Hospitals / Doctors now refusing to take Medicare

[Dan40]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Thats a valid point 392cobra. Another approach to health care reform that should be considered, tightening up the requirements for Medicaid, controlling fraud with Medicaid, Medicare, SSI (a large increase in disability claims these days) as well as "rationing".

The Medicaid requirements are pretty tight already, perhaps better enforcement of those existing standards? Ditto for Medicare. "Fashion police" are not the answer.

Rationing, now THAT is going to be incredibely controversial. Fact is we already have "rationing", it's based on one's ability to pay, or not. I see no other choice but to implement it in a more reasonable way in the future. It's already something we do but rarely talk about.

Another approach I see as positive is to get more people signed up for health care. IF we force the insurance companies to accept pre-existing conditions then folks will simply wait until they need care! White folks, middle class with a decent income, driving a nice car, got the big screen TV. Why sign up until you need it? Really no different in their thinking than the poor (literally) black lady with the nice tennis shoes. Just trying to "fit in" and be like the "Jones". Fraud is fraud. But there just "playing by the rules" you say? So is the black lady in Mississippi! The middle class is just as capable of taking advantage of the system as the poor class is.

To "force" people to sign up, that ALL must buy health care insurance and have coverage ALL the time (according to their ability to pay) is a valid option. To ignore it is like trying to ignore racial profiling. We don't want to do that, but then again, there is that troubling "reality" check that get's in the way.

MEDICARE requirements. Must be 65 and must have paid in for 40 quarters.

One's ability to pay is not rationing. A semi-clever twisting of words but wrong. And CARE cannot be denied on the basis of payment.


A bit of news that did not make the press or TV. MEDICARE has issued their reimbursement schedule for 2010. It is considerably lower than 2009.
FYI: MEDICARE pays Docs and hospitals according to MEDICARE'S own payment schedule, not a % of charges. Insurance companies quickly follow MEDICARE'S lead.