Medical French Revolution

[David58]

This is a big part of why I agreed with you- there are many parts of the Canadian system that I do absolutely feel are likely better than what we have here.

How many Americans go to Canada for care, as compared to those Canadians that come here?

David
NM

 

[Treeshark]

How many Americans go to Canada for care, as compared to those Canadians that come here?

David
NM

I really have no idea. I do have a bit of personal observational experience with Canadians coming to the US for elective care, but I cannot speak to the inverse happening or not happening.

I would imagine there may be motivation for US citizens to turn to Canada for prescription medications but I really don’t know.

 

[cgasner1]

My issue is the constant price gouging. My mom has had an inhaler for like 5 years it cost her like 10 or 20 bucks a month for it. Her insurance dropped it because it went up to 2k a month. Out of curiosity WTF happens to that price to randomly jump 1000%?

 

[Treeshark]

@cgasner1, I would imagine that her inhaler dropped off of her insurer’s formulary and reverted to list price (or something along those lines).

Hopefully she could find a similar medication for a more reasonable price?

 

[SaskHunter]

How many Americans go to Canada for care, as compared to those Canadians that come here?

David
NM

150-320K Americans travel abroad each year for medical care. What's your point?

https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...,training, qualifications,and and reputation.

I can see why the wealthy and properly insured like this system, but ultimately, the majority isn't as fortunate.

 

[SAJ-99]

My issue is the constant price gouging. My mom has had an inhaler for like 5 years it cost her like 10 or 20 bucks a month for it. Her insurance dropped it because it went up to 2k a month. Out of curiosity WTF happens to that price to randomly jump 1000%?

Can I introduce you to Martin Shkreli, a.k.a. Pharma Bro. Not sure he was the cause, but the theme fits.

Martin Shkreli, pharmaceutical chief who increased price of lifesaving drug, sentenced to 7 years in prison

Martin Shkreli, the self-promoting pharmaceutical executive notorious for trolling critics online, was convicted in a securities fraud case last year unconnected to the price increase dispute.

www.pbs.org

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

Got any idea how much the knock-out doc spends on malpractice insurance? Appreciate the fact that those folks take you to as close to being dead as you can be without being dead, and wake you back up? Teeny little mistakes turn out your lights for good. The salary is worth it for those providing care. The ones administrating? Not even....

David
NM

Do not know how I can make this anymore clear, I don’t have a problem with how much the knockout doc, regular old fix you up doc, hospital ceo, nurse, X-ray tech or any other the other multitude of people involved in us healthcare get compensated. They should get every dollar they can.

But to think those salaries are not a huge part of the reason healthcare costs and therefore insurance are as high in the us as they are is just wrong.

 

[cgasner1]

Can I introduce you to Martin Shkreli, a.k.a. Pharma Bro. Not sure he was the cause, but the theme fits.

Martin Shkreli, pharmaceutical chief who increased price of lifesaving drug, sentenced to 7 years in prison

Martin Shkreli, the self-promoting pharmaceutical executive notorious for trolling critics online, was convicted in a securities fraud case last year unconnected to the price increase dispute.

www.pbs.org

Na this was like last year was already out of jail

 

[jryoung]

There's a reason more and more practitioners are going cash based. Whether it's a fee for service model or value based care model, the fees, rules, limitations dictated by insurance companies is crushing many practitioners. It can't work for everyone, and there are certainly many components of medicine where it's unfeasible, but for individual practitioners, it can be very beneficial.

My orthopedic surgeon went cash based and is wondering why she didn't do it sooner.

 

[Irrelevant]

All non-profit means is that the company cannot make a profit. Too much money over expenses? Build a new parking lot, or better yet, put it in the pockets of the administrators.

People become stinking rich operating nonprofits.

David
NM

Sure, but they're not beholden to shareholders

 

[Gerald Martin]

Sounds like the rate of denial of claims for the company that the murdered man was CEO of was 32% compared to the national average of 16% denied claims.

If I were looking for likely suspects I’d be checking out all the denied claims of the company and checking for links to family or loved ones. I would not be surprised at all that the killer had a loved one or family member who died as a consequence of lack of medical care they weren’t able to receive or continue because of their denied claim.

 

[jryoung]

A good read on a part of the "industry", this was published in October.

Inside the Company Helping America’s Biggest Health Insurers Deny Coverage for Treatments

When companies like Aetna or UnitedHealthcare want to rein in costs, they turn to EviCore, whose business model depends on turning down payments for care recommended by doctors for their patients.

www.propublica.org

 

[David58]

Sure, but they're not beholden to shareholders

No, they aren't. Which is why administrators of nonprofits can make ridiculous salary. What an easy way to make sure you constantly don't make a profit.

David
NM

 

[Irrelevant]

No, they aren't. Which is why administrators of nonprofits can make ridiculous salary. What an easy way to make sure you constantly don't make a profit.

David
NM

Not a chance in hell a disproportionately high salary, which I doubt exists, makes up for shareholder dividends

 

[longbow51]

Thought I might just post this here. It skyrocketed with ACA. It's why sometimes (not always, thanks goodness) the nurse/doctor is looking at a computer, not a patient.

 

[jryoung]

Thought I might just post this here. It skyrocketed with ACA. It's why sometimes (not always, thanks goodness) the nurse/doctor is looking at a computer, not a patient.

View attachment 352008

I'm sure there are nuances where it might be true, but there a lot of data on spending going back to the 70's and there wasn't much change in the charts. Anecdotally, I've paid a consistent 5-6% increase in insurance since 2004. The pandemic has increased those rates, tooling out at a 25% increase this year for Anthem Blue Cross.

How has U.S. spending on healthcare changed over time? - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker

This chart collection explores National Health Expenditure (NHE) data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

www.healthsystemtracker.org

 

[BigHornRam]

Thought I might just post this here. It skyrocketed with ACA. It's why sometimes (not always, thanks goodness) the nurse/doctor is looking at a computer, not a patient.

View attachment 352008

 

[Beignet]

Hear me out, socialized healthcare is not that bad, guys.

Must be cool not having to worry about going into crippling, life altering debt if you get happen to get sick or injured.

 

[SaskHunter]

Must be cool not having to worry about going into crippling, life altering debt if you get happen to get sick or injured.

Makes enjoying those Federally mandated statutory holidays and legislated paid time off, even better!!!

TBH the bread lines aren't even that long.

 

[SaskHunter]

Thought I might just post this here. It skyrocketed with ACA. It's why sometimes (not always, thanks goodness) the nurse/doctor is looking at a computer, not a patient.

View attachment 352008