Pres. Obama's healthcare plan - Where do you stand??

Ok now I gotcha. And I agree completely. We can't continue status quo. Eventually we have to look at the man behind the curtain so to speak.  And if Obama can answer this one question for me. Where is the money coming from? Where are we getting it from? Maybe he did answer it and I wasn't paying attention.

As a registered nurse,  I see things a bit differently. 
There is a problem in our country with healthcare but I am not sure what the answer is.
I am not a believer in universal healthcare for many reasons.
It will be intersting to see how this all plays out.

Well as an RN, you should know that there are a lot of tests being ordered by doctors in order to Cover Their A$$es whether a patient truly needs them or it or not.

Patient: Doc, I got a tingling in my toe.  Perhaps it's nothing but maybe I need a CAT scan in order to see what it could be.

Physician:  A CAT scan?! Whaaa...  (thinking about a possible lawsuit if he doesn't do it) uh...yeah...  Suuuuure...  Listen, not only will I order a CAT scan but I'll also order an MRI, an EKG, a tube of toothpaste, and a box Special K.  Gotta rule out a Riboflavin deficiency ya know...

 

Yes I do realize that.  I work as a concurrent review nurse for an insurance company.  My job is to review a patients record to ensure that they are not being charged unnecessarily, that they are not overstaying their estimated length of stay, but to also  ensure that they are getting what they need also after discharge to avoid the alarming cost of unnecessary ER visits and unnecessary re admissions.
I do not want the government telling me what test I can and cannot have.
Why does the government put a cap on how much a professional athlete, a entertainer and such, why does the government not cap their salaries.  Doctors do save lives . And Nurses are some of the most underpaid unappreciated people around.
Something is wrong with this photo.
My stand is I do not beleive in universal healthcare for the United States
 

The public can't put the prospective plan in perspective without an analysis of what currently exists. 

For example, look at the proposed limitations on procedures based on age and other health condition factors.  Physicians already impose limits on patients they will accept based on age and other health factors.  Insurance companies do this as well in determining medical necessity. 

A second example, both Medicare and Medicaid already have blanket exclusions on certain drugs and on the off lable prescribing of other drugs.  These drugs treat serious chronic disorders and their symptoms, and have included injectibles for multiple sclerosis, certain muscle relaxants, and anti narceleptic medications among numerous others.  Medical necessity is not a factor in these blanket exclusions. 

Many of us have been fighting the good fight.  We have no choice and we get no press.  We are the ones who holler at our elected officials when, instead of covering medications, disabled Medicare recipients have to enter a lottery to see if they can "win" coverage for their particular disease modifying drug.  Yes folks, it did not make the eleven o'clock news but this really did happen in about 2002 or 2003. 

Health care reform started the Clinton witch hunt.  So here we are sixteen years later in the wealthiest nation on the planet having the same three decade old debate.   Where else in the industrialized world???

Fighting the healthcare system wears you out.  I'm sure the GOP would love to pick off the sick one by one as they run out of money.  Republican healthcare reform.  For our own sake we must be vigillant and let our elected officials know we are not sitting idle. 

Align youself with health care related organizations and consumer groups so you can stay abreast of what is really happening instead or relying on ultra right radio for misinformation disguised as fact.  Then when they tell you whom to contact to have your voice heard, DO IT!!!

 @ Fighting the healthcare system wears you out.  I'm sure the GOP would love to pick off the sick one by one as they run out of money.  Republican healthcare reform.  For our own sake we must be vigillant and let our elected officials know we are not sitting idle. 

I hear ya, but personally I think that's why the GOP is fighting so hard to get this notion killed as frustratingly as possible so that it will be labelled an uphill battle like that Ponzi scheme known as Social Security. 

whoops!

They are looking at the way Pres. Obama and his supporters garnered enough outward support to put Obama in the White House and are truly worried that anything he and his team decides to go after will upset the current wealth structure in America.  The GOP doesn't care about what happens with healthcare in America as long as it doesn't kill off their cash cow.
 

When over 45 million Americans didn't have health insurance already, unemployment is at an all time high and the cost of Cobra coverage is ridiculous...something must be done now and not later. 

People can say what they want about Universal Health care coverage/Socialized Medicine but to "live in the greatest country in the world" and be denied basic human rights is appalling.  The amount of money we spend frivolously daily in the Middle East would provide basic health care for every American, prescription coverage for our increasingly growing elderly population, etc. 

The bottom line is this...health care overall from hospitals to pharmaceuticals needs to be completely reformed.  I have a real issue with my grandmother or yours paying $250 for a prescription that cost $.75 to make.  At some point, capitalism when it kills it's people is a real issue. 

As far as health coverage, insurance for many of us is a joke.  When my company was overtaken by a larger company my insurance went up--not down as one might expect.  I can't afford to go to the dentist for myself when the work is going to cost me $1500-2000 on top of what I already pay per month.  I can't afford the $250 to take my child to the ER for a true emergency. 

So even though I have health insurance many I know on medicaid are seeing the doctor/dentist, etc. more than I am. 

I'm not sure what the answer is but I do that Sweden ranks top or near the top for health care systems and it's a government funded, access to everyone system.  This includes disability, etc.   Our system compared to the rest of the world?  DEAD last...dead being the key word. 

 @ When over 45 million Americans didn't have health insurance already, unemployment is at an all time high and the cost of Cobra coverage is ridiculous...something must be done now and not later.

I totally agree with you and would further ask that you get totally undressed and put this hospital gown on so that I can take a look at your tushie.  It may need my healing hands on it.  I am a doctor ya know... 

I can't afford the $250 to take my child to the ER for a true emergency. This exactly why I tell my baby stop jumping around this house because if you break something you will be healing at home.