A Democrat reaches across the aisle on Medicare (Liberal Senator Wyden works with Paul Ryan)

Washington Examiner ^ | 12/17/11 | M Barone

[Recovering_Democrat]

t's highly unusual in a presidential debate for two Republican candidates -- the two leading in current national polls -- to heap praise on a liberal Democratic senator...

Politicians' praise is sometimes bestowed overlavishly, but in this case it was well merited. Ryan-Wyden represents a major step forward in public policy and gives hope that the Medicare entitlement can be rendered sustainable.

The Ryan-Wyden proposal provides for continuation of the current Medicare program for those now over age 55. For those younger, it would introduce in 2022 a "premium-support" system that would allow Medicare recipients to choose between the current program and a Medicare-approved private plan.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Sounds like a reasonable piece of legislation. And Hussein has already said no.

[gleeaikin]

I think one valuable thing that could be done is that people using Medicare, Medicade, etc. be informed about the cost of each procedure that is suggested to them. For example when I went to Kaiser Permanente for a general checkup and flu shot I was encouraged to get a mammogram. When reading the consent form I saw that you should not have on a deodorant containing aluminum. I explained that I had some on, but they suggested trying to wash it off in the sink. I did, but they called and said there were some spots so I should get another one. I had told them I was coming back the next week for a different test, and could have it done with clean underarms. I was really annoyed to see later they were charging Medicare $110 for a test the was no good and had not been necessary. If I had known this I would have refused the first test, and insisted on having it on my following visit.

I hate to think how much money is wasted in the underhanded manner. Another instance, my husband died at home of Alzheimers, with a Hospice nurse coming in regularly to monitor his condition and advise me. I was surprised to see on his death certificate that he died in an institution, and at home had been erased. You could still see a bit of the X that had been erased. Did some insitution profit from this mistake/lie??

[Parley Baer]

It sounds like the piece of legislation Newt was saying the other day that it had promise. Down with Obamacare.

[goat granny]

Last year the doctor had to remove something suspecious (a growth of some kind) from my leg and sent it to the lab...the pathology sent me a bill for over 300 dollars, I think it was 360 dollars. I didn’t pay for it they sent me another bill. I called them and told them they better send their bill to medicare cause I wasn’t going to pay them the money and then they could also bill medicare for more money...the bills stopped they submitted it to medicare and the cost was 1/2 of what they billed me. Path report on 1 jar with 2 samples in it is not worth 360 dollars and medicare didn’t think so either...

It pays to pay attention. When I mentioned medicare and double billing, they got very respectfull to me on the phone...

[no-to-illegals]

Looking at goat granny’s post is a reminder of the corruption associated with the system. Any law can be broken or abused, regrettably, and another sad part of the entire system is there are always those who will break or abused the laws. I keep out a close eye to all the paperwork reviewed and then while trying to understand and not abuse the system, I find I worry I am when even acting within the law. Tears at my heart many times because I acted within the law. Strange ...

[neverdem]

Another instance, my husband died at home of Alzheimers, with a Hospice nurse coming in regularly to monitor his condition and advise me. I was surprised to see on his death certificate that he died in an institution, and at home had been erased. You could still see a bit of the X that had been erased. Did some insitution profit from this mistake/lie??

Maybe, but I don't know. I was sorry to read about your husband. You have my sincere condolences.

I do know that in NY a physician had to fill out and sign the death certificate. When I was an intern I would get called to pronounce the terminal, do not resuscitate patients dead routinely. I would make a final note in the chart that there were no heartbeats or breath sounds heard, no pulse was felt, that pupils didn't react to light and that the patient didn't blink their eyes when touched with a cotton swab. The death certificate had to be completed before the funeral home could get the body. That was in 1994-95.I don't think I have done a death certificate since then.

Maybe that was the only way to get a death certificate completed, if a patient dies at home when their physician isn't at the patient's home? It would be different at hospitals without teaching programs.

[gleeaikin]

Thank you for your kind words. If I remember correctly, the home visitation Hospice nurse is the one who verified his death and spoke with his doctor at the VA hospital. Then I called the funeral home and had them come to take him for cremation. Both she and the VA doctor knew I was caring for him at home, so I have no idea how that was on the death certificate. The also put him as 45 years old rather than 75, which was in accord with dates of birth and death on the certificate. Can’t get good help these days.