Why does Dr. Waters favor socialized medicine?

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

if you take care of hospitalized patients, then probably yes. but medicare is not such a bad deal for the hospitals.

if you run your own practice, you can make choices. You actually have to APPLY to be a medicare provider. It's not automatic. and there is no law that says I must see any patient on a non-emergent basis.

Most psychiatrists I know, that are starting out, don't take anytning but cash.

Medicare isnt that bad of deal... Medicaid OTOH is the real money loser

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death

Medicare isnt that bad of deal... Medicaid OTOH is the real money loser

Explain the difference between Medicare and Medicaid please. I'm woefully ignorant of it.

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

Explain the difference between Medicare and Medicaid please. I'm woefully ignorant of it.

Medicare is available to anyone 65 yrs and older... also the blind and those with End stage renal disease (people on dialysis). it has a yearly deductible and is run completely by the federal government (1.9% of your income goes to this )

Medicaid is a state run program (with matching funds from the federal goverment) meant to cover the poor. Add ons to this include the CHIP (expanded medicaid to children up to 19). This comes out of the 7.65% FICA in your paycheck.

Medicare covers about 30-32% of gross charges
Medicaid covers about 23-26% of gross charges

In comparison your typical Blue Cross contract runs about 35-36% of gross charges...

btw.... No one pay total gross charges.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death

Medicare is available to anyone 65 yrs and older... also the blind and those with End stage renal disease (people on dialysis). it has a yearly deductible and is run completely by the federal government (1.9% of your income goes to this )

Medicaid is a state run program (with matching funds from the federal goverment) meant to cover the poor. Add ons to this include the CHIP (expanded medicaid to children up to 19). This comes out of the 7.65% FICA in your paycheck.

Medicare covers about 30-32% of gross charges
Medicaid covers about 23-26% of gross charges

In comparison your typical Blue Cross contract runs about 35-36% of gross charges...

btw.... No one pay total gross charges.

Medicare is also available to those on SSI (have disabilities). This is actually a lot of people.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

Explain the difference between Medicare and Medicaid please. I'm woefully ignorant of it.

Care for the aged and feeble, aid the poor.

It is part of government payment for socialized medicine. It cheapened and worsened health care. Prior to its inception, government entitlements were manageable. Now all discretionary funding is tied up in health care, and government inordinately involves itself.

We would not have the horrible price increases but for Medicare, and health care would have remained tied to reasonable costs. It is disappointing to read a physician believes the cause of our current crisis should be cured with more of the disease. More government involvement will fuck up health care royale. Naively and blithely walking into the fire are those who listen to the siron's song.

Just have government regulate it, government fund it and it will be great. Just like our educaiton, our screwed up roads and everything else government manages exclusively.