QFT :thumbsup

We are not getting a fair return on investment.

While the doctors and other healthcare workers deserve a better than average living standard some of the excesses are ridiculous.

Probably 80%+ are educated in publicly funded universities. One starting step would be to subsidise medical educations in return for 15 years work at publicly funded primary care clinics at reasonable wages. I am not talking downward spiral here like minimum wage but a decent upper middle class income wage scale with malpractice tort limits. The lawyers are a part of these high medical costs too -- we need to recognize that problem and overcome it.

X-rays are only used in the US for bone breaks and some specialized cases. Doppler imaging as well as CAT enhanced and MRI imaging is used -- these imaging methods create much better images for problems with organs, muscles, or tissues -- this leads to better clinical diagnosis.

These imaging methods are more expensive to use but the diagnostic advantages outweigh the costs.

Still, when you compare the costs at a imaging laboratory to a hospital the hospital charges 5X the price. What makes them so fuckin' special -- they can get away with it! I can see the hospital charging 50% more that might be justified by their higher operating expense but 400% no fuckin' way.

This is a big part of the inefficient use of healthcare dollars. In a fair and open market you could not get away with this -- there has to be a certain collusion between the health insurers in this country and the hospitals.

I think that the hospitals are soaking the insured to make up for their lowered payments for patients on Medicaid or using Medicare benefits. This has not been adequately addressed IMHO -- Business as Usual :mad:

Really:

Quote:

http://blog.remakehealth.com/blog_He...-MRI-scan-cost Posted by John Holden on Sun, Jan 04, 2009 MRI prices are based on a number of factors: body part being examined need for contrast/dye injection done at hospital or outpatient imaging center local competition We decided to check our local MRI prices. We called 5 hospitals and 5 outpatient imaging centers in our area asking for the full price for an MRI of the Brain with dye. Two hospitals were unable to give us the price (didn't know!) and one outpatient center refused to divulge its cash prices over the phone. MRI Price Range Hospitals (3) - $1750 to $2200 Outpatient Imaging Centers (4) - $700-$1000 We did not try to negotiate these prices during the first call. We called back and asked for a discount. Results: Negotiated MRI Prices

And this from Canada:

Quote:

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/608249 by cherrity on July 9th, 2009 cherrity I live in Alberta and had a MRI a year ago and it cost me $550.00, our insurance usually pays but I wanted it right away and found that if I paid I could have it done in days instead of a 10 month wait. I was wondering if anyone knows the price of a cat scan as I now need one of them because I had back surgery and now have medal so I can't have an MRI. Thanks anyone who answers. Cherrity

Quote:

http://www.ehow.com/about_4761591_mri-prices.html Average Cost of MRI The cost of an MRI can reach between $400 and $3,000. This depends on what kind of procedure is being done and where it is being done. Two identical MRIs can have completely different prices at two different places. Taking the time to shop around is time well spent as it could save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Two factors go into the pricing of an MRI. They are technical fee and professional fee. The technical fee is the actual cost of the procedure one is having done. The professional fee is the fee for having a radiologist read the results of your MRI. High Cost The high cost of an MRI begins with the cost of the machine itself. An average machine can cost well over $1 million and so it is necessary to charge a price that will help pay for the machine. However, this price is at the high end and can be negotiated. You can often get a discount by simply asking for one. Insured Patients It is important to understand your insurance policy and know what it will and will not pay for, especially before undergoing an expensive procedure. There are many insurance companies that will reimburse the cost of an MRI. In some cases a pre-certification may be necessary. If this pre-certification is not obtained your claim may be denied. Uninsured Patients For the uninsured, it is possible to get a discount of up to 40 percent if the full cost of the MRI is paid within 60 days. Of course, you can always pay with cash, Visa, Mastercard or American Express. Depending on how dire your financial situation is, you may qualify for an even bigger discount.

NYC medical prices are 30% to 50% above the national average -- want to share how you paid only $50.00. And if you did -- who do you think pays the rest?

Good point -- you don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

We may not agree on the good guys or the bad guys but a republic with elected representative needs to find a workable compromise solution.

Ultimately, this minority holding the USA's credit rating hostage will end up paying the political price. Problem is will we the people have to pay the economic price of their pig-headedness over the issues of Obamacare's and the deficit's funding?

This is the second time, hopefully the last.

And we don't have the people that are citizens of this country that if given the chance, with proper qualifications and government provided or subsidised medical education, would not want these jobs?

I am not saying that foreign born, educated doctors and medical personnel are not welcome here, that is if they are able to meet our standards of care.

But in light of the current situation we have to ask ourselves: Are our people too dumb to be educated as doctors and healthcare workers? If so, we are really in a shitload of trouble.