ther Idea for Controlling Health Care Costs - Stop 911 Abuse

[Col Hogan]

The currently proposed legislation to get sky-rocketing health care costs under control basically shifts money from the haves to the have nots, without really controlling the costs...

There are numerous ways that health care costs could be brought under control...they've been argued here and in other forums..

Here's another...Stop The Abuse of the 911 System...

It's become a $400 taxi ride to the hospital....or worse yet, people call 911 to get in-home treatment for things as simple as a rash then refuse transportation to the hospital...

...one big misconception many people have is that coming to the hospital in an ambulance will get them faster access to a doctor.

"There are cases of people so frustrated waiting to see a doctor that they have left the ER to call 911," Pauze said. "They think they can jump the line if they're brought in by a paramedic."

In reality, Pauze said anyone with a non-emergency situation who is brought into ER will be asked to wait anyway while emergency cases are first evaluated.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/24/news/ec ... /index.htm

[dbackjon]

The whole "ER" for routine medicine is killing costs, and a great argument FOR universal HC, or for at LEAST an expanded chain of subsidized public health clinics (or, lacking that, greater coverage so people can go to wellness clinics, doctor's offices, etc.)

[AZGrizFan]

Or, applying Darwin's theory, we could let the weaker ones die to help strengthen the species.

[HI54UNI]

The public needs to be educated on what health care costs and need to use some common sense. My wife works in the medical field and she frequently talks about people coming into the E.R. on a weekend with whatever ailment and the patient will comment, "I've been fighting this (insert ailment) all week. I finally couldn't take it any more so I had to come in." So instead of an $80 visit to the doctor the dumbass has a $500 plus visit to the ER that insurance has to pay for.

Also if you have a car insurance claim they make you get 2 or 3 quotes for repairs. Do they make you call 3 hospitals for pricing on an MRI or other expensive procedure? No, you just go and do it. People have no idea what it costs until they get the bill.

[AZGrizFan]

The answer is already out there, folks:

CONSUMER-DRIVEN HEALTHCARE PLANS

[danefan]

The answer is already out there, folks:

CONSUMER-DRIVEN HEALTHCARE PLANS

AZ - do you really think the "consumers" in today's current health care plans have any power to drive anything?

Most of us have no choice. We pay for what we believe is the best option offered by our jobs and we just deal with what benefits are offered. How is that consumer driven?

[AZGrizFan]

The answer is already out there, folks:

CONSUMER-DRIVEN HEALTHCARE PLANS

AZ - do you really think the "consumers" in today's current health care plans have any power to drive anything?

Most of us have no choice. We pay for what we believe is the best option offered by our jobs and we just deal with what benefits are offered. How is that consumer driven?

Do you understand what "consumer driven healthcare" means?

[danefan]

AZ - do you really think the "consumers" in today's current health care plans have any power to drive anything?

Most of us have no choice. We pay for what we believe is the best option offered by our jobs and we just deal with what benefits are offered. How is that consumer driven?

Do you understand what "consumer driven healthcare" means?

Apparently not. My assumption was that you were referring to the health care system in place today.
So you are saying that the answer is out there, but we don't currenlty employ it?

EDIT - just looked it up. I like the idea for me, but it still doesn't cover the uninsured does it?

[AZGrizFan]

Do you understand what "consumer driven healthcare" means?

Apparently not. My assumption was that you were referring to the health care system in place today.
So you are saying that the answer is out there, but we don't currenlty employ it?

EDIT - just looked it up. I like the idea for me, but it still doesn't cover the uninsured does it?

No, but the logic used by those supporting national healthcare is the "rising costs of providing healthcare", and the examples most often used involve inappropriate use of ER's and such. Consumer driven healthcare plans (for those who are insured by them) pass the costs of those piss-poor decisions BACK to the insured, and cost less for the same amount of coverage because of it. It's all part of the "re-education" process of Americans, and getting them to understand the appropriate use of 911, ER's, medications, etc. Yeah, it won't happen overnight, and it won't be some big political "victory" if it happens, but the answer is out there....maybe not the PERFECT answer, but it's a lot better than the national healthcare plan being proposed by the left.

[danefan]

Apparently not. My assumption was that you were referring to the health care system in place today.
So you are saying that the answer is out there, but we don't currenlty employ it?

EDIT - just looked it up. I like the idea for me, but it still doesn't cover the uninsured does it?

No, but the logic used by those supporting national healthcare is the "rising costs of providing healthcare", and the examples most often used involve inappropriate use of ER's and such. Consumer driven healthcare plans (for those who are insured by them) pass the costs of those piss-poor decisions BACK to the insured, and cost less for the same amount of coverage because of it. It's all part of the "re-education" process of Americans, and getting them to understand the appropriate use of 911, ER's, medications, etc. Yeah, it won't happen overnight, and it won't be some big political "victory" if it happens, but the answer is out there....maybe not the PERFECT answer, but it's a lot better than the national healthcare plan being proposed by the left.

I learn something new everyday on here.