Posted on 03/08/2009 9:17:41 PM PDT by nysuperdoodle
The state is trying to shut down a New York City doctor's ambitious plan to treat uninsured patients for around $1,000 a year.
Dr. John Muney offers his patients everything from mammograms to mole removal at his AMG Medical Group clinics, which operate in all five boroughs.
"I'm trying to help uninsured people here," he said.
His patients agree to pay $79 a month for a year in return for unlimited office visits with a $10 co-pay.
(Excerpt) Read more at evilconservativeonline.com ...
the thing is the govt just sees a way to really make a bunch of money and then, the power to turn off the lights on people they don’t want around or don’t want to pay Social Security benes to.
If the guy’s a decent doctor, giving decent care, stop harrassing him. Encourage him, and others like him.
Most could drop everything but major medical/hospitalization.
If every doctor did this , we wouldn’t need government run health care.........THAT’s why they want to shut him down!.........
The fight is not about quality of care, stricly about control.
He sounds like he truly cares. Obviously it’s like what you stated: the govt wants the whole pie for themselves.
It’s like my hometown of B.C., canada. You pay $56 premium every month if single (at gunpoint), no co-pay but you will die on the surgery bed. People who want to go to private clinics are ostracized and threatened by the socialist, union-backed public.
From the article: “The state believes his plan runs afoul of the law because it promises to cover unplanned procedures - like treating a sudden ear infection - under a fixed rate. That’s something only a licensed insurance company can do.”
Licensing. Again. Licensing is the WORST kind of government regulation.
I'm just curious...if I was living in Canada and working for a Microsoft, Google or other company known for above-excellent employee benefits, would I only have government insurance, or would my employer pay for additional private insurance?
Thanks!
This doc is doing a great job. If people cannot afford $1,000 for their health then cancel cable TV and the booze, drugs, viagra and crap people waste money on. This is great idea and great plan. Kudos to the doctor.
The department told Muney in a Feb. 2 letter to end the monthly fee service. His lawyer has since proposed adding $33-per-visit charges for all but preventive care; a department spokesman said the agency wouldn’t comment on the ongoing discussions.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1885099~State_regulators_frown_on_NYC_doctor_s_flat_fee.html
I don't think that there's anything wrong with licensing per se. We certainly want Doctors, dentist, lawyers and other highly skilled workers meeting minumum competency requirements.
I think the problem comes in when states or the feds tie those licensing standards to billing practices. What I or you negotiate as payment or compensation with a service provider isn't the gubmit's damn business.
I am left to the same conclusion. I believe that while the health care system has problems, a government takeover will only make things much worse.
“How can the state dictate you’ve got to charge more?”
The state can do pretty much whatever it wants to.
A lesson that Americans better learn quickly.
Of course they don’t want him to solve the problem with good ‘ol fashioned private sector ingenuity—how would that make the left look?
They are deliberately crashing the current free market method so they can say: “See, it doesn’t work.” and then raise up their communist medicine panacea.
I’ve long suspected, that between medical malpractice suits and government meddling, it’s essentially an open conspiracy to drive healthcare through the roof and into the arms of government, where the lefty lawyers and bureaucratic boobs think it should be anyway.
And you would one very observant, highly intelligent person for suspecting this!
And you would BE one very observant, highly intelligent person for suspecting this!
We’re talking about NEW YORK.. The EMPIRE STATE.. or more commonly ...THE EMPIRE
The PEople’s Republic
In order for INSURANCE COMPANIES to work in NY... they have to agree that they Cannot CHARGE higher Premiums in NY than somewhere else.
As for the Doctors.. they are run by the INSURANCE CO’s .. and by the DRUG COMPANIES ... then by the STATE.. As a NY’er, if I didn’t have to have a Physical for my JOB... I’d only go to a DR under the DIREst of Emergencies... don’t trust any of them anymore.
“Its like my hometown of B.C., canada.”
Your hometown is a province?
And you know who should supervise that and administer any needed tests and evaluations? INSURANCE COMPANIES!!! A doctor could display a certificate from the insurance company on his wall. Get the government out!!!
I don’t know if you’re an econ nerd like me, but there is actually a body of work in economics that deals with occcupational licensing. Milton Friedman was a major proponent of abolishing it. It raises the cost of entry, raises prices for services, stifles innovation and keeps job duties locked in the 19th century. Read Friedmans’ “Capitalism and Freedom” or “Free to Choose” for more info. As for medical licensing, I favor changing to voluntary certification. Some suggested reading:
http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc1/OccupationalLicensing.html
http://www.artdiamondblog.com/archives/2006/03/occupational_li.html
http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/does-occupational-licensing-protect-consumers/
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