Posted on 04/28/2014 2:59:11 AM PDT by Timber Rattler
Despite the predictions of fortune tellers in politics and think tanks, we won’t know for years whether the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, will ultimately leave people sicker or healthier, richer or poorer.
Yet already the law, coming on top of previous legislation, is speeding the demise of an American small-business institution; the one-doctor medical practice.
(Excerpt) Read more at utsandiego.com ...
Medicine is not a free market. Prices are set by Medicare and commercial insurance is typically set as percentage over Medicare.
So, you may ask, why can’t single and small practices compete if prices are the same? The answer is that hospitals receive higher payments for their services than doctors in offices. Facility charges for the identical procedure are higher than ambulatory surgery centers which are higher than procedures performed in the doctor’s offices. Hospitals can also charge itemized “pass through” charges that doctors cannot; that’s why you will see a $10 charge for an aspirin in the hopsital. Another big advantage is that many if not most hospitals are non-profits which gives them significant tax advantages.
It’s like this in many other business sectors. The fact is that we have a fascist economy that favors those that have the resources to influence lawmakers.
Actually, I don’t think you can translate past performance with HMO and group type medical service with what is coming, frankly.
I’m glad you’ve had a good experience, but it is not the preferred insurance type for most people if they have a choice that is not cost prohibitive in an insurance plan. It is why the “if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor” lie is so egregious.
“Despite the predictions of fortune tellers in politics and think tanks, we won’t know for years whether the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, will ultimately leave people sicker or healthier, richer or poorer.”
I got the phone call Saturday. My appointment in May had been cancelled because my doctor is shutting down his practice. 6 months ago he told me he was going to try to hang on until Jan 1, 2017.
True healthcare is not a commodity business. Each person's needs are unique. The history and insight gained over a long term doctor/patient relationship cannot be replaced by a computer or assembly line medicine.
because it’s forced by the government that lied to us.
Obamacare is dead in the water new fines fees and taxes to ensue to keep it afloat.
FMCDH(BITS)
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