Some clarification. All patients have the right to any ED that recieves Governmental funding (medicare/medicaid) to be evaluated. A medical screening examination (MSE) must be performed by either the licensed physician or their designated proxy (P.A. or NP).
There is where the confusion starts. A patient maybe turned away if they found to be stable or if services can be provided for them elsewhere. Now, most physicians will NOT turn them away due to the possibility of a mishap or problem that may cause litigation.
For those that assume health care is right, is also being feed? Amazing we still charge for food and even supplement farmers NOT to grow crops? Yet in health care we assume it should be for free.
In my 32+ years; I have never seen anyone denied emergency treatment in a ER. Now, with that saying I have seen many wallet biopsies and not the "best route" or better diagnostics studies because they did not have the fund.
I agree it is shameful. I do agree it is a problem and alike even those experts within healthcare administration there is no easy answer. I listened to 2 physicians debate this dilemma this p.m. on NPR. Alike they described; someone will still have to suffer for something no matter what. Albeit the week end jock that normally would had got his arthroscopy done and with governmental direction will have to wait 2 years or the 70 year old that will be denied dialysis because the costs will be too enormous. Who will get to live and will have to die?
I have dealt with the so called insurance thieves and hospitals that have a 1000% increase in med.'s and treatments. When my loved one needed Benadryl IV it was $130.00 for a 40 cent vial. Nice mark up... Chemo was $5,000 a treatment twice a week for 2 weeks then once a week for 6 weeks. Yes, I had insurance but since most of the Chemo was rated "trial" it would not pay but partial to none. Yes, there went my retirement and plans for our home. She was an advanced degree RN; but could not work due to autoimmune and chemo has a tendency to knock the hell out of you. Worst yet, is even if you have so called "great insurance" it is never enough and they know it! PET scan's are rarely covered by insurance companies as prescribed, even though they will far detect and isolate minute cancer developments and actually reduce the amount and time of treatments... Kinda like insurance companies not wanting to pay for mammograms?... ridiculous!
Yes, I see the elderly instead of taking med.'s everday they choose every other day...either food, electric or medications.
So what's the answer? There is not one that will get to the real problem.
Reduce the profit margin of pharmaceutical companies. Currently, they cannot even give an correct estimate of their profit margin. Majority of the CEO's are considered some of the wealthiest persons in the U.S. Sorry other countries, but the reason you get med.'s so cheap is we (U.S.) pay for them.
The other is to cap HMO profit margin. No, you won't see that happen since they have the highest paid lobbyist and PAC groups around. Yes, the Senate & Congress knows where their bread is buttered. Sure, they talk but that's all.
Just by reducing those two industries, and if the monies really went into funding health care for everyone; we would have no problem. Yet, that's not going to happen....ever.
The fat will never be trimmed as long as people are hungry and greedy, those of the bone will always be those that will suffer.
R/r 911
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