Isn't it the Doctors/HMO's/Rx's that get all the money

[buffalofamily]

Think about who gets the $$$MEDICAID$$$ money in the end. Its not the patient... it's the Healthcare system that gets the dolars...

There HAS to be a better way to get medical care for people.

Does a Doctor need to make hundreds of dollars per visit?

Do pills need to cost $5.00, $10.00 or more EACH PILL?

HMO's Making Record profits are reaping the MEDICAID money.

More people now out of work, or working for minimum wage will have to sign up for Medical assistance. Many employers don't offer health benefits.

NY needs to start reform on the side of where the money goes, as well as making sure care only goes to NY residents, and not outsiders coming in to take advantage of benefits that their own state should be helping them with.


BF

[NoCtUrNaL]

The other day, I was in a doctor’s office (not as a patient or to be seen myself) and I heard a guy tell the receptionist he didn't have the 50 cents needed for the co-pay to get his script filled. It was obvious he wanted her to take pity on him and "loan" him the change.

She politely expressed her sympathy’s to his plight and then asked the woman behind him if she could help her.


The gentleman who said he couldn't come up with a whopping 50 cents to get his script filled then went outside, pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and proceeded to consider his predicament while puffing away.

This, ladies and germs, is the problem with free medical care…people who want others to take more interest, spend more effort and money, and exercise more common sense toward their medical well being then they are willing to do for themselves.

[moonshine]

This, ladies and germs, is the problem with free medical care

Yes, this is exactly the problem. The USSR and Canada are two wonderful examples and the USA is on a one-way street towards socialized meds.

Y'all baby boomers will get the medical care you need because of your lobbying power, but us 20-30 yr olds need to get the hell out of this country immediately if we are going to have a pot to piss in. Who is gonna change your diapers when your kids have to move to another country to have the same standard of living that you enjoyed? Y'all have delivered us to hell in a handbasket and now need additional taxpayer funding to guarantee your survival? It's absurd!

[buffalofamily]

NoCtUrNaL witnessed:

The gentleman who said he couldn't come up with a whopping 50 cents to get his script filled then went outside, pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and proceeded to consider his predicament while puffing away.

I'm sure their are many moochers like that guy. I don't think he is an example of the majority of folks who get medical services.

The gentleman who said he couldn't come up with a whopping 50 cents to get his script filled then went outside, pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and proceeded to consider his predicament while puffing away.

I'm Shocked!!! He's getting benefits and he's not BUMMIN' a smoke from someone else!!

moonSEZ:

Y'all have delivered us to hell in a handbasket and now need additional taxpayer funding to guarantee your survival? It's absurd!

What is the solution?


Should the doctors, pharmacy, hospitals & HMO"s be capped so all can afford care?

bf

[moonshine]

What is the solution?

There is no solution when a large segment of society demands a free handout and the government is happy to oblige at the expense of everyone else.

[biker]

I was at a meeting recently, called by one of the Legislators.

A lady in the audience told a story of how she works at a hospital. She takes down patient information. More than once, she's trying to get information from someone who doesn't speak English. Then she finds they don't have a Social Security number. The lady asked, "What is this person doing in a hospital in ERie County if they can't speak English and don't have SocSec number. And to add insult to injury, this person seeking Medicaid came to the hospital in a cab."

A young lady behind me said, "So let'em take an ambulance." I turned to her and said "We don't want to pay for either." With a big fat attitude, the young lady said "Tough. You pay for one or the other. It's in the constitution."

I wondered where she came from.

Is that the way this is going to be solved? It's gonna be us against them? Those who profit from this mindless program versus those of us who pay?

OK.

Bring it on.

[NCnewbie]

I don't have a problem with the concept of Medicaid. I believe there should be a program for those in need to have basic health care. I have never used it, nor do I hope to, but I'd like to know it's there just in case if I ever need it.

However, I don't understand why Medicaid recipients get better health care than I do when I work hard and have to pay my share. I am lucky enough to have an employer that provides benefits, but I still have co-pays, a deductible, and weekly contributions. I know of enough Medicaid recipients who use the ER as their primary doctor, and never have to pay a co-pay. Why do I have to pay $50 for an ER visit?

I believe a co-pay system, even with marginal rates for the poor, would help curb some of the abuse of the system. Also, I think a limit on ER visits, unless authorized by the treating doctor that it is indeed an emergency, would also help stem the growing numbers of people in our Emergency Rooms and spiraling costs. Preventive health care is one thing, preventive health care in the middle of an ER is another!

I don't think this is asking too much of low-wage workers or welfare recipients. If it is, we should really think about the thousands of uninsured in the area (who are also mostly low-wage workers)who cannot afford medical coverage and have to pay full price for their medical needs or forgo medical care altogether.

Once again, I agree with Medicaid in principle, it just needs to be monitored for abuse and scaled back in benefits.

[buffy]

Why don't health insurers operate more like car insurers? Safe drivers get a break on their premiums so in like manner, non-smokers, people who keep their weight down etc. wouldn't pay as high premiums as the chain smoking fat ass who can't even walk but has to use a motorized cart to do their shopping. Yes I said it! I am sick of paying for the healthcare of people who should know better than to abuse their bodies. Doesn't take a scientist to figure that out.

[biker]

I think Sheldon Silver would tell you that health insurance is for sick people, period.

[Night Owl]

Bring it on.

you got it, biker.

A lady in the audience told a story of how she works at a hospital. She takes down patient information. More than once, she's trying to get information from someone who doesn't speak English. Then she finds they don't have a Social Security number. The lady asked, "What is this person doing in a hospital in ERie County if they can't speak English and don't have SocSec number. And to add insult to injury, this person seeking Medicaid came to the hospital in a cab."

I am sure it isn't as often as the woman made it sound.

It may have just been one or two times in her career working in the hospital.

Another thing, medicaid tracks people by their social security number, it is one of the qualifications to be approved. No SS# no approval. The laws have changed with medicaid and it isn't as black and white some make it out to be.

A young lady behind me said, "So let'em take an ambulance." I turned to her and said "We don't want to pay for either." With a big fat attitude, the young lady said "Tough. You pay for one or the other. It's in the constitution."

I wondered where she came from.

It wasn't me biker.

Those who profit from this mindless program versus those of us who pay?

I think you are missing the point on this one. One of the misconceptions that people fall into is that people benefit from medicaid. People who have medicaid are also taxpayers and if approved according to their income, they don't get cash to use for whatever then want. The ones receiving it don't get the money at all.. it is a payment that goes directly to the doctors and for perscriptions. It's an electronic transfer from medicaid to the doctor's office/hospital/pharmacy. People receiving mediciad don't get a check in the mail for a hundred dollar doctor's visit when being sick with the flu.

Also, I think a limit on ER visits, unless authorized by the treating doctor that it is indeed an emergency, would also help stem the growing numbers of people in our Emergency Rooms and spiraling costs.

Only one flaw with this, if it is after hours and someone calls their doctor's office for a reason, they just tell you to go to the ER, whether you have medicaid or not. The ER is not always filled with people who are on medicaid, you know?

I believe a co-pay system, even with marginal rates for the poor, would help curb some of the abuse of the system.

Another misconception, it is awfull hard to 'abuse' medicaid unless there is a people getting prescriptions filled and giving/selling them to others. It's one thing to raise a red flag when some keeps coming into the dr's office for a codine perscription... but it's not something that happens all of the time.

Mediciad goes according to income and other qualifications including ss#, finger printing, proof of residence, etc. and the people getting it don't receive cash. Medicaid doesn't touch the hands of one receiving it.

However, I don't understand why Medicaid recipients get better health care than I do when I work hard and have to pay my share.

Another misconception.

Example: Two people fall and break their leg, one is on mediciad and the other Blue Cross... what would be the (improved) difference in treatment by the one receiving medicaid?

Once again, I agree with Medicaid in principle, it just needs to be monitored for abuse and scaled back in benefits.

Scale back on costly perscriptions like viagra! We shouldn't have to pay for a 'problem' such as this.

[buffy]

A lady in the audience told a story of how she works at a hospital. She takes down patient information. More than once, she's trying to get information from someone who doesn't speak English. Then she finds they don't have a Social Security number. The lady asked, "What is this person doing in a hospital in ERie County if they can't speak English and don't have SocSec number. And to add insult to injury, this person seeking Medicaid came to the hospital in a cab."

From Night Owl:

I am sure it isn't as often as the woman made it sound.

This happens everyday at ECMC. Immigrants, legal and illegal come in. A lot are referred to ECMC from Viva La Casa a non-profit refugee house nearby that provides a place to stay for refugees awaiting entry into Canada.

From Nigh Owl:

Another thing, medicaid tracks people by their social security number, it is one of the qualifications to be approved. No SS# no approval. The laws have changed with medicaid and it isn't as black and white some make it out to be

True, but not entirely Night Owl, ever hear of Emergency Medicaid? Here's a link
[URL=http://www.ncpa.org/pi/health/pd103100g.html]
Get this: Giambra has supported Viva la Casa with hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars. In addition, the refugees walk into ECMC on a regular basis, receive "Emergency Medicaid" then go on to their destinations in Canada! And if some of the services aren't covered by the emergency medicaid, guess who pays for the healthcare of refugees passing through Erie County? I know this for a fact.

[Night Owl]

I stand (somewhat) corrected.

thanks for adding the link and info, Buff lifer.

That's what's great about this site/message boards .. we can learn something from one another.

[Bfloguy14207]

Just wonder if any one knows that the Ambulance Provider in the city of Buffalo has to pay a franchise fee to operate in the city. Juast like Aldeaphia cable has to pay this fee. So any one on Medicade that needs an ambulance this fee that is paid for by the taxpayed goes to the city.

[captjacksparrow]

My mother is 83 yrs old, invalid living in a nursing home. She is on Medicaid. Medicaid pays the difference between the bill and her social security. She is allowed to keep $50 per month from her pension and the rest is to PAY for BC and BS health insurance.

She gets an extra $90 per month from Veterans which the nursing home cannot take from her.

She had to sell her home that she worked 2 jobs to purchase. My dad had to work 3 jobs to help pay for 2 mortgages.

Both worked from a young age to a little over retirement age. My mom had to quit school to go to work to support the family. During the war, she went to work at Curtis Wright, riveting the aft door on the small planes. My dad was in the service in the North Atlantic, chasing or being chased by Uboats.

Both paid NY taxes all their lives. When the time came to sell the home, the nursing home got the money from the sale. It lasted 6months before she had to go on Medicaid.

All the money from the bank accounts and life insurance had to go to the nursing home.

The only perk she was allowed to spend her money on is her casket and grave site.

The use of Medicaid to keep my mother healthy and maintain a somewhat good quality of life in her last years is important to me. She shouldn't recieve mediocre meds or treatment or be pushed aside because she is elderly and close to dying. She still could live another 15 years God willing. She shouldn't be denied any medical treatment because of Medicaid status.

What about the ever increasing rise of young people in nursing homes? With better medical treatments and medications, the young people will live longer lives in nursing homes. Most will eventually end up on Medicaid and drain the pockets of taxpayers. Are we to say that they have no right to live?

Where do you want to draw the line?

Stop illegal immigration is not a solution. Our country is based on immigrants and almost everyone of us has a family story to tell about someone coming across the seas to America. We are 3rd generation Americans but our ancestry started someplace else. Most were illegal immigrants running from border to border escaping the Prussians, Nazi's, or other situations. And America was the only safe territory for most to come to.

What do you expect from the baby boomers? Work years past retirement? Rent instead of buy? Stop using cell phones and stop drinking Starbucks coffee? Do you think that is what all baby boomers are doing with their money?

Do you have ,in your vision, the ultimate answer to this problem????

[captjacksparrow]

Originally posted by Night Owl


Scale back on costly perscriptions like viagra! We shouldn't have to pay for a 'problem' such as this.

So you are saying Medicaid should not cover the cost of Viagra PREscriptions...why do you feel that this 'problem' should not be covered?

Don't people have the right to live a quality life, or is it because most patients are elderly and the elderly shouldn't have sex but should act elderly and sit in a rocking chair and watch Bob Barker?????

What about younger male patients that have prostrate cancer or testicular cancer? Deny them the prescription?