Fla. Doc's Sign Warns Off Obama Supporters

[srkruzich]

I remember a few years ago, where a group of docs opened up a health care center where you could go get things like broken bones, flu, things like that treated for under 100 bucks.  THey even had a price list posted on the wall for the services provided.  It was a successful idea but the "states" and "insurance" killed them.  Both the state and the insurance companies figured if they could charge under 100 dollars for a proceedure, they could force the clinics to do it for 1/3 the price.   I am not sure if any survived it. 

[Diane Amberg]

They still exist here. Usually there are in a little shopping center so the overhead is very low. Some are free standing clinics,some are associated with a hospital. We call them a "Doc in a box". Sometimes serious things show up there and the ambulance is called to take them on to the hospital for admission or specialized care like a hand surgeon or gall bladder surgery.  Some share space in a store such as Walmart or a drug store and are on a cash only basis, no insurance.

[Roma Jean Turner]

As a health care practioner who has tried for 32 years to help my patients in anyway I could only to be restricted more and more by the government and indeed, although not directly, but by their and laws and attitudes; threatened by them.... I am so disturbed by Jerry's attitude that I cannot even comment.  To say if we cannot make it on what Medicare covers that we shouldn't be in business is just ignorance as to what all is involved in trying to maintain a license, a practice, equipment, treat patients and walk through an ever growing mine field that just sucks precious time and energy that we would all like to be using personally with our patients.

Thank you to all the rest of you who have stood up for our right to try to survive as individual practitioners.  The Gulag ultimately will not be happy until we are all working for it.  Your doctor's will work for the man, and your visits will be timed from beginning to end and the doctor will be docked if they go over.  I could go on and on.  This is already happening in the medical field in my community because the big hospitals here have become corporations themselves and also offer their own insurance.  Many of the medical people here are working for them.  They control health care for miles around here.  The independents what few there are trying to hang on.
I am a Medicare provider, but frankly I don't feel like anyone appreciates it, just complains about what chiropractic services aren't covered. 

[Diane Amberg]

My gynecologist just did that. She couldn't afford the sky rocketing obstetric insurance any more, so she closed her OB practice and went to work for Christiana Hospital, our big trauma center. I think they are covering all or part of her insurance, so she will still be able to deal with babies and she was nice enough to take us GYN older clients with her. This whole health care issue has gotten so complicated I don't know how anybody can figure it out.

[Teresa]

This whole health care issue has gotten so complicated I don't know how anybody can figure it out.

Me either.......it boggles my mind just how much insurance company's and government have doctors in a choke hold...
And if it is your private practice?? Darn tooting, you can doctor who you want... it is called Private practice for a reason..

[Roma Jean Turner]

Part of the fear and frustration is that the rules are constantly changing in some form or another until it drives you crazy trying to figure it out.  If you are wrong it can cost you in a big way.  Maybe not, but it is knowing that something is always hanging over your head. 

Here it is  April and congress still can't decide what we should charge a Medicare patient. I e-mailed my state association the other day and said I don't know what to do, what should I be charging the Medicare patient's for their co-pays.  There response was, we don't know, we will try to find out and get back to you.  I haven't heard anything and I don't blame them, we are in limbo.  This forces us in some ways to be in noncompliant, because we can't fully comply until they make up their minds and vote on it. The big hospitals and clinics can afford to hire people to keep up with the details and then do the training procedures for the hired doctors.  If someone screws up they have a legal department and the insurance to write the check and cover it.  The rest of us are just laying a wake at night trying to figure out what to do with the rest of our lives.  And once more, when they finally decide everyone will have to go back through and apply the new amount and do the bookkeeping and then file the claims which we will all be behind on.     SCREAM!!!

[Diane Amberg]

Is there a medicare copay? My Doc didn't charge one when I was there for a check up last week. Oh, maybe because he's my primary?  Roma Jean would you be considered a specialist? Whew, I really do feel bad for you.

[srkruzich]

They still exist here. Usually there are in a little shopping center so the overhead is very low. Some are free standing clinics,some are associated with a hospital. We call them a "Doc in a box". Sometimes serious things show up there and the ambulance is called to take them on to the hospital for admission or specialized care like a hand surgeon or gall bladder surgery.  Some share space in a store such as Walmart or a drug store and are on a cash only basis, no insurance.

well thats how they survived then. good for them.  At least the people can submit it to their insurance for reimbursement. 

It is a great business model.  And keeps healthcare costs down to boot.

[srkruzich]

I am a Medicare provider, but frankly I don't feel like anyone appreciates it, just complains about what chiropractic services aren't covered. 

Well I don't complain thats for sure.  I know how hard it is to find someone who takes medicare. 
I complain more about medicare itself.

[srkruzich]

Is there a medicare copay? My Doc didn't charge one when I was there for a check up last week. Oh, maybe because he's my primary?  Roma Jean would you be considered a specialist? Whew, I really do feel bad for you.

Yes there is copay its 20% of the bill. You probably will get billed for it.