Comments on: The long arm of Obama’s Universal Health Care

By: Larry Gilbert

Larry Gilbert — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:31:57 +0000

SAHS Teacher.
As you refer to UCI hospital and “fantastic profits” perhaps you can explain why the following CA hospitals closed in the past four years. Over 2,500 beds are now gone!

San Jose Medical Center
Robert F. Kennedy Medical Center (Hawthorne)
Northridge-Sherman Way campus
Elaster Community Hospital (LA)
Central Valley Orthopedic & Spine Institute
Monrovia Hospital
Angels Hospital (Rancho Cucamonga)
Santa Teresita Hospital (Duarte)
Orthopaedic Hospital (LA)
Brea Community Hospital
Valley Plaza Doctors Hospital (Perris)
Martin Luther King Jr. Harbor Hospital (LA)
Toulumne General Medical Facility (Sonora)
University Medical Center (Fresno)
Memorial Campus (Inglewood)
Warrack Campus (Santa Rosa)
Dos Palos Memorial Hospital (Dos Palos)

By: Larry Gilbert

Larry Gilbert — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:48:41 +0000

anonster. Sorry for the above error in math.

Using your number of “2% of health care costs being spent on malpractice,” representing just short of $50 billion dollars, chump change in your view, than why wouldn’t you agree to set caps on litigation costs?
Is there a possibility that trial lawyers became good friends of candidate Obama in his campaign?
I read that health care represents 15.2% of our GDP.

By: Larry Gilbert

Larry Gilbert — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:36:25 +0000

Folks. I listen as doctors speak of performing “unnecessary tests” to cover themselves against malpractice lawsuits.
I might peel the onion back to see a breakout of that data if it is to be found and verifiable.

By: Larry Morrissey

Larry Morrissey — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:52:10 +0000

#7 Jim,
If you’re in a govt program such as Medicare, and join an HMO like Kaiser you won’t have to wait on any approvals – you can see a Dr immediately who will prescribe treatment or futher review (based on proven diagnostic protocols – eg you can’t jump right into chemotherapy probably without a biopsy or some scans, etc).
On big problem is that diffrent parts of the country seem to favor certain treatment like radiation over surgery without any supporting evidence – thereby driving costs and patient outcomes in the wrong direction.

By: Jim Benson

Jim Benson — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:50:19 +0000

I had to wait 3 months to get a lump looked at with my private insurance, the doctor had to revise the request several times to get it approved.

Question, what is the difference, if my private paid insurance makes me wait or a goverment program has me wait ?

By: anonster

anonster — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:43:03 +0000

Hey Larry, since YOU’RE on MEDICARE why don’t you tell us how long you have to wait for services?
As to the limits on malpractice, this is another right-wing red herring. Malpractice accounts for about 2% of our health care dollars, but don’t take my word for it, here’s an excerpt on the subject from an article on Bloomberg.com;

“The figures were taken from a March 2003 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that estimated the direct cost of medical malpractice was 2% of the nation’s health-care spending and said defensive medical practices accounted for 5 to 9 percent of the overall expense.

A 2004 report by the Congressional Budget Office also pegged medical malpractice costs at 2% of U.S. health spending and “even significant reductions” would DO LITTLE to REDUCE the growth of health-care expenses.

One possibility the Democratic administration has mentioned is shielding doctors from liability if they follow “best practice” guidelines developed by physicians’ groups, said J. James Rohack, incoming president of the 250,000-member AMA, in a news conference after the speech. Doctors were “thrilled” to hear Obama acknowledge the issue, even with the lack of specifics, said Nancy Nielson, the outgoing president.

“What we heard we were very pleased with,” Neilson said. “He is open to considering options that will lower the cost of defensive medicine.” While stating an opposition to caps, the president “has not taken that off the table,” she said.”

“Larry’s handicap” is his inability to deal with REALITY and FACT and his OWN HYPOCRISY.

By: Larry Gilbert

Larry Gilbert — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:57:59 +0000

Baxter. Putting up with some of the anonymous posters is “handicap” enough thank you.

And when you hit 70 and the government says we can’t authorize your getting a hip replacement for perhaps 9 months, if you’re lucky, tell me how great the socialist health care program will be.
And by the way. Where is the limits on malpractice caps in the proposed bill? Do trial lawyers get a pass based on their massive campaign contributions ????????

By: baxter

baxter — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:11:42 +0000

I hope your golf handicap is better than your fiction.

By: anonster

anonster — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Good god Larry, ANOTHER MADE-UP scenario, is this the BEST you can do?
Here’s an idea;Let’s deal with REALITY, why don’t you tell us how YOU like MEDICARE? If your not satisfied with GOVERNMENT SPONSORED HEALTHCARE aka; MEDICARE, then I suggest you DUMP IT and STOP BEING A HYPOCRITE and GET OFF THE PUBLIC’S DIME.

When Larry Gilbert REJECTS Medicare, which is government sponsored health care for seniors, for himself , ONLY then will he have ANY credibility when criticizing and trying to deny a government sponsored health care option for the rest of us.

By: SAHS teacher

SAHS teacher — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:48:18 +0000

You’re being used as a tool of the health care industry to protect their fantastic profits, Larry. Go to the UCI emergency room to see reality. Discuss health care with the people you meet there. Your little fantasy story reads like a Sunday school tract.

By: The Pot Stirrer

The Pot Stirrer — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:23:16 +0000

Great post, Larry. In the immortal words of Chuck Heston, “Soylent Green is people!”