-and-the-new-york-times-are-suddenly-trashing-o
Quitman County, MS Hospital closing Thursday
http://www.wdam.com/story/33272710/quitman-county-hospital-closing-thursday
Vaccines Regulators: Doctor concocts vaccines with cat saliva, vodka
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/09/29/regulators-doctor-concocts-vaccines-with-cat-saliva-vodka.html
Health care costs rise by most in 32 years
http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/16/news/economy/health-care-costs-rise-most-in-32years/index.html
Another Obamacare Co-Op Folds, Leaving Only 6 Remaining
http://freebeacon.com/issues/another-obamacare-coop-folds/
You think Socialized Medicne is go great Look at England
Hospitals in England are on tihe brink of collapse, warn NHS chiefs https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/10/hospitals-on-brink-of-collapse-say-health-chiefs
Obamacare Shrinks Economy through Medicaid Expansion and Tax Credit Cliffs
https://cei.org/blog/obamacare-shrinks-economy-through-medicaid-expansion-and-tax-credit-cliffs
ObamaCare coverage options disappearing across country, report finds
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/08/29/obamacare-coverage-options-disappearing-across-country-report-finds.html
There Is No Fix
http://www.weeklystandard.com/there-is-no-fix/article/2003998
One-third of US won’t have choice between Obamacare plans in 2017
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/healthcare/one-third-of-us-wont-have-choice-between-obamacare-plans-in-2017/ar-BBvPqWr?li=AA4Zjn&ocid=spartanntp
Fed Survey: Obamacare Causing Companies to Cut Jobs
http://blogs.wsj.com/cfo/2016/08/16/fed-survey-obamacare-causing-companies-to-cut-jobs/
Yep, it’s how I get faster treatment. My BP and heart rate go to Heart Attack level when I have pill reactions as it normally causes chest pain or Flares from existing conditions. Also have an Enlarged Heart with a small leaky valve. Those EKG leads break my skin out.
They are also under staffed, have younger techs that are inept at their jobs. I’ve never gotten out of a ER in under 6 hrs. They don’t know what the word EMERGENCY is, they move like snails. Need a pain med 30 mins to get it from pharmacy. Need to go to the bathroom, good luck getting help. Blown veins are common as they are to inept to match vein size to IV Pic line gauge. Nor do they recognized senior dehydration very well. That is an entire staff in a hospital any more. I’ve had enough fasting test for GI and heart to know I schedule all my test as first patient in the AM, and am still dehydrated by the time it takes them to run a 3 hr test that their ineptness takes 5 to run. And they send you home that way with out even a glass of water to start re hydration.
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