Obamacare Survives, Supreme Court Rescues 'Big Health'

[herring_RN]

[color=#365f91]obamacare survives, supreme court rescues 'big health'

[color=#333333]just a quick comment on the supreme court's decision to uphold the constitutionality of the obama healthcare legislation, i.e. that the single mandate stands.

i recently watched a fascinating video of a talk given by dr oliver fein, a member of the physicians for a national health program, that is doctors in favor of socialised medicine or as it is called in the us, 'single payer', analysing the obama health reform. his view on the supreme court decision was that the judges, and in particular chief justice john roberts, would rule in it favour for fear of what come if they didn't. in other words striking down obamacare would put single payer or other radical reform back on the table. well, roberts deserted his conservative colleagues and voted for obama's law. so dr fein may well be right. ...

[color=#333333]... [color=#333333]this statement just in from one of america's largest nursing unions:

[color=#333333]nurses: 'court ruling does not end healthcare crisis or the need to continue the campaign for reform'

[color=#333333]the supreme court decision should not be seen as the end of the efforts by health care activists for a permanent fix of our broken healthcare system, said the nation's largest union and professional association of registered nurses today.

[color=#333333]to achieve that end, the 175,000-member national nurses united pledged to step up a campaign for a reform that is not based on extending the grip of a failed private insurance system, but "on a universal program based on patient need, not on profits or ability to pay. that's medicare for all," said nnu co-president jean ross, rn. "it is not time to stop, but a reminder to begin that effort anew."

[color=#333333]"nurses experience the crisis our patients continue to endure every day. that's the reason we will continue to work for reform that is universal, that doesn't bankrupt families or leave patients in the often cruel hands of merciless insurance companies," said nnu co-president karen higgins, rn.

[color=#333333]stepping up the fight for medicare for all is even more critical in the midst of the still persistent economic crisis," added nnu co-president deborah burger, rn, noting that nurses have seen broad declines in health status among patients related to loss of jobs, homes, and health coverage. ...

[color=#333333]http://thebrokenelbow.com/2012/06/28/obamacare-survives-supreme-court-rescues-big-health/

[DebblesRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

I worry that my job will be in jeopardy when this goes into full swing, because they are gonna have to cut corners somewhere to recoup losses in reimbursement and they always start with nursing.

I don't think the government should be in my pocket sucking more money from it, or in my house telling me how to live and what I need to buy.

I don't think the working class should carry the weight of the burden that is Obamacare, but it is what it is. We'll all be the ones shouldering it so that everyone can have free healthcare while we actually work for it.

I know of several friends (who live in Canada) who have had medical problems that they were put on a waiting list for. 6 months before they could be seen because the doctor was so booked. Then, if they needed surgery, another 3-6 months before they could get THAT taken care of. One lady I know has a daughter with special needs and was told her daughter had a genetic abnormality, so she didn't qualify to have her scoliosis repaired. If she wanted to appeal it, go ahead--that would take 8 months, then on to the surgical waiting list which she would be at the very bottom of because other people were more "deserving." This is the direction we are heading. Child with scoliosis who can hardly walk from it, but she is a "defective" so she can do without.

I am so looking foward to this "free" healthcare that I will pay out the nose for so that I can get poopier and less than timely medical care. Can't wait.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I don't think this is the answer but I know that keeping on the way we have been in our medical system is not the solution.

[mikeicurn, ASN, RN]

This seems to have turned into a Canada v/s USA thread concerning healthcare. Here is a link from the AARP with 5 myths that are addressed. I found it interesting in comparison to all the horror stories people spread.

I have never lived outside the USA, but I have travelled extensively and have learned quite a bit about other healthcare system models. All in all I think the main difference between our system and "socialized" medicine, is an exphasis on preventative medicine. Other countries spend more money on prevention, and people are expected to attempt to mitigate their healthcare costs. Here, people expect to run to the ER for every little runny nose, headache, stomach ache, etc... When I was training in the ER I was shocked at the trivial things people came to the ER for. I am often told this is because people don't have insurance, so they can't go to a doctor's office, so they come to the ER instead. But I see many of these people do have coverage. They will go to a doctor and get a prescription for a antibiotic. If they are still experiencing some minor discomfort 2 days later they will go to the ER wanting a pill to alleviate their discomfort. Or if their child wakes up at 2 am with a runny nose they will bring them into the ER. With a single payer system I believe people will have to adjust their thinking and be more proactive instead of reactive with their health.

[jodyangel, RN]

My husband is from the UK and he hates the National Healthcare. He says you wait..and you wait..and then you wait somemore. He loves it here and the fact that when your MD tells you to go to a specilist you can Usually get an appt within a few weeks. He says it sometimes takes a year or more to see one in the UK.

I don't agree. I am from Europe, lived there most of my life and decided to get my nursing degree in the States. I will never go back to their nationalized health care. What you read is not real, just bunch of the words to make them feel better about themselves. Ordinary people just suffer there.

[java12]

................

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

For all those that think our system is

so awful, think about the children with DIPG who are able to get a second opinion from renowned neurosurgeons at Hopkins as well as the motorcyclist with no insurance who broke every major bone in his body at 2am, who was treated by husband in the middle of the night. He was treated as fully and thoroughly as any person with

insurance would be treated.

He sees several people a day in the same uninsured situation, he does not turn anyone away. There are a great many doctors who do this. I am sick of hearing about how bad it is, because for all the flaws there

is a lot of good.

No one here is complaining about the quality of care to the uninsured in this thread. What people are concerned about is bankruptcy because of being uninsured. Sometimes, even the insured go bankrupt because they didn't seek care at X hospital or get pre-certification or get the appropriate referral or their policy didn't cover the specific treatment or...

The fact is whenever there is government funding involved, rules regarding access change.

Depending on your insurance plan, you must follow the private insurance company's rules of access to avoid out-of-pocket costs, too. If you don't, you will be stuck with the entire bill because you didn't ask the right person if you could get treatment. With my insurance plan, I can have an approved specialist on my medical team, but he can't refer me to another specialist. My primary has to. I can't see anyone I want; I can't get care anywhere I want; I can't even go to an ER without approval unless it is life-threatening situation. The ACA won't change that.

The only patients that I've seen who are anxious about their bills and treatments are the ones who are employed and insured. They know that their insurance company has rules of access, but they often are not completely sure if the reason they came to the hospital and the inpatient stay "followed the rules." That's not to say that the uninsured or Medicare/Medicaid patients aren't anxious about bills, but the ones who verbalize it to me are employed/insured.

You also have to remember that our current system is a mix of privately and publicly funded care. The ACA doesn't change that either; it will still be a mix.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

This may seem like a stupid question, but...

If socialized medicine is so bad and inefficient, then why do pretty much all developed countries besides the US have it? And why do those countries have so much higher life expectancies and lower infant mortality rates? Aren't those the two best indicators of how well a nation's health care system is working?

And why are people getting so riled up about "being forced" to have health insurance? You can't drive without insurance. It's part of driving. Having to have health insurance is just part of being in society. Nobody is violating anybody's "rights".

[java12]

I cannot speak to how many bankruptcies occur due to clerical errors in not obtaining the proper referral. Also, I am not sold on the fact that the bill will foster specialist networks and myriads of choices.. I suppose time will tell. I plan to download a copy of the bill as noone really knows of everything that is in it, truly.

As far as actual bankruptcies, hospitals throughout the country take a significant financial blow on debt that is not reimbursed by the federal government for charity care rendered by such hospitals and physicians. This results in hospitals filing for bankruptcy, health care professional lay offs, and has contributed to the downfall of community hospitals in the USA.

The profit margin for our local hospital is 1%..there is not a whole lot of leeway there.

If current costs cannot be covered federally, additional costs rendered by providing insurance to those who cannot afford it will be placed on current insurance consumers=higher premiums and likely just as much if not more hassle.

[hawkfdc]

Throwing my $0.02 in.....

Although called the Affordable Care Act it is anything but. Private insurance companies are licking their chops to increase premiums to cover the required preventative care. As of this month, my insurance premiums are more than my mortgage. I fully anticipate another increase of at least 10% in the next few months.

I would be (partially as I haven't thought it completely through) in favor of a Medicare type system for everyone. I believe its the only viable solution. You're admitted for a UTI, Medicare will cover your inpatient stay for 5 days, everything including medications are covered. Home health (my particular discipline) if there is a proven need is covered. Medications and other extraneous stuff should be handled like the VA, you need lisinopril BID, here's a 30 day supply, we'll call you in 25 days. You've taken big pharma out of the picture.

What I absolutely detest about the ruling is that the Supreme Court said if the guv-ment says you must have insurance or pay a tax/penalty then thats it. Between this and the Kelo ruling, two major tenants of the Constitution were struck down, the right to own property and individual liberty. With this ruling there is nothing the government cannot make you do without penalty and that ladies and gentlemen is scary!

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

What I absolutely detest about the ruling is that the Supreme Court said if the guv-ment says you must have insurance or pay a tax/penalty then thats it. Between this and the Kelo ruling, two major tenants of the Constitution were struck down, the right to own property and individual liberty. With this ruling there is nothing the government cannot make you do without penalty and that ladies and gentlemen is scary!

Well, if you refuse to obtain health insurance, you SHOULD be penalized. How is it your constitutional right to be irresponsible? The greater good of the society overrides individual rights.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I don't think the working class should carry the weight of the burden that is Obamacare, but it is what it is. We'll all be the ones shouldering it so that everyone can have free healthcare while we actually work for it.

Well then stop voting for the people that keep giving rich folks like Mitt Romney and Rush Limbaugh tax cuts and the middle class won't have as big of a burden.

[elkpark]

Awesomeness:

People Who Say They're Moving To Canada Because Of ObamaCare

TOOOOOOO funny!!!!!!! Do you think they don't REALIZE that Canada has a much more "socialist" healthcare system than the one they would be fleeing the US to escape?? Are there really people out there who are that ignorant? (And, yet, they still feel perfectly qualified and entitled to voice opinions on political and social issues -- amazing ...)