Dr Obama knows best. Take two aspirins, bend over and empty your pockets.

The AMA is about one thing, only.

Physician's income.

.....do doctor's have to be millionaires ?........

This is a surprise to who?

WTF do you expect the AMA do to any effort like this?

.....do doctor's have to be millionaires ?........

#3 | Posted by skizziks at 2009-06-11 08:49 AM | Reply

Primary care doctors make about $32 an hour -- after 11 years of education and training.

The best paid doctors are orthopedic surgeons, who take down maybe $300,000 a year -- that's a 60-70 hour work week, after 14 years of training.

Doctors bitch and whine about HMOs as much as anyone until they think it might cost them a buck or two.

The history of the AMA terrorizing the American public for generations with their "socialized medicine" asininity is well documented in this article, btw.

The AMA has created a monopolly for itself. With their sole ability to liscence practitioners to their ability to control the flow of students into med school they effectively create a situation where they keep medical wages artificially high due to supply and demand. Here in Michigan we've had a shortage of nurses forever, yet admittance into med school under a program where one can learn to become a nurse involves a 2-3 year waiting list.

It's ridiculous.

Ease the liscencing procedures. Take power away from the AMA.

DON'T take their power away by giving it to the federal government. Talk about a disaster in the making...

It's the "Harry and Louise" scare tactic all over again.

The best paid doctors are orthopedic surgeons, who take down maybe $300,000 a year -- that's a 60-70 hour work week, after 14 years of training.

#5 | Posted by vernon

Wrong again Vern.

I have a couple of Orthapaedic Surgeons as clients.... they net $1.2 million last year.

If a hungry snake and a hungry tiger were fighting over who gets to eat you, which would you hope wins?

If a hungry snake and a hungry tiger were fighting over who gets to eat you, which would you hope wins?

#11 | Posted by Lipzoidial at 2009-06-11 10:46 AM

Neither one. But if I had to fight for my life against one or the other, I would rather fight the snake. I'd have a better chance of overpowering a snake than I would a tiger.

I'd have a better chance of overpowering a snake than I would a tiger.

#12 | Posted by CalifChris

I...must...resist....the...obv ious...sexual...comments.

I wish the AMA luck - hope they succeed.

WHO the F*** is Stein, is he some doctor. And what does he know?

"Writers" on the huffington post should just write about what they know best

GAY SEX
smoking pot
loving Muslim Terrorist
hating Isreal

That is about it

Vern's calculator strikes again.

Fuck 'em. Time for reform. Going bankrupt because of sickness is perverted.

My brother is a psychaitrist. Among the least highly paid types of doctors. He makes @ $800,000 a year. Vern is even more clueless than usual if he thinks the typical doctor makes $32/hr.

And of course the AMA resists Health Care Reform. They did back in the Clinton years, and they always will. No professional guild likes outside interference.

Now list how much in malpractice insurance each of those fields must pay to practice and adjust. Anesthesiology has among the highest rates and can go upto a million a year alone.

#15 | Posted by HillBillyJihad at 2009-06-11 01:43 PM | Reply | Flag: Can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

Here in Michigan we've had a shortage of nurses forever

----

A lot of nurse quit because it's a very high stress job.

"#12 | Posted by CalifChris"

It's been awhile since you had a real, live snake in your hand, hasn't it CC?

Vern's calculator strikes again.
#16 | Posted by northguy3

Maybe he was referring to the Chinese medicinal snake salesmen he works for.

Jeff, does it really take 2-3 years to get into nursing school in Michigan? I've lived in Illinois and Wisconsin and seen friends/family go into nursing school like any other area of academics. Apply in the winter/spring, start in the fall if you got in.

Jeff, does it really take 2-3 years to get into nursing school in Michigan?

2 buddies of mine are tying to get in and both have told me that - yes, 2-3 year waiting list.

"Vern's calculator strikes again.
#16 | Posted by northguy3

Maybe he was referring to the Chinese medicinal snake salesmen he works for."

In the last few years I have witnessed some of the worst practiced medicine, it would rival 3 world countries in thought.

So many infected surgeries it is scary to even think of going to the doctor.

AMA good. UAW bad.

Got it.

Damn union doctors!

We should find out which state has the lowest paid physicians and make that the going rate for doctors....just like they did for auto workers.

According to Huffington Post, the AMA has already backed down.
....................
Make no mistake: health reform that covers the uninsured is AMA's top priority this year," a clarifying statement from the group read. "Every American deserves affordable, high-quality health care coverage.

"Today's New York Times story creates a false impression about the AMA's position on a public plan option in health care reform legislation. The AMA opposes any public plan that forces physicians to participate, expands the fiscally-challenged Medicare program or pays Medicare rates, but the AMA is willing to consider other variations of the public plan that are currently under discussion in Congress. This includes a federally chartered co-op health plan or a level playing field option for all plans. The AMA is working to achieve meaningful health reform this year and is ready to stand behind legislation that includes coverage options that work for patients and physicians."
.............

This is a straw man argument as no doctor will be forced to participate in any public plan as the administration has always stated their would continue to be private insurance with a public option.

These greedy doctors are still looking to fleece their patients and get bonuses from private insurance for restricting care of their HMO patients.

".....do doctor's have to be millionaires ?........"

I would add, do Politicians have to be Millionairs?

I'm a physiciant and there's so much ignorance here on both sides of the issue that it's unbelievable.

Anyone who thinks the AMA exists soley to make money and F@#$ the public is an idiot. By the same token, anyone who thinks doctors don't expect to be paid for spending the best years of their lives (20's & 30's) in classrooms and hospitals and books, and taking on huge lawsuit risk in our suit-happy-environment, and not get paid for it, is also an idiot.

That being said I work in a major medical center and our entire physician's staff pay for the last year is freely available to anyone who would like to see it online, as are most university hospitals. The highest earners here made a bit over $500,000, then we rapidly fall off into the $200-$300 range.

I'll make this easy though. You can easily reduce doctor's salaries. Mine drops every year. But before you all get too excited about hacking away at your physician's salaries, consider the long-term cost of that plan.

In this country, despite the ever-increasing pressure to lower salaries, and despite the fact that we can be sued in a heartbeat over any damn thing a patient would like to sue for, most medical students still enter medicine because it is considered prestigious and we expect that our costs in time (8-10 years post-college education) and money (most medical schools will run you 200G, not to mention the loss of income a job would have brought for those 8-10 years) will be made up down the road.

Easy to change, sure, but if you dramatically change that equation, then the best and the brightest might start to think wall street is a better choice. Or private business. Or anything that doesn't require 10 more years with no light at the end of the tunnel.

So make up your minds. You want your doctors to be brilliant and talented? You better pay them well. You're okay with mediocrity in the medical field? Pay whatever you want. But you can't have it both ways.

But (to quote Happy Gilmore), "What would I know? I'm just a doctor."

hrump. physicant = physician,

So much for edumacation.

AMA good. UAW bad.

LOL!

Don't forget the lawyers too!

I guess the union busting righties think over a certain amount of salary then unions are good.

'''You want your doctors to be brilliant and talented? You better pay them well. You're okay with mediocrity in the medical field?"""

Sorry, but those aren't mutually exclusive. Try again.

Sorry, but those aren't mutually exclusive. Try again.

#36 | Posted by panchovilla at 2009-06-11 03:16 PM

Does the fact that a doctor pulls in 20 times the salary of a teacher go over your head? What is "enough"? What is "well paid"? It's a matter of opinion and doctors will for sure say that half a mil is not enough, it's never enough. You decide for yourself. I have.

Easy to change, sure, but if you dramatically change that equation, then the best and the brightest might start to think wall street is a better choice. Or private business.

For the most part, Wall Street is off the table for the next few years. The fact that wall street was mentioned as an alternative and not science or engineering suggest a financial incentive for entering medicine.

Americans don't have a monopoly on brain power. Just ask those in the IT industry that have been displaced. There are plenty of bright, eager people around the world that, with the proper education and training, would perform very well as doctors and surgeons for substantially less pay. Using the threat of losing the best and brightest is not viable in this global economy.

Quite frankly, I don't think the American public has a problem with what doctors / surgeons earn. I believe that the American public is pissed with medical insurance providers. I don't like the idea of government competing against the private sector but I make an exception when it comes to the medical insurance industry. I believe that they have so abused their franchise that they deserve to have their business model trashed.

Hospitals aren't much better. They make these deals with big insurance providers (including Medicare and Medicaid) to provide services at reduced rates and seek to make up the difference on those that don't have insurance. That's utterly insane because many (most?) of those that don't have insurance don't have it because they can't afford it. And, if they can't afford insurance, how in the hell are they going to pay an inflated medical bill?

What the average American doesn't understand is that the insurance companies screw the medical field just as often. You pay insurance and you therefore think the insurance is paying the doctor, but quite often they deny the claim after the service is performed for various non-reasons. WE have a full time billing person in our office whose job is just to fight with the insurance companies for the money we are owed for services we provided and payed people for already.

Does the fact that a doctor pulls in 20 times the salary of a teacher go over your head? What is "enough"? What is "well paid"? It's a matter of opinion and doctors will for sure say that half a mil is not enough, it's never enough. You decide for yourself. I have.

#38 | Posted by panchovilla at 2009-06-11 03:30 PM

But if you want crappy doctors, by all means pay them crappy wages.

WE have a full time billing person in our office whose job is just to fight with the insurance companies for the money we are owed for services we provided and payed people for already.

#40 | Posted by kanrei at 2009-06-11 03:49 PMSame here.

LOD,
It is something people don't think about. The doctor I work for has not taken a paycheck in four months to make sure he can afford to pay his people while waiting for insurance to finally pay us. I can't think of any field where the head of a business would go without pay for months instead of closing shop.

Where has the AMA been during the fleecing of america? Do they not have a word about that?

I hope the AMA is successful in their efforts to thwart socialized medicine, and whether their scoundrels or not is immaterial.. ( I don't know any surveys, but my friends that are doctors of various stripes down at the Emory medical facility.. say that the pay posted by some of the Obama worshippers on here are highly inflated)

National health care is rationed health care.. there's a pretty consistent track record on that.. and its a well that once we fall into, will be hard to climb back out of. Sort of like where we are now with social security.. a system that's absolutely headed to bankruptcy, but there's almost nothing politically that can be done to forestall it

Its the kind of stuff revolutions are made of.

scuse me. should be "they're" not "their".. typing faster than my grammar will allow..

LOD,
It is something people don't think about. The doctor I work for has not taken a paycheck in four months to make sure he can afford to pay his people while waiting for insurance to finally pay us. I can't think of any field where the head of a business would go without pay for months instead of closing shop.

#43 | Posted by kanrei at 2009-06-11 03:53 PM

I've written a good set of database crystal reports for our billing person so that whenever they fire back that they're not paying she can immediately respond with enough information to get them to pay up. I don't know how it all works beyond writing the report. =)

I can't think of any field where the head of a business would go without pay for months instead of closing shop. actually, lots of small business guys do that... in fact, I don't think I know a single one that hasn't skipped at least one check..

Which is one reason it aggravates me to see hard working business people, including doctors, maligned.

I don't know the answer to all the healthcare issues.. but screwing over doctors is not one of them.

You want your doctors to be brilliant and talented?

I want my doctor to:
-Care about people. If they are in it for the money, they are in the wrong fucking business.
-Not be religious AT ALL. I don't express this prejudice in other fields, but I don't want the guy looking after my health to think he is working with a net. I want him/her to believe that if they fuck up, all I get is a long nap in a cold dark hole......no fantasies of "I'm better off now".

The AMA is about one thing, only.

Physician's income.

#2 | Posted by silver_ironist

And the integrity of the Profession. Is Obama for that? Absolutely not! In fact, Physicians are evil, acording to Obama!

Does the fact that a doctor pulls in 20 times the salary of a teacher go over your head? What is "enough"? What is "well paid"? It's a matter of opinion and doctors will for sure say that half a mil is not enough, it's never enough. You decide for yourself. I have.

#38 | Posted by panchovilla

Dude,

Teachers in the US belong to Unions and go on strike from time to time.

Doctors in Germany belong to Unions and go on strike from time to time.

What part of this needs more explaination? Do you want to give up now or shall we let the beatings begin?

The AMA does not represent most doctors, only about 25%.

I think we need National Lawyer care. Free care provided by the government for everyone.

Imagine Obama going before the BAR of each state with that proposal.

"Does the fact that a doctor pulls in 20 times the salary of a teacher go over your head? What is "enough"? What is "well paid"? It's a matter of opinion and doctors will for sure say that half a mil is not enough, it's never enough. You decide for yourself. I have."

A teacher will not have my life in their hands [comparing the two is ridiculous]. I want the MD cutting on me to in a great mood because he's happy about the money he's making. Not one cutting while pissed because the government capped his pay.

If you want to fuck over a bunch of assclowns financially, why not do it to the parasitic lawyers, how worthless are they, start putting caps on their haul.obama is coming up with all these potential court case from afghanastan, giving militants moranda rights, obama you are a fuckhead. You could put a cap on that pile of shit soiling the White House, he owes America 10 trillion dollars, and I suggest he starts paying it back 6 months ago.
And this was the liberal answer to G.W., what a pile of shit. You literally have a little black boy sitting in the WHITE House who does'nt have a fucking clue as to what he is doing, you have a fucked up bunch of assclowns sitting in the 2 houses, a fucked up supreme court, a state run media kissing this worthless government's ass, and brain fucking the illiterate, dumbed down american public with half truths, blatant lies, fish tales of unbelieveable proportions, a cia who are more political than protectors, an fbi that is just totally disfunctional, nsa that could'nt find their ass with both hands tied behind their backs, and a U.S. Marshall dept that no longer believes in the law of the land, hell none of the aforementioned believe in the law of the land, or follows or protects American's Constitutional rights. You have doctors who only believe in the Hypocratic oath when it comes to giving treatment to illegals, only to soak the American taxpayer by billing the government for treating the illegal parasites, who are bringing diseases into the country, along with the swine flu, no wonder there is a fucking pandemic, you can't stop rats from boarding a ship, you can't stop the human wave of garbage coming across clinton's bridge to the future.
You have an assclown sitting in the White House telling his media dopes that he saved 140,000 jobs, oh yeah? Where? Oh you mean the make believe jobs that your union assholes will pretend were saved? obama you are a fucking worthless piece of shit liar, get the hell out of my White House and my country you pathetic lying piece of shit.

Feel better?

Reightnut,

Now tell us how you REALLY feel.

If you could learn to insert a bit more white space and get a bit more creative with the use of the CAPS key, you might just give Rusty Ballsack a run for his money!!!

Between Afk, Celisary, and Electro-Stormfront, do we really need another one?

Those of you who are indicating that doctors are having troubles getting reimbursed should support single payer. It is the private for profit insurance companies that are not reimbursing the doctor.

You see I pay my premium every month to the insurance company (6k annual), I go to the doctor I pay my copay, the insurance company is suppose to subsidize that cost. So lets say I need a surgery that costs 20k. I will pay 7,500 of that leaving the insurance company to pay 12,5k. If the insurance company deems the claim "Denied" they pay nothing leaving the doctor with a write-off.

Now who is the only entity to get paid in this scenario?

I want my doctor to:
-Care about people. If they are in it for the money, they are in the wrong fucking business.

#49 | Posted by r8rh8r at 2009-06-11 04:12 PM

Smart one here.

obama you are a fucking worthless piece of shit liar, get the hell out of my White House and my country you pathetic lying piece of shit.

#55 | Posted by rightnut

WooHoo!!!

I can't wait for 2010...

I love it when people like r8rh8r think someone should go to school for a decade, rack up massive debt in the process, spend obscene hours working toward becoming a doctor, a risky profession, all just so they can run a charity. Yeah...

spend obscene hours working toward becoming a doctor

----

Plus some of them work long and crazy hours.

This silly debate aboud physicians incomes is silly considering insurance companies dictate what amount they pay for services just like the government would. At least with the government part of the health care dollar is not being sucked up by corporate profit before the first treatment is even considered. Insurance companies make money by denying services, doctors don't get paid for services denied and yet I have know some very caring doctors who performed those same services anyway because their patients need them. If anything physicians would earn more with the government than under private insurance.

This silly debate aboud physicians incomes is silly considering insurance companies dictate what amount they pay for services just like the government would.
#64 | Posted by danni

Although I agree with you about some of the inefficiencies of the performance of medical insurance industry, I have to add that MOST doctors do not take Medicaid.

I do think that there needs to be a dramatic change in the insurance industry. In fact, I would entertain the possibility of insurance companies becoming non-profit, but I'm not completely on board with it. However, government more regulating health care? No way.

just so they can run a charity. Yeah...

Nice strawman, need some more hay?

Where did I ask for charity? I just don't want my doctor to be motivated by money. I doubt most doctors go into medicine because of money, unlike say, lawyers or investment bankers who spend comparable time in school and apprenticeships. BTW from the looks of things here most people would have no problem whatsoever docking the pay of a banker or lawyer, but no "charity" grunts on those matters from you.

I think most doctors start out with the goal of helping people. Money changes them. Once health care becomes all about money --and it is pretty much there already-- it is no longer really health care, just another industry selling soap to people who may or may not need it.

Do you know what a functioning thyroid is "worth"? Don't worry, I bet your doctor does. Cash or charge?

The income of abortionists and late term abortionists is not listed. Why not? Isn't abortion a "healing art," involving the practice of medicine?

WHO the F*** is Stein, is he some doctor. And what does he know?

"Writers" on the huffington post should just write about what they know best

GAY SEX
smoking pot
loving Muslim Terrorist
hating Isreal

That is about it

#15 | Posted by HillBillyJihad

------------------------------
-

He obviously knows a lot more tham you do. Of course that is a given for a mental retard like you! You rank right up there with 101limpdick, buzkiller, and NANC.

There will be no increase in medical care resources or decrease in compensation. The number of doctors upon "conversion" to the state as the conduit through which care is delivered will remain the same. What will be reallocated will be who the beneficiaries are, and will limit procedures necessary to preserve life because of budgetary constraints.

You're being fed a smoke and mirrors scenario as the percentage of GDP allocated to compensate the providers will remain the same. It's just that the funds for payment will be routed through the government.

Because the same resources are being allocated to more beneficiaries, the delays in securing care will occur here. As with the VA, medication that is not as effective and which may have worse side effects will be used because it is less expensive and budgetary considerations will predominate.

But don't despair, excellent care will provide an inducement for provision of euthanasia instead of curative treatment.

Also the more expensive care required by the elderly and disabled and research on orphan diseases will be curtailed because of the priority given budgetary constraints.

But think of the bright side, the silver lining. Curtailment of the expensive care for the elderly and disabled and their consequent earlier demise will cull the social security and similar rolls so that these programs will be better able to sustain themselves.

And hooray, the government will have another hook, a government interest in diet for health, averting obesity, use of safety devices, etc., for intruding in these areas so as to conserve federal dollars expended for health care. Big Brother is on the march.

Er, what happens to health care when the content of the government trough runs out? California should be a demonstration project with no budget and a $23.4 billion defict. No money to pay for care.

In a sense, California has been "GM'd," suffering the consequences of runaway union demands. The politicians negotiating as management for the state have kowtowed and raise the average salary to some $60,000, or so I'm told. Nice place to be a clerk. And the correctional officers union participated in the last campaign and was rewarded with a doubling of salary.

What's the priority for health care? Who gets the dollars?

We don't even have enough doctors for the 47 million people they want to add to the system.

Oh--never mind --you won't be seen by any doctor. You will be seen by a physicians assistant.

And you will have to wait 6 months--if you are lucky.

And 20 million of the 47 million are illegal immigrants.

And when the doctor saves your life or your loved ones' life--they are worth every dime they receive in payment.

AMA BACKS OFF opposition to Health Care Plan

"Today's New York Times story creates a false impression about the AMA's position on a public plan option in health care reform legislation. The AMA opposes any public plan that forces physicians to participate, expands the fiscally-challenged Medicare program or pays Medicare rates, but the AMA is willing to consider other variations of the public plan that are currently under discussion in Congress. This includes a federally chartered co-op health plan or a level playing field option for all plans. The AMA is working to achieve meaningful health reform this year and is ready to stand behind legislation that includes coverage options that work for patients and physicians."

JeffJ

The AMA has created a monopolly for itself. With their sole ability to liscence practitioners to their ability to control the flow of students into med school they effectively create a situation where they keep medical wages artificially high due to supply and demand. Here in Michigan we've had a shortage of nurses forever, yet admittance into med school under a program where one can learn to become a nurse involves a 2-3 year waiting list.

It's ridiculous.

Ease the liscencing procedures. Take power away from the AMA.

DON'T take their power away by giving it to the federal government. Talk about a disaster in the making...

------------------
I couldn't agree more, the AMA is a problem, but that does not mean you through the baby out with the bath water.

When the actress Natasha Richardson showed at the Montreal hospital, there was no neurosurgeon, so she was flown to New York before she could finally see one.

Why was there no neurosurgeon in Montreal, but one in New York. The one in New York made a lot more than the one in Canada.

"Dear AMA: I Quit!"

Dr. Chris McCoyPolicy Chair for the National Physicians Alliance

Dear American Medical Association,

I recently had the opportunity to read your response to the Senate Finance Committee proposal [pdf] for health care reform, and it is clear to me that I cannot remain a member in your organization. Please remove my name from your membership rolls, effective immediately.

In reading the response, I was frustrated and disheartened by the fact that you couldn't get through the second paragraph before bringing up the issue of physician reimbursement. This merely highlights how the AMA represents a physician-centered and self-interested perspective rather than honoring the altruistic nature of my profession. As a physician, I advocate first for what is best for my patients and believe that as a physician, as long as I continue to maintain the trust and integrity of the profession, I will earn the respect of my community. The appropriate financial compensation for my endeavors will follow in kind." More

"DON'T take their power away by giving it to the federal government."

Yeah, don't give it to the only entity over which the people of the country can exert any control. No, instead, give it to some other self-gratifying agency and let them determine how much competition they face. After all, the federal government can't license other professions, such as pilots, etc.
I swear Jeff, you've become such a complete right wing, anti-government ideologue, but then, after 8 years of Bush running the government I can understand why you don't believe government can do anything right.

.....do doctor's have to be millionaires ?........

#3 | Posted by skizziks

no they should all make only what a fucking high school dropout makes...they should go to college, then to med school then intern and sacrifice all their free time to learn so that they can make what a truck driver makes...what a turd. can sure tell you are lower class.

"what a turd. can sure tell you are lower class."

Talk about low class.....as if there is nothing between being a millionaire and working for truck drivers' wages. Idiotic comment.

The New York Times reported that AMA was "letting Congress know" that it would resist a public plan for health insurance coverage.

TRANSLATION

the AMA is letting congress know that they werent going to let this fuckin liar destroy the best medical care in the world without a fight

ask all of those cancer patients who are here from canada and great britain

or the people who cross the border to have the 30 min proceedure to help incontinence that in CANADA Has a three year waiting list.

How is your Medicare these days BL2???

What a hypocrit!

This silly debate aboud physicians incomes is silly considering insurance companies dictate what amount they pay for services just like the government would. At least with the government part of the health care dollar is not being sucked up by corporate profit before the first treatment is even considered. Insurance companies make money by denying services, doctors don't get paid for services denied and yet I have know some very caring doctors who performed those same services anyway because their patients need them. If anything physicians would earn more with the government than under private insurance.

#64 | Posted by danni at 2009-06-11 05:13 PM | Reply

BULLSHIT BULLSHIT BULLSHIT. Go find a Family Practitioner, ask him/her how 'easy' it is to deal with the Medicare folk, then ask him/her how much they get paid. Sorry to tell ya Danni, but MANY Dr's will not longer accept Medicare & avoid Family Practice for the very reason that Govn't Healthcare is around. Also, while you are correct that the InsurCo desides what they will pay, EVERY ONE pays more than Medicare pays. Medicare will pay at most 60% of what a CASH patient pays, more often than not it's closer to 40%, InsurCo's pay up to 80% & average 60%.

BTW, while InsurCo's DO deny certain care items & drugs, Medicare does as well .... as often as InsurCo's, more often on the Drugs side.

Get some fact rather than a hype sheet from Pelosi & Frank.

The AMA is about one thing, only.

Physician's income.

#2 | Posted by silver_ironist at 2009-06-11 08:26 AM

Spend equal time in the books and off the internet and you too can probably become a physician.

I'll bet you've got 101 excuses ready already. Right?

Yall know you can't sue the state, right?

What a great day it'll be when all doctors are employed by the government.

"#12 | Posted by CalifChris"

It's been awhile since you had a real, live snake in your hand, hasn't it CC?

#22 | Posted by mOntecOre at 2009-06-11 01:50 PM

If it's a real, live two-eyed snake that goes "hssssssssss" -- then it's been much longer than just "awhile" since I've held one in my hand. The answer is I've never held one and don't plan to either. Now go slither back under your rock, serpentboy.

the same resources are being allocated to more beneficiaries . . .
more expensive care required by the elderly and disabled and research? - curtailed
Big Brother is on the march.
#69 | Posted by Johnson

need I also remind that "post office" & "BMV" type personnel will run your "gov system"

The AMA is about one thing, only.

Physician's income.

#2 | Posted by silver_ironist
no doubt.. 2 of Physician friends are terrified it might make them earn less than 300K a year...

booo-fucking--hoo

you shouldn't be made wealthy off of misery..A decent solid living yesss..uber wealthy..no.. If you believe you should profit off of misery or someone else's misfortune then you are definitely not "a good christian" and an uber cunt..

the AMA is letting congress know that they werent going to let this fuckin liar destroy the best medical care in the world without a fight

ask all of those cancer patients who are here from canada and great britain

or the people who cross the border to have the 30 min proceedure to help incontinence that in CANADA Has a three year waiting list.

#79 | Posted by afkabl2

where do you fucking retards come up with this bullshit?

I guess the fact that the 5 countries that have the highest standard of living AND health care ( the US ranks 35th) are all Scandinavian, socialist and are happy.. I have two friends in Sweden that have lived here and subsequently moved back due to the cost and quality of health care..

Gets some facts before you show up to a battle of wits retard..

American Healthcare costs twice as much as any other capitalist democracy in the world, with no benefit to us in health or longevity. Our healthcare costs have been outpacing inflation for decades and are now bankrupting businesses, pension plans and citizens at an alarming and increasing rate.

As even Obama admits "Big American Health" is too big to fail, it must be reformed... The easiest way to fix our system, without destroying it and starting from the ground up, is to find the greatest areas of waste and eliminate them. This will buy us time and allow a less painful progression towards a state of the art, 21st Century healthcare system.

The two most glaring defects of our current system are: The fact that one third of all healthcare money is skimmed off the top by paper pushers in the insurance industry; and the fact that 80% of what remains is spent "selling hope" to the terminally ill, and their family members as they make end of life decisions on how they want to spend the time they have left.

The solution to the 30%/paperwork problem is simple streamlining... Outlaw the "pre-existing conditions" and eligibility/protection issues, and standardize rates that can be charged down to simple age and dependant status. Insurance that is open and affordable to all. The fitness freaks will wig-out at the thought of sick kids and obese/smoking white trash sharing their coverage, but by reducing the business overhead to a manageable 5%, the cost of their premiums should remain stable (the highest rates in the world!).

The real savings will occur when doctors are required to provide full disclosure, of precisely what a full-on end of life grind in the hospital actually means, compared to a peaceful death at home (with home hospice) or at an inpatient hospice facility. Doctors love to whine about how little Medicare pays, but the truth is, the end of life grind is the jackpot at the end of the Medicare providers quarter.

Many feel giving (false) hope to the dying is an "unfortunate necessity" in healthcare, and perhaps this is true, but failing to fully disclose the unpleasantness, pain and futility of end of life heroics, is perhaps the greatest "tolerated sin" in healthcare today. Doctors and nurses need to stop talking about hypothetical "miracles that might happen" and focus on "the quality of life" for patients during their last few months of life.

These two steps are not only doable... They are ethical, sane, and realistic solutions for healthcare in 2009