14K/day lose Healthcare Coverage

[wilbur]

One of the primary expressions of "society's duty to provide healthcare" has always been the Christian-owned hospitals. From the very beginning, they charged those who could afford to pay, and gave away care to the indigent and poor. They still do exactly this...my hospital gave away over 7 million last year.

The biggest difference from founding to today is...you'll never guess...government interference. The government has tirelessly imposed draconian regulations, set reimbursement rates below cost, insisted on massive spending, and allowed ridiculous amounts in law suits. One particular unit of my hospital now spends $2000 every month for a procedure that used to be performed annually. It is now performed monthly
...not because we had any bad test results
...not because any patients were sickened
...not to provide any benefit for our patients at all
...but simply and totally due to changes in government regulations.

One unit, out of over 50 different departments in my hospital, and the government has caused them to spend an extra $22,000 this year.

Want to know why healthcare is so expensive? It's because Uncle Sam and his lawyers have their teeth set into it.

Key words - reimbursement rates - through government sponsored programs, WE the taxpayers already pay for the care of those who cannot afford it, and have been for a long time. Its gone both ways... those hospitals have been able to give care away, because Uncle Sam "sunk his teeth" into it.

Guess who the politicians are that generally frown upon and slash such programs?

[MrsSmith]

Key words - reimbursement rates - through government sponsored programs, WE the taxpayers already pay for the care of those who cannot afford it, and have been for a long time. Its gone both ways... those hospitals have been able to give care away, because Uncle Sam "sunk his teeth" into it.

Guess who the politicians are that generally frown upon and slash such programs?

You totally ignore the fact that services were given away long before Uncle Sam stuck "his" nose into it and bulldozed the whole thing into something "he" was willing to throw money at. Never enough money to make up for "his" ridiculous regulations, but enough to keep the institutions somewhat afloat. Without that interference, the hospitals would still be running as Christian charities, and would not be bending over and "taking it" from Uncle Sam at every turn.

The politicians that try to back Uncle Sam out of such things are the ones that understand "his" constitutional rights and duties.

[Lager]

Wilbur, am I mistaken when I recall that you often describe yourself as a "fiscal conservative" or a small government guy"?