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Hospitals struggle with increasing number of "non-emergency" ER visits due to Medicaid expansion
cn|2 Pure Politics ^ | 7/30/2014 | Don Weber

Posted on 07/31/2014 8:34:48 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat

CYNTHIANA — The emergency rooms of Kentucky’s hospitals are facing a crisis of too many patients, but not because of an increase in illnesses, like the rest of the nation Kentucky saw an increase in non-emergency visits because more individuals have health insurance coverage.

In Kentucky, more than 330,000 people became Medicaid eligible when the state expanded the program on January 1. The expansion covers residents earning up to 138% of the federal poverty rate which is $15,856.

The problem is many of the patients now going to the emergency rooms are not actually facing a medical emergency. This is causing a strain at the state’s hospitals as ER doctors are treating an increasing number of patients for non-emergency care.

Sheila Currans, CEO of Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana, says that her hospital has had to move staff from other parts of the hospital into the ER to handle the increase in the number of patients.

“Unfortunately, the ACA didn’t create a support structure around the implementation of the ACA, and so what we have now is a system of more people seeking care, but residency programs which aren’t prepared to put more doctors out,” said Currans.

The 12 percent increase in emergency room visits is pretty consistent with the state average.

(Excerpt) Read more at mycn2.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Kentucky
KEYWORDS: obamacare
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Again, precisely the opposite of what the Democrats claimed those opposed to Obamacare warned of...all of us "liars", per the left, of course.
1 posted on 07/31/2014 8:34:48 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: Republican Wildcat
Richard Cloward is smiling up from Hell.
2 posted on 07/31/2014 8:35:58 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The man who damns money obtained it dishonorably; the man who respects it earned it." --Ayn Rand)
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To: Republican Wildcat

Totally unexpected. /s


3 posted on 07/31/2014 8:38:09 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
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To: Republican Wildcat

Took my wife to the ER because of chest pains, a precaution insisted by our insurance. After sitting for three hours waiting my Wife had enough and told me to take her home because the ER was more aggravating than anything. Anyone that says the undocumented don’t use the ER for minor medical issues is full of the stuff that comes out of obama’s mouth.


4 posted on 07/31/2014 8:45:43 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: Republican Wildcat

Obama has the inverse midas touch, everything he gets a hold of turns to &h*t.


5 posted on 07/31/2014 8:47:19 PM PDT by Cubs Fan (Illegal immigration will be America's downfall)
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To: Republican Wildcat

ERs in southern California have close over the years due to this very phenomenon.


6 posted on 07/31/2014 8:55:40 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: Republican Wildcat

Course, to make the Lib’s heads explode, just ask: Now that ‘everyone’ has healthcare (ala OCare), they would support the repeal of making hospitals take any/all patients regardless of ability to pay?


7 posted on 07/31/2014 8:56:27 PM PDT by i_robot73 (Give me one example and I will show where gov't is the root of the problem(s).)
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To: Republican Wildcat

Medicaid. Hey! It’s free! Might as well use it often. It don’t cost nuthin’.


8 posted on 07/31/2014 9:09:54 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (America is not a refugee camp! It is my home!!!)
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To: Republican Wildcat

Exactly right. The liberal crapola coming from the LA Times and the New York Times during to help pass Obamacare was that emergency rooms would be less crowded because the newly insured would now be getting preventive care and would not be going to the emergency rooms for routine care. Those of us in the common sense community called BS on that right away but of course our voices were drowned out by all the media cheerleading.


9 posted on 07/31/2014 9:16:46 PM PDT by blue state conservative
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To: Republican Wildcat
Hospitals struggle with increasing number of "non-emergency" ER visits

There's no reason for to tie up the ER, they simply need to triage, and send the "non-emergency" patients down the hall to a union thug nurse practitioner.

"Sorry, I'm going on break...you'll just have to wait."

10 posted on 07/31/2014 9:23:11 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves" Month.)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

Reminds me of the SNL spoof of the ‘Union Awards’. “He on break.”


11 posted on 07/31/2014 9:37:08 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Great vid by ShorelineMike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOZjJk6nbD4&feature=plcp)
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To: Mastador1

its hard to believe the ER didn’t use a triage system...chest pain should be right at the top....


12 posted on 07/31/2014 9:39:42 PM PDT by cherry
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To: Republican Wildcat
Who could have possibly guessed this would happen?
13 posted on 07/31/2014 9:41:56 PM PDT by Ken H
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To: Republican Wildcat
the non urgent "problems" that people bring in to the ER would be laughable if not so upsetting....diarrhea that the patient has had for 4 yrs but decides on a Friday night to come to the ER....

the "back" aches seeking hydro's or better yet, oxy's....when they tell you that they're "allergic" to all nsaids(motrin,aleve, etc_) you know they're just seeking narcs...

14 posted on 07/31/2014 9:43:39 PM PDT by cherry
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To: Republican Wildcat; All

Just saw this on another forum. Don’t really know what to make of it.

https://m.facebook.com/WATE6.News/photos/a.205213286178001.59558.112945508738113/828488583850465/?type=1


15 posted on 07/31/2014 9:47:11 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Great vid by ShorelineMike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOZjJk6nbD4&feature=plcp)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

I was just being a jerk about unions, but the truth is, that is a simple solution for hospitals.


16 posted on 07/31/2014 9:49:43 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves" Month.)
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To: cherry

I need some of that medicine that starts with a D for my migraine. Nothing else works. I think it’s dilawya.


17 posted on 07/31/2014 9:52:04 PM PDT by RC one (Militarized law enforcement is just a nice way of saying martial law enforcement.)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER
"Sorry, I'm going on break...you'll just have to wait."

Like this guy in the UK

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER 08th October 2009

A plumber whose arm was left twisted grotesquely out of shape in an accident ten months ago has had an operation to correct it 'cancelled four times'.

Torron Eeles, 50, has been left unable to work since falling down the stairs and now fears he may lose his home after being denied incapacity benefit.

The father-of-three today hit out at the NHS for the 'unacceptable delays'. His left arm has hung limply by his side since he fractured the humerus bone in December 2008.

Mr Eeles, from Welham Green, Hertfordshire, applied for employment and support allowance but a doctor ruled he is ineligible for both because he can turn on a tap.

18 posted on 07/31/2014 9:54:07 PM PDT by spokeshave (OMG.......Schadenfreude overload is not covered under Obamacare :-()
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To: Republican Wildcat

I worked in an ER in Pocatello, ID pre-owebamacare 2006-2009. This is nothing new except there are more pathetic losers on Medicaid now.

There is nothing more disturbing than subsidizing a permanent underclass of Americans who are too stupid to take care of themselves so that they will vote demoncrat. Except maybe importing a whole new underclass of non-Americans to do the same damn thing!


19 posted on 07/31/2014 10:01:09 PM PDT by 43north (BHO: 50% black, 50% white, 100% RED.)
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To: cherry

Because her vitals were ok when we got there they just pushed her back, but the whole push to go to the ER was “because they can draw blood to determine if a heart attack had taken place”. When the visit is worse than the event something is wrong.


20 posted on 07/31/2014 10:02:26 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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