with community and/or general hospitals. I read that critics say that when doctors steer patients to a hospital they own, it gives them an incentive to put profits above the patient, generally admitting patients who are not severely ill, and see fewer people (i.e., poor or uninsured) on Medicaid. They are left to the other hospitals to deal with. Is this the wave of the future for hospital business?
2007-12-15 14:29:08 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Senior Citizens
You have a real valid point. I worked for a large HMO based medical practice, there were several doctors in this practice. They practiced medicine differently from one another. One believed in doing all that he could for the patient and not worrying about profit and loss statements and the other believed in bare minimal care, bare bones medicine, not admitting patients, even in the best interest of the patient.
one doc would not even allow one of the patients to have more than one colostomy bag per month! The man developed gangrene! They desolved the practice, I have never seen docs fight like that ever, I was out of a job, but at least I could breath freely.
There are so many docs out there now who are only looking at the profit and loss statements...not in the interest of the patient. I wish we could return to the old days where people actually cared and medicine was not so much a "business"
Nora; Medicare turnaround time is 21 days, same as medicaid, it is done electronically, no red tape as you suggest, you know allowable charges and those that are not!
2007-12-15 14:55:56 · answer #1 · answered by slk29406 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Regrettably medicine is no longer a science but a BUSINESS! Drs still get very healthy salaries from most hospitals and clinics - but if they earn funds from a self-operated hosp. or clinic - then yes I do believe that their thinking is self-serving and goes beyond the realm of medicine! Edit: Daisymae - sorry did not answer your question in full - yes of course, I am sure that they compete- and profitably too! CJ
2007-12-15 23:15:07 · answer #2 · answered by CJ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably is. From the physician's point of view the government reimbursement is unfair, I understand why they have started their own hospitals. Dealing with medicare is a red tape problem and medicaid is worse. I also think it is more pleasant dealing with patients who have the funds to keep themselves in better shape, to join exercise clubs, take vitamins, and get routine check ups and tests.I am on Medicare and really appreciate the DR who is will ing to see me.
2007-12-15 22:40:19 · answer #3 · answered by Nora 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Does it matter ? Give it to the Doc, the HMO, the Government and/or the Insurance company -- just hope you get the care because when all the money's gone it'll be disseminated amongst the aforementioned group.
2007-12-16 13:04:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I recall one in the San Francisco area in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They had a most unique device to monitor anesthesia so they could bill by time used: a taxi meter! I though it was pretty crass.
2007-12-15 22:59:27 · answer #5 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They keep passing everybody around to everybody elses
office, and getting kickbacks from referrals, because the
insurance requires you to have a referral slip to get treated.
2007-12-15 22:46:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't really think money has any thing to do with medicine do you
2007-12-15 23:24:10 · answer #7 · answered by gggggg 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
thats y u need a system like canada were the paient comes first.
2007-12-15 22:34:17 · answer #8 · answered by Mike H 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋