Re: Important PBS series in March
From: James Smeltzer (James.Smeltzer@wellstar.org)
Tue Jan 29 08:01:36 2008
I agree. Medicare a public/private joint venture, runs with an overhead that private health corporations envy - except that a LOT of their overhead is generating synthetic barriers to paying legitimate claims. They do this in a cynical fashion. Georgia has "privatized" the medicaid system in order to do the identical thing.
Our experience with payment of legitimate claims has been better with PUBLIC payors in the past.
The fundamental problem is that the numbers "don't work".
We COULD mainstream our immigrant population, sell visas a la Canada, and FIX the age gap in social security and medicare at the same time.
If you don't believe me, check this oput:
http://www.gao.gov/htext/d07171cg.html
JSS
>>> art fougner, md <evsono@pipeline.com> 1/27/2008 5:02 PM >>>
Terry
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind.
Case in point ...
http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2008/01/bottle-of-whisky-and-loaded-revolver.html
And why does it have to be either or? For profit healthcare companies or
govt- run? If you don't think these NHS stories can happen here, think
again. Of course, managed care companies have their own problems, both
fiscal and ethical, as well. But the government? The same govt that
caused 6 month delays in passport renewals? The same govt whose chief
example of the Flagship of US Govt- run healthcare is Walter Reed?
The more I've looked at this over the past 20 years, I'm convinced that
when we redo the system, we get it right. So far, the definition of
"right" remains elusive.
Cheers.
Art
At Sun, 27 Jan 2008, Terry DuBose wrote:
>
>"...the wisdom of reimbursement systems which pay for procedures, not for the physicians' time is anything but wise. I could go on ..."
>
> Art, I wish you would go on. I agree that DRGs have not helped anyone. But one point I would like to hear more about is whether big business is more humane than big government when it comes to health care. No doubt our health care system is broken, or at lease not functioning as well as we would like. Perhaps health care would be better if it were more like our fire stations. Capitalism works for me when I am kicking tires and shopping for a car on a nice, sunny afternoon; but bargaining for the best deal during a heart attack doesn't sound good.
>
> This is the year we need to discuss these matters in the USA. Perhaps some of our participants in countries with "socialized medicine" can give us their opinions.
>
> Peace, Terry
>
>"art fougner, md" <evsono@pipeline.com> wrote:
> Perhaps the series will investigate the wisdom of State Medicaid
>Programs utilizing HMO's to administer the program, that absent
>meaningful tort reform ( eg. Health Courts), all healthcare budgeting
>is doomed, and that the wisdom of reimbursement systems which pay for
>procedures, not for the physicians' time is anything but wise. I could
>go on ...
>
>Ultimately, it's like Moore's Sicko - his diagnosis is correct. The
>cure, however, is far from straightforward.
>
>Art
>
>At Thu, 24 Jan 2008, DuBose, Terry wrote:
>>
>>We need to spread the word about this PBS series that will be broadcast in
>>March. Please watch the preview on this web page:
>>
>>http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/clipmenu.html?agree=0
>>
>>http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/
>>
>>I am on a committee here at UAMS working on disparities in health care. We
>>are showing the trailer for the series and it is important. Please spread
>>the word.
>>
>>I just got off the phone with Dan Koops at AETN (Arkansas) and he said they
>>ARE airing Unnatural Causes and this is the schedule:
>>
>>All showings will be at 9pm on Thursday night. They will also be showing the
>>documentary about the Marshallese (A New Island) at 8pm on the last night
>>when they show that episode.
>>
>>3/27 at 9 pm - the first episode
>>
>>4/3 - 2nd and 3rd episode
>>
>>4/10 - 4th and 5th
>>
>>4/17 - 6th and 7th
>>
>>Check your local PBS schedule for your area. Thanks Terry
>>
>>Terry J. DuBose, M.S., RDMS, FSDMS, FAIUM
>>
>>Associate Professor & Director
>>Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
>>University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, CHRP
>>4301 West Markham St. Mail Slot #563
>>Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205 USA
>>501-686-6510 or 501-686-5948
>>DuBoseTerryJ@UAMS.edu
>>http://www.uams.edu/chrp/sonography/
>>http://www.obgyn.net/us/panel/panel.htm
>>http://www.io.com/~dubose/
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>________________________________
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>________________________________
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>From: Stewart, Mary K "Kate"
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 3:20 PM
>>To: DuBose, Terry; Colley, S Dianne; Long, Hosea; Nash, Creshelle R; Sparks,
>>Carla C; Sanders, Willa B; Levitskaya, Angelina G
>>Subject: Re: VERY VERY GOOD NEWS!
>>
>>Yes absolutely!
>>
>>M. Kate Stewart, MD, MPH
>>
>>Assoc. Prof., Dept. Health Policy & Management and
>>
>>Director, Office of Community Based Public Health
>>
>>Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health
>>
>>University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
>>
>>4301 W. Markham Street, Slot 820
>>
>>Little Rock, AR 72205
>>
>>Email: stewartmaryk@uams.edu
>>
>>Phone: 501-526-6625
>>
>>Fax: 501-526-6620
>>
>>________________________________
>>
>>________________________________
>>________________________________
>>From: DuBose, Terry
>>
>>--
>>________________________________
>>Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 2:58 PM
>>________________________________
>>________________________________
>>R;
>>Sparks, Carla C; Sanders, Willa B; Levitskaya, Angelina G
>>Subject: Re: VERY VERY GOOD NEWS!
>>
>>Excellent! So we can start spreading the work now, correct?
>>
>>Thanks Terry
>>
>>Terry J. DuBose, M.S., RDMS, FSDMS, FAIUM
>>
>>Associate Professor & Director
>>Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
>>University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, CHRP
>>4301 West Markham St. Mail Slot #563
>>Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205 USA
>>501-686-6510 or 501-686-5948
>>DuBoseTerryJ@UAMS.edu
>>http://www.uams.edu/chrp/sonography/
>>http://www.obgyn.net/us/panel/panel.htm
>>http://www.io.com/~dubose/
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>________________________________
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>________________________________
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>From: Stewart, Mary K "Kate"
>>---------------------------------------------------------------
>>Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 12:42 PM
>>To: Colley, S Dianne; Long, Hosea; Nash, Creshelle R; Sparks, Carla C;
>>Sanders, Willa B; Levitskaya, Angelina G; DuBose, Terry
>>Subject: VERY VERY GOOD NEWS!
>>
>>I just got off the phone with Dan Koops at AETN and he said they ARE airing
>>Unnatural Causes and this is the schedule:
>>
>>All showings will be at 9pm on Thursday night. They will also be showing the
>>documentary about the Marshallese (A New Island) at 8pm on the last night
>>when they show that episode.
>>
>>3/27 at 9 pm - the first episode
>>
>>4/3 - 2nd and 3rd episode
>>
>>4/10 - 4th and 5th
>>
>>4/17 - 6th and 7th
>>
>>He was VERY enthusiastic about helping out and trying to find ways to get
>>this thing seen. I'm feeling VERY encouraged. More about that soon,
>>
>>Kate
>>
>>M. Kate Stewart, MD, MPH
>>
>>Assoc. Prof., Dept. Health Policy & Management and
>>
>>Director, Office of Community Based Public Health
>>
>>Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health
>>
>>University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
>>
>>4301 W. Markham Street, Slot 820
>>
>>Little Rock, AR 72205
>>
>>Email: stewartmaryk@uams.edu
>>
>>Phone: 501-526-6625
>>
>>Fax: 501-526-6620
>>
>>message.
>>
>--
>art fougner, md
>"May The Wings of Liberty Never Lose a Feather." - Jack Burton
>
--
art fougner, md
"May The Wings of Liberty Never Lose a Feather." - Jack Burton
James S. Smeltzer, MD, FACOG, SMFM
Consultant, Maternal Fetal Medicine
Wellstar Physicians' Group
Northwest Women's Care
787 Campbell Hill St
Marietta GA 30060
James.Smeltzer@wellstar.org
VM 678-290-3035
Off 770-528-0260
Page 404-318-3451
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