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Doctors in Scott Walker's Wisconsin have a plan for Obamacare


Posted: Dec 10, 2013

The medical society representing Barron, Burnett and Washburn counties — with 75 dues-paying members — says America’s health-care system requires radical surgery.

Tri-County Medical Society Resolution on the High Cost of Medical Care in America

 WHEREAS, Healthcare costs in the U.S. are exceedingly high compared to other countries, and,

WHEREAS, Measurement of quality of care, such as longevity or infant mortality have been documented to be not as good as in other leading countries, and,

WHEREAS, The current plan (Affordable Care Act) is complex and expensive and does not appear to adequately address cost containment, which is the area of our special interest, and,

WHEREAS, The leading organizations of providers, insurance companies and governmental entities have not addressed the cause of these high costs, and,

WHEREAS, The leading organization of physicians has remained silent on these costs and has quietly worked to increase them, and,

WHEREAS, The high costs of care are often hidden or difficult to understand or obtain information about.  

THEN, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TRI-COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY:

 1. That, National tort reform is the cornerstone of cost containment. The amount of money to be saved by not ordering unnecessary tests and procedures to protect doctors from frivolous lawsuits is widely underestimated. Thanks to the long and hard work of the Wisconsin State Medical Society, Wisconsin is a model for other states for tort reform. Our premiums are lower (the patients ultimately pay these) and fewer unnecessary tests are ordered by physicians fearing malpractice suits. This level of tort reform, and perhaps even more, should be extended to all of America by federal law.

2. That, Transparency in medical pricing is of paramount importance in reducing cost. The difficulty in obtaining the cost or price of medical care should end (re: Time Magazine article March 4, 2013). These should be very easy to obtain. Doctors are as ignorant as patients as to these prices and hospitals should teach doctors and patients these prices, not hide them. This transparency should be mandated by law. We feel that the harsh light of public scrutiny may shame providers into reducing the most egregious prices (like $130/minute for operating room time?)

3. That health insurance should be available on a “shop” or compare basis that is easy and consumer friendly. This should not only be ”mandated by law”, but actually happen in all 50 states. To date, this information has not been easily available to consumers. Indeed, in many rural Wisconsin counties, under the new Accountable Care Act, there is only one company offering policies, which is totally unacceptable.

4. That the health insurance industry should be mandated to pay out 85 cents on every dollar of premium. (currently, under the Affordable Care Act, that number is 80 cents, and this requirement is starting to drive down the cost of insurance) This number should be ratcheted up until it ideally gets to 95 cents, which is where Medicare is. This should be mandated by law and reviewed by a “public services commission”, like the utilities are.

5. It is a painful thought, but overbuilt hospitals and other facilities should be allowed to fail, with some consideration to the distances and access in rural America. This should be mandated by law. Who pays for empty beds? We all do!

6. Not-for-profit health care facilities should be not-for profit. Period. These organizations currently hide large profits in excessive executive compensation, excessive lavish building projects, bloated foundations, and other “shell games”. This should be reviewed by a “public services commission”, like the utilities are.

7. Physicians should be prohibited from owning medical care facilities of any nature that they could potentially refer patients to. Examples include surgicenters, laboratories, imaging equipment, etc. This is clearly conflict of interest and should be illegal. This include physician owned clinics that own their own surgicenters, laboratories, imaging equipment, etc.

8. The public, as patients need to take ownership, to become responsible enough to shop for value in health care. We recommend that deductibles be made a percentage of total bill and not a fixed dollar figure. That way, the patient has incentive to shop the purchase of health care and take advantage of less expensive care closer to home. The patient needs ownership and needs to be involved in shopping for savings.

 When all of the above are in place, and transparency allows competition, these costs will stabilize or drop, the insurance industry should be able to meet the “80 cent” rule, and start working on the “85 cent” rule, aiming at Medicare’s “95 cent” example. To encourage all this progress, Congress should introduce and debate single payer legislation as a threat if those industries do not meet cost reduction expectations. This single payer concept could easily be accomplished by a stepwise extension of Medicare downward 10 years every January first, giving these industries 6 years to adjust their business models. Holding this threat over these industries, there will either be compliance with cost reduction by regulation or by single payer at Medicare reimbursement rates. These industries may choose. On the other hand, these industries could be offered to have some restrictions above (2,3,4, and 6) lifted if they accept the single payer concept. Eliminating the ubiquitous “non-compete clause” for doctors would reverse the growth of mega-systems and increase competition, reducing prices further. Such competition would also ensure quality care as well

 We agree with Steven Brill, Time Magazine author(March 4, 2013) in that we take no official “stance” on single payer, but strenuously point out that single payer would solve the problem of the high cost of medical care in America To quote Dr. Robinson, Berkeley Health economist, in the Dec 3rd New York Times:

“The only way to pay less for health care---is to pay less for health care!”

 

;

South Carolina is even better! - States rights over centralized govt

[ In Reply To ..]
South Carolina legislators are looking to eliminate Obamacare in their state under State House bill H 3101, the Daily Caller reported on Monday.

The bill is titled the “South Carolina Freedom of Health Care Protection Act,” and was passed the state House of Representatives last April by a 65-34 vote.



The Daily Caller reported that the bill now heads to the South Carolina State Senate that is controlled by Republicans, is setting up the likelihood that South Carolina will become the first state to exempt citizens and businesses from all participation in the Affordable Care Act.


(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...

Tyrant judges in black robes will probably try to - stop this...

[ In Reply To ..]
I hope this gains steam.

First Vermont then Wisconsin - and it will just keep rolling

[ In Reply To ..]
I think people are seeing the light on single payer universal coverage!

This could be good or bad, depending on each - invidual's situation. SM

[ In Reply To ..]
I am faced with signing up for the Unaffordable Care Act whether I like it or not, as well as my significant other.

I had a good job with insurance that covered both of us. Lost the job.

Tried to sign for BadgerCare because both of us have a chronic problem that needs some help but apparently you have to be blind, disabled, pregnant, living with or caring for someone under 19 years old.

Neither of us fit those, so we're out. The form on line never even asked income or other questions, just those.

I hate forcing people into this UCA and financially penalizing them, but I guess we are in a corner and have no choice but to sign up. Yes, I have explored all available options. We have filed an application for medication assistance through a pharmaceutical company. There's a community care program that "helps" pay your medical bills. That's probably stretched to the limit and cant afford much real help to any one person, like all the other assistance programs. A few I looked into were lottery systems; you apply when you're at the desperate breaking point, provide documentation, then your name is put into a lottery to receive help that month. Sounds like too little too late in most situations.

Something needs to be done to help so many people in our kind of situation, but unfortunately it seems to come down to how it can provide money into someone's pocket.

We've both worked all these years, taken care of ourselves, but the whole govt and economy is so badly screwed up that we find ourselves at the point of needing to ask for help now. I hate it, and hate even more that there are so many others in the same situation.

Move to Minnesota - Babe

[ In Reply To ..]
MNSure is doing great in Minnesota. Of course, Minnesota has a Democratic governor, house and senate. You have Scott Walker.

Will they replace it with universal care? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Or just holler the same ol', same ol', repeal, repeal, repeal?

How is this better? - old and burned out

[ In Reply To ..]
What happens to the uninsured in SC?

I totally agree with the Universal single payer plan - Shocking! nm

[ In Reply To ..]

Retribution? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
These doctors are very brave stating the facts. I hope Walker does not go after them like he did the teachers in Wisconsin. As the doctors stated, the status quo is not going to willingly accept what they said, but it needs to be said.

Not likely, at least as things stand - mbmt

[ In Reply To ..]
I think he will leave them alone unless, of course, doctors in more heavily populated counties in Wisconsin join forces.

This is an excellent article - old and burned out

[ In Reply To ..]
but I would call it a plan for the health care industry rather than a plan for the ACA. All these problems existed before the ACA and unfortunately are inadequately addressed by the ACA. Anyone who has not read the Brill article in Time and is interested in health care should try to obtain it.

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