As a practicing physician and a small business owner of the Kern River Valley, I was intrigued by your editorial in our local newspaper. While I agree that changes need to be made in our health care system in order for it to survive, I find it shameless of you to continue to shill for the insurance companies and Pharma which have gotten us into this mess.
Your assertion that the CBO suggested that the Pelosi healthcare bill would not control health care costs is quite misleading since there is no Pelosi health care bill. And as you are well aware, without the Public Option cost will certainly continue to rise at an unsustainable 12 percent per year.
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Dr. Robert Gross/Board Member KVHD
McCarthy's mind already made up
Regarding Kevin McCarthy’s “fact” about Canadian babies born in Buffalo, I called Buffalo News about a July 2 story about ONE infant receiving treatment (not born) because of a shortage of neonatal beds at a Hamilton, Ontario hospital. Public relations spokesperson at Women & Children’s Hospital in Buffalo indicates the hospital has an agreement with Hamilton’s McMaster Children’s Hospital to take neonatals when McMaster exceeds its 47 neo-natal beds.
According to the spokesperson, about one child per month from Canada is treated at the Buffalo Hospital – a total of 14 treated in 2008. Hamilton’s population is 714,900; Buffalo’s population is 279,745. It is not unusual for hospitals in smaller cities to assist hospitals in larger cites. Also, per Imaginis, the Women’s Health Resource online, the UK has breast cancer survival rate of 72.5 percent; the US has 78.5 percent rate – hardly a significant difference. Regarding prostate cancer, the US has higher detection rate than the UK and has 15-year survival rate of 76 percent; the UK has 71 percent survival rate, but I’ll admit accurate data is a challenge to locate online. Regarding that “independent research firm” named Lewin, per a July 22 article in Washington Post, that “independent” firm is totally owned by United Health Group, one of the nation’s largest health insurers – hardly an “independent” group. Did McCarthy check his “facts?” Why a “town meeting” when McCarthy has already decided NOT to support a public option?
Al Steuart/Wofford Heights
Private insurance companies control healthcare
McCarthy attacks the proposed Public Option which would exist along with private, for-profit, health insurance saying, “We need to protect the choice of individuals and families when it comes to choosing doctors and treatment.” He says government would have “more control over our heath care” and the Public Option would mean “not getting treatment at all because the government made a cost-cutting decision.”
Who controls selection of doctors and treatments and limits and denies care now? Your private insurance (if you have one) has these controls. You must consult only the doctors on a list. The treatments and medications allowed and the number of days in hospital are determined by the insurance company. Insurance companies control health care by refusing coverage or canceling the policy when they suspect a prior condition caused the present problem.
Private insurance companies control who gets health care by charging rates beyond the reach of many and insuring only the young and healthy, rejecting the old or those with a history of illness.
These companies make huge profits, pay extremely high executive salaries, reward employees for denying claims and have overhead costs far exceeding Medicare.
My now-retired physician husband spent many hours weekly arguing with insurance company clerks for coverage of necessary treatments, medications and hospital days. He had insurance companies change the diagnosis on claims he submitted so he would get lesser reimbursement for care he provided.
Mr. McCarthy criticizes the current heath care reform efforts as “rushed debate” and “ramming through...legislation”. Health care reform was first proposed nearly 100 years ago by Teddy Roosevelt and supported by FDR, Truman, Kennedy, LBJ, Clinton and, now, Obama. That doesn’t sound like a rush!
Jacqueline P. Morgan/Kernville
Comments
47 comment(s)Mac wrote on Sep 27, 2009 9:46 AM:
Mac wrote on Sep 27, 2009 9:22 AM:
The Real Truth wrote on Sep 23, 2009 11:58 PM:
I notice you and others seem to think that because other countrys have given in to Universal Healthcare, that the United States should also. If you love those countrys so much, admire their healthcare system so much, why don't you go live there? The people in those countrys you quote hate their system of healthcare because they pay over 60% tax of whatever they earn!
Do your research, don't just give figures, find quotes from other countrys. Why do you think they all want to come here? "
Bob Walker wrote on Sep 18, 2009 5:19 PM:
Get a hold of that fact.
Also, Medicare sets the price of operations, private insurance companies don't because they can always drop you or refuse to pay 22% of the time.
When you have a heart attack, cancer etc., would you rather have Medicare or private?
Republicans have not come up with squat. "
Mac wrote on Sep 14, 2009 1:00 PM:
John Perry wrote on Sep 11, 2009 11:27 PM:
Obama wants competition and this would do it. Private companies cannot compete against the Federal government with their unlimited amounts of our tax money.
Obama says he will save money in Medicare by eliminating waste and fraud. If it's that easy why doesn't he start doing it know? Why wait the 4 years until the plans starts to save money? Do it now!He acts as if waste and fraud has been ignored, it hasn't. "
Mac wrote on Sep 8, 2009 10:21 PM:
John Perry wrote on Sep 8, 2009 7:22 PM:
BOB, I think only 6 insurance companies write heath insurance in California, there are over 1300 in America. Why not allow purchases across state lines and increase competition.
BO says his plan will increase competition. Why not let 1300 write insurance in California instead of only 6? "
Bob Walker wrote on Sep 6, 2009 6:52 PM:
I'm with you on tort reform. But read the CA statistics. One out of every five requests by a Doctor for a procedure was refused by the top six insurance companies in the last six years. And that is for folks that HAVE insurance.
We simply don't need private insurance.
Only Switzerland had private companies in the top 20 best health care nations and they got rid of them in 1995 because they do not care about the patient.The examples of 36 better ones are there to look at. "
Bob Walker wrote on Sep 5, 2009 8:58 PM:
Data reported by the insurers to the California Department of Managed Care from 2002 through June 30, 2009 revealed that six of the largest insurers operating in California rejected 47.7 million claims for care or 22 percent of all claims.
More than one of every five requests for medical claims for insured patients, even when recommended by a patient's physician."
Todays SF Chron. "
John Perry wrote on Sep 4, 2009 10:13 PM:
Obama's health care doesn't address Tort Reform? Over treating to avoid law suits costs BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH year. WHY? Dr. Dean says they won't offend lawyers, one of their largest contributors.
INCREASE COMPETITION! Allow health insurance purchases across state lines.
Allow small business to form groups to buy insurance.
Allow tax deduction for personal health insurance expense.
Unions have been after democrats to get them government health insurance for years.
If you can't sign your real name I have no interest in your response. "
The Truth wrote on Sep 4, 2009 3:12 PM:
Ann wrote on Sep 4, 2009 9:50 AM:
Constitutionalist wrote on Sep 3, 2009 7:55 PM:
One, France, spends just 7% of its GNP on health care. We spend 17%.
They have the #1 health care in the world. Every citizen has it from birth to death.
They do two things very well: Billing and preventative care.
They are totally government run, with all costs the same everywhere in France.
Why not just license their billing software, and follow their health care practices? If not, why not? "
Mac wrote on Sep 3, 2009 4:33 PM:
Constitutionalist wrote on Sep 3, 2009 3:27 PM:
There is no HR 3200 if there is no Senate bill to argue against it. Without a bill from the senate any health care changes will not and do not exist.
The gang of six has taken HR3200 off the table.
You are preaching a void, a specialty of yours.
Folks, contact your Senators and tell them what YOU want in health care, whatever that is. Have your voice heard before they produce something out of committee. "
channeling God wrote on Sep 3, 2009 12:35 PM:
celia wrote on Sep 3, 2009 7:29 AM:
The Truth wrote on Sep 2, 2009 11:39 PM:
Mac wrote on Sep 2, 2009 12:19 PM:
ToA NON-PARTISAN doctor wrote on Sep 2, 2009 8:17 AM:
The Truth wrote on Sep 1, 2009 10:13 PM:
This bill, if passed, will be horrible for doctors, the AMA (American Medical Society) has been against it from day one!
And thank you that someone else knows what Bob Gross and his bunch is doing, I thought the whole KRV was wearing "Rose colored glasses!" "
A NON-PARTISAN doctor wrote on Sep 1, 2009 10:25 AM:
FYI - there IS a bill. The "Gang of Six" aren't the only ones writing. HR3200 (and revisions)is available for your perusal. I challenge ANY of you to read it and come back to say that it's a good bill. The simplistic posts here are alarming, but they help to explain the dire straits into which our country is heading. "
Mac wrote on Aug 31, 2009 12:13 PM:
The Real Truth wrote on Aug 31, 2009 7:51 AM:
I'm so sick of the power and money plays it's not even about health anymore or is it? I got lost.... "
We the people..... wrote on Aug 30, 2009 5:55 PM:
Bob Walker wrote on Aug 29, 2009 9:24 PM:
Thanks for proving my point.
Quoting your source on how Congress works:
"A bill that has been agreed to in identical form by both bodies becomes the law of the land only after-- (presidential signature)
So there still is no bill as the "gang of Six" Senators has reported nothing to their committee, much less the committee to the Senate, much less an agreed on bill by both houses.
Why is this so hard for you? There is NO bill.
That lie is all right wing hype paid for by big Pharma. "
ray conner wrote on Aug 29, 2009 4:32 PM:
thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html
From there go to BILLS under No. IV "
KRVer wrote on Aug 29, 2009 8:09 AM:
The Truth wrote on Aug 28, 2009 10:49 PM:
Consitutionalist wrote on Aug 28, 2009 9:40 PM:
McCarthy is a joke. Owned by big oil, big Pharma, and big Agriculture.
He doesn't even feel it when he steps on us. It was good to see Dr. Gross take him on and call him the liar he is.
How un-American.
The upcoming 2010 proposition for open primaries in CA, plus the re-districting, by former judges, might change a lot in this state. "
Bob Walker wrote on Aug 28, 2009 9:34 PM:
I listened to the female Senator from Maine today, 8/28/09. She is one of the "gang Of six" Senators debating our health care situation. She (A Republican) says there is NO BILL. She says that the Option plan is off the table, and nothing has been decided.
Help me out, where are you getting this there is a bill stuff?
Until the gang of six releases an idea, the Senate votes on it and the House approves it, to quote my grandpa, there ain't no bill.
Explain your position please. "
Ann wrote on Aug 28, 2009 9:24 PM:
Ann wrote on Aug 28, 2009 8:23 PM:
Red wrote on Aug 28, 2009 4:21 PM:
ray conner wrote on Aug 28, 2009 4:08 PM:
and in line with what mac wrote, "BILL"
according to you Mr. Walker there is no bill,
Even the gang of six are calling it a bill. Maybe you should look at the whole picture instead of addressing mjust YOUR opinion "
Mac wrote on Aug 28, 2009 9:58 AM:
Bob Walker wrote on Aug 27, 2009 10:13 PM:
I checked your Google suggestion, and guess what I found out? You don't know the difference between the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
The bill referred to in your post has the large initials HR at the top, meaning House of Representatives.
The six Senators debating this idea of health reform could care less what the House thinks. So nothing exists yet. Got it?
Those senators are either real close to a compromise of some sort or miles apart. They won't say, so how can you? "
ray conner wrote on Aug 27, 2009 11:47 AM:
You will be suprised what you find.
No-Name, too "
Simon wrote on Aug 26, 2009 7:34 PM:
--------------------
Gold 401k "
Bob Walker wrote on Aug 26, 2009 7:09 PM:
Again, your seventh grade teacher would point out to you there is NO bill. Six senators, three from each side are still miles apart from anything. They have published nothing yet.
Got it? There is NO bill. So shame on you for being sucked in by the insurance lobby blogs because you don't even do remedial homework--like read a couple national papers online each day.
They're free by the way. "
Bob Walker wrote on Aug 26, 2009 7:04 PM:
Try a little spinal starch, and also learn to do homework. A seventh grader would fail with your posts because they lack the who, what, where, and why we can check. If you checked it first, you wouldn't post most of it.
36 other countries have better health care. They are all run by the governments. We have dropped from #1 to #37 with private insurance. "
celia wrote on Aug 26, 2009 11:35 AM:
"sorry Celia".....Thanks for the apology and finally speaking the truth! I have hope for you and the other no name personalities that seem to say things very much like you..or we...or? "
The Truth wrote on Aug 26, 2009 10:57 AM:
celia wrote on Aug 26, 2009 10:10 AM:
All three writers did something you repeatedly fail to do. That is, use their real name. Each time you post as a fake person, you loose credibility.They also stated facts and were reasonable. They did their homework. "
Mac wrote on Aug 26, 2009 10:01 AM:
The Truth wrote on Aug 25, 2009 10:58 PM: