If the ER costs the patient no money, it is free care and will be over utilized.
And many Medicaid patients think they’ll get better care at the ER than they will from the doctors willing to see Medicaid patients. And there’s a lot shorter wait involved, too, and some Medicaid patients seem to think they shouldn’t have to wait for care.
Memphis has 1 public hospital it is flooded with Illegals who use it as a doctor’s office. Better be prepared for a 12+ hr wait. Then the Nic U, and Trauma Center is flooded with premies from drug addicted mothers, crime, accidents hit the Trauma center from not only Memphis but AR and MS as we border those states and are the closest Trauma and Nic U in the Tri State region. Also goes for TN Tri-County. All the Illegal Drug Addicts who OD are also there as they are likely not to have any health ins. Medicaid Picks up the Tab..FREEBIE from those of us who pay taxes.
They beg each year for MORE funding from State/Fed/County, City is Bankrupt from it’s social spending and over budget beautification/rehab old districts projects. Over paying city Councilmembers, under paying Police/Fire/Education. They have deannexed 2 areas because they can’t provide the promised services that are required when you annex.
It is a War Zone NO GO.
I very rarely need to see a doctor (except maybe a physical every year or so) but recently I had the unfortunate and disheartening experience of the emergency room of a major hospital. I had to take a family member of mine there. I think we were the only two English speaking people in the entire room. The majority of them appeared to be there for minor issues. We sat there for hours and hours as they were all shuffled around. I have no way of knowing but it appeared that none of them were on an insurance program - all welfare. It was the middle of a workday too and I was the only one wearing a tie and dressed presentably. Everybody else were in sweats, ratty sneakers and the men unshaven and had horrible posture. Most of them had the listless appearance of those who never had to get up for work and never will have to get up for work. Nobody was reading anything, there was some women's talk show on the TV and they were all lazily watching that.
I was keeping in touch with the office so I had my laptop and cell with me and I was taking conference calls and typing out emails. The others looked at me like I had two heads.
It was depressing.