Controversial Michael Moore Flick 'Sicko' Will Compare U.S. Health Care with Cuba's

[HM2VikingRN]

Health care advances in Cuba

According to the Associated Press as cited in the Post article, "Cuba has made recent advancements in biotechnology and exports its treatments to 40 countries around the world, raking in an estimated $100 million a year. ... In 2004, the U.S. government granted an exception to its economic embargo against Cuba and allowed a California drug company to test three cancer vaccines developed in Havana."

http://alternet.org/envirohealth/50911/?page=1

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

I just don't understand why pvt. insurers would be prohibited except for non-necessary proceedures. I mean, they may not be needed but I don't see why they should be prohibited.

Because for basic care they would expect government subsidy for a handout to take the business.

[fronkey bean]

Because for basic care they would expect government subsidy for a handout to take the business.

Economics is not my strong suit. Are you saying that they would want payment from gov't for the services they pay for? And if the gov't would have paid the same amt anyway, what's the problem w/that?

[Myxel67]

do you honestly believe our health care system deserves not to be put down (criticized)?

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

economics is not my strong suit. are you saying that they would want payment from gov't for the services they pay for? and if the gov't would have paid the same amt anyway, what's the problem w/that?

check out medicare advantage...the private insurance that is supposed to save the government money actually costs about 20% more than traditional medicare....

see: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/23/washington/23health.html?ref=us

but the nonpartisan congressional budget office said the government paid the private plans, on average, 12 percent more than it would have cost to care for the same people in traditional medicare. moreover, it said, payments to the fastest-growing type of plan, known as private fee-for-service plans, are 19 percent higher than the cost of traditional medicare.

[pickledpepperRN]

Why should taxpayers pay an insurance company to pay the hospital or primary provider?

Why not just pay the actual provider?

Insurance companies do not provide any healthcare.

[pickledpepperRN]

Michael Moore makes CNN blush

After a much publicized tête-à-tête between Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, and the outspoken director of "Sicko," the network released a rare statement of apology....

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070719/moore_fued_cnn070719/20070719?hub=Entertainment

On The Colbert report: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Colbert_Moore_unite_against_CNN_web_0720.html

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Michael Moore makes CNN blush

After a much publicized tête-à-tête between Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, and the outspoken director of "Sicko," the network released a rare statement of apology....

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070719/moore_fued_cnn070719/20070719?hub=Entertainment

On The Colbert report: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Colbert_Moore_unite_against_CNN_web_0720.html

Sanjay really was very weak and ineffective in this interview with Moore.

[Mentuhotep II]

How about the plain simple historical truth. Not the truth distorted by various belief systems.

The plain simple historical truth is something that many cant deal with. The plain simple historical truth is that the so-called "founding fathers" denied to many, the very freedom they clamored for. In the case of Thomas Jefferson, not only did he deny others freedom, but he also was a rapist and child molestor.

[Mentuhotep II]

You mean murder wasn't illegal in prewar Germany? Wow, I didn't know that! I always assumed the Nazi's took over the gov't and imposed those rules w/o the consent of the majority of the German population. Thank you for correcting me misconception of history.

You'd better read your history fronkey. Adolf Hitler was ELECTED as chancellor of Germany and used his power to clamp down on civil libertys and human rights, much in the same way that Bush is using the "patriot act" to do the same.

[fronkey bean]

check out medicare advantage...the private insurance that is supposed to save the government money actually costs about 20% more than traditional medicare....

see: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/23/washington/23health.html?ref=us

but the nonpartisan congressional budget office said the government paid the private plans, on average, 12 percent more than it would have cost to care for the same people in traditional medicare. moreover, it said, payments to the fastest-growing type of plan, known as private fee-for-service plans, are 19 percent higher than the cost of traditional medicare.

what was the difference in the service provided though? if the pvt service ran more tests or gave more referals there might be a reason for the cost difference. i'm not necessarily saying the extra costs were worth it, but i would like to have the choice to opt for the extra services. i'm just saying if we had a system of combined gov't and pvt so that people could opt for more if they wanted to.

[pickledpepperRN]

Care America and Secure Horizons use a "gatekeeper".

Often it is difficult to get a referral to a specialist.

With regular Medicare providers are reimbursed for ordered tests and treatments.

I would never sign away my Medicare to a for profit corporation. Those are beholden to shareholders NOT to patients.

And they provide no service at all. They either pay or deny.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

What was the difference in the service provided though? If the pvt service ran more tests or gave more referals there might be a reason for the cost difference. I'm not necessarily saying the extra costs were worth it, but I would like to have the choice to opt for the extra services. I'm just saying if we had a system of combined gov't and pvt so that people could opt for more if they wanted to.

Paying 20% more for less service is a bad deal for the patient and the government which acts on behalf of taxpayers.