Re: Question on healthcare reform

[Guest guest]

I thought the requirement was only for employers with more than

20 employees. If it is for all employers regardless of # of employees,

then it is time to lock up the office right now.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Kennedy, Jim

Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:44 PM

To:

Subject: Question on healthcare reform

If the current bill is past, whichever version, and it includes a

requirement to provide healthcare insurance, and it cuts Medicare

reimbursements-and therefore all contracts for those of us who take insurance,

how many of us will be able to stay in business? We have insurance for us the

docs, and have no employees, so we wont get hit on this side, but some will.

Seems

like a double whammy for us in primary care. The AAFP swears that we will come

out better than subspecialists, but am not holding my breath.

[Guest guest]

If you can't buy insurance, you pay the fine and send your employee to the

public plan is how I see it.

Medicare being broke is not so important because the whole country is broke - we

are cost shifting everything - like a game of musical chairs.

The health care reform is a step in the right direction but only if the public

stops acting like dummies and changes plans if offered a small discount. The

health plans take advantage of this and create monopolies. Having the mandatory

insurance does help take the sting out of EMTALA so that people are paid somehow

for the poor and/or irresponsible.

>

> I thought the requirement was only for employers with more than 20 employees.

> If it is for all employers regardless of # of employees, then it is time to

> lock up the office right now.

>

>

>

> From:

> [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Kennedy, Jim

> Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:44 PM

> To:

> Subject: Question on healthcare reform

>

>

>

>

>

> If the current bill is past, whichever version, and it includes a requirement

> to provide healthcare insurance, and it cuts Medicare reimbursements-and

> therefore all contracts for those of us who take insurance, how many of us

> will be able to stay in business? We have insurance for us the docs, and have

> no employees, so we wont get hit on this side, but some will.

>

> Seems like a double whammy for us in primary care. The AAFP swears that we

> will come out better than subspecialists, but am not holding my breath.

>

[Guest guest]

That's how I see it too - just shuffling costs to other places. Musical chairs seems an apropos metaphor. Eventually it comes out of doctors and nurses hides. But in trade for our hides, I don't see much benefit to people who need health care. I see a huge windfall for the insurance industry. What ever happened to the public option? If it becomes an 'insurance exchange' as we have in Massachusetts, well that's just a watered down coverage purchased from guess who, the insurance companies. They win some more. Think I'm going to be ill.KathleenIf you can't buy insurance, you pay the fine and send your employee to the public plan is how I see it. Medicare being broke is not so important because the whole country is broke - we are cost shifting everything - like a game of musical chairs. The health care reform is a step in the right direction but only if the public stops acting like dummies and changes plans if offered a small discount. The health plans take advantage of this and create monopolies. Having the mandatory insurance does help take the sting out of EMTALA so that people are paid somehow for the poor and/or irresponsible. >> I thought the requirement was only for employers with more than 20 employees.> If it is for all employers regardless of # of employees, then it is time to> lock up the office right now.> > > > From: > [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Kennedy, Jim> Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:44 PM> To: > Subject: Question on healthcare reform> > > > > > If the current bill is past, whichever version, and it includes a requirement> to provide healthcare insurance, and it cuts Medicare reimbursements-and> therefore all contracts for those of us who take insurance, how many of us> will be able to stay in business? We have insurance for us the docs, and have> no employees, so we wont get hit on this side, but some will. > > Seems like a double whammy for us in primary care. The AAFP swears that we> will come out better than subspecialists, but am not holding my breath.>

[Guest guest]

Here is the Wall Street Journal review of the House bill...

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125763756556136303.html

 

Locke, MD