The public option in the real world

NY Post ^ | October 29, 2009 | MARC K. SIEGEL

[Scanian]

Like many other doctors, I've been looking at my panel of patients and trying to decide whether a "public option" in health reforms will help them. Unfortunately, I can't think of a single patient where it will.

As an internist, I have a varied practice, with patients ranging from rich to poor, from chronically ill to "worried well." On any given day, I see at least one quarter of cases (including Medicaid patients) without charge; one or two come in without insurance and pay me cash. Most of the time, I accept the patient's HMO or Medicare without looking closely at how much I get paid.

The biggest problem I'm having now is the shrinking network of doctors to refer my patients to for procedures or specialty evaluations. The public option won't help here — and could make things worse.

[Ulysse]

ping

[LibertyRocks]

My friend is on Tricare (hubby is an USAF officer). They have gotten denied twice now for prescription formula for their infant son who seems to be allergic to EVERYTHING in the world! No milk, no soy, no nuts - and that’s just a small part they know about already. This is his FOOD we are talking about and the gov’t health insurance for our US Military will NOT pay for it - it’s $50.00 per can of formula and it’s NOT sold in stores, it has to be gotten by prescription only.

If people think that a public option and government health-care will end problems like denials and such they should take a close look at how well the government treats our active-duty military families and vets on Tricare. They would then see that this whole “public option” thing would create a HUGE mess. The gov’t can’t even take care of our military, and these liberals expect them to take care of ALL of us (because eventually it WOULD be all of us on it...).

I’m glad at least some doctors are speaking out. I wish more would because this is NOT good for them, OR the hospitals.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2373273/posts

“NO GOVERNMENT OPTION”
Me ^ | October 28, 2009 | Cindy
Posted on October 28, 2009 4:37:49 PM PDT by Cindy

[the invisib1e hand]

pity that the debate has been shifted to this straw man, "the public option," when the real issue, which has been mentioned only once or twice by obscure sources, is the unconstitutional aggregation of power by the government.

But nobody seems to be able to find anything wrong with that, or to muster the argument against it.

Hey, is there a constitution or isn't there? And what is it for?

[wastoute]

The COnstitution? What is it for? Silly, it is a place for folks like Zero to wipe their feet! What rock have you been hiding under?

Μολὼν λάβε

[Prince of Space]

I work at a hospital, and our CEO wrote an article on our intranet in favor of reform. Of course, she also donated $250 to Zero last year, as did her pro-choice hubby!

I responded to her article, asking her why on earth she thought putting the government in charge of healthcare would be a good thing, either for the hospital or the employees. I pointed out that universal healthcare has failed everywhere it's been tried, and what exactly were the pros and cons in her eyes.

Her response was very light-hearted and full of platitudes, and she didn't answer my questions at all. Apparently, she hasn't thought this bill through enough, but I'm sure she trusts Zero implicitly....

Mrs. Prince of Space

[LibertyRocks]

I understand what you are saying, and it always amazes me how in a few short months the liberals have gone from despising EVERYTHING the government does and viewing it with contempt to complete utter faith in the SAME PEOPLE just because the man sitting in the Oval Office is different! Astonishing the hypocrisy of these people, really. Government healthcare will NOT help the people they are trying to help — it will only make things WORSE. People act like gov’t health insurance will mean no denials for ANYTHING, and everything paid for 100% without any thought to HOW it will be paid for — they don’t cut the checks and it will all be “hidden” in their taxes, but they don’t think about THAT...

Perhaps these hospital administrators believe they can get MORE money out of the government than they currently get from private healthcare reimbursements? Don’t know HOW they would ever get this impression, but perhaps that thought is floating around out there??? Otherwise, I don’t see why ANY of them would want to go along with this plan...

[LibertyRocks]

You bring up a very good point. Unfortunately when it comes to the Obama supporters that ‘talking point’* doesn’t hold much water. A Rasmussen poll that came out a few months before the election last year showed that up to 70% of Obama supporters thought that SCOTUS should make decisions based on “FEELINGS” and NOT what was written in the Constitution...

You are right though — it’s not about the public option. The truth of the matter is that the government should not be involved in our healthcare industry at all! I wonder though if that ship hasn’t been out of port for a long time now. I started getting replies to that like — well then we need to do away with Medicare, Social Security, Police, Firemen, Libraries, etc... because that’s all “socialism” and it’s not allowed in the Constitution. It almost seems like a losing proposition to bring up the subject in any conversation with a liberal — not that it will stop me, mind you!!!

* Just wanted to mention that I don’t view Constitutional issues as “talking points” I just couldn’t find a better term for what I meant... :)

[the invisib1e hand]

It is a losing proposition. Leftists and other social misfits will never, ever, agree to the constitution.

However, does that excuse those who understand the issue from fighting for it?

I don't see that it does.