Looking for honest answers. This can and will affect all healthcare workers eventually. What can we do to make it right? Please feel free to add what concerns and opinions you have.

I'm not even a nurse yet, much less a Chicago nurse, LOL, but I do have concerns about the present state of Obama's healthcare package.  Like Mr. Brown, I have my doubts that it can work in its present state and with the present state of the economy.  Despite Mr. Obama's statements that the recent downturn in the economy having caused a healthcare crisis with so many people having lost healthcare coverage, I simply cannot see how plunging our trillion dollar plus deficit even further in the red will benefit our country in the long term, especially in terms of any hopes of economic recovery.  We are being warned by Canada, France and England not to start down this slippery slope of nationalized or socialized healthcare because it has not worked and is not working in their countries.  Canada, I have read, is beginning to try to end their socialized medicine and go back to a more privatized plan. 


With all this said, let me also say that I do have a heart for those who do not have any insurance coverage, having been without myself for many years in the past and soon to be facing a period of being uninsured while I transition employment from one company to another.  I simply will not be able to afford COBRA and thus will be uninsured for about 90 days until my coverage kicks in. 

Hate to say this, but this plan stinks.  First, only about 10% of the population is uninsured.  We don't need to redo the insurance, we need to give the uninsured options.  They could have been covered with a fraction of the money that was spent on the stimulus plan.  Second, any person, regardless of ability to pay, whether US citizen or illegal alien, has access to free medical coverage.  All they have to do is walk into any emergency room and they MUST be seen.  If Mr. Obama really wants to overhaul the system, he needs to open up low cost or free urgent care facilities; making it like an Americorps would get RNs and MDs/PAs/NPs to volunteer, plus he can have all the free labor he wants with nursing and medical stuents.  That would free up valuable critical care beds and lower costs in the EDs.  Next, he needs to coordinate the buying power of the federal government and put a hammer down on the overspending in medical supply costs.  Because the govt reimburses hospitals, hospitals are forced to negotiate their supply costs individually.  Why not get the govt to say, no, a surgical table should not cost $100,000--it's a hunk of metal with a remote control....It doesn't have to be an issue of the government controlling prices, rather, the govt can say this is what we are willing to pay, and see who steps up.  Eventually supply and demand will win out and if hospitals come up with alternate solutions for products until suppliers come up with more reasonable prices it could be a win for everyone.  Third, take off any hint of paying for abortions or illegals in the legislation.  Period.  Americans are fed up with paying for handouts.  Did anyone see the million people marching in Washington???  Hello, anyone at the WH listening??   Okay, I've said enough....

Obviously the president hasn't looked at the health plan they had for kids without insurance in Hawaii a few years ago that almost bankrupted the state due to the fraud and abuse.  His plan is almost identical.    

As far as free clinics go, they require time and supplies to opperate.  However there are doctors and nurses, at least in my community, who would like to donate more to these clinics but can't justify it.   And they would love a tax break.  Why not give them a tax break break for time and supplies donated?  It would be a great insentive to get more people, and more specialized care out to the clinics. 

No plan can work without a cooperate effort. If the presedent gets the support that is necessary to enforce the aspects that are feasible as well as fix what needs to be fixed this plan will definitely work.

Wandajb

It was 50 000 people marching in Dc not a million not even close.  Have you tried to get volunteers for anything these days, never mind doctors and nurses consistantly to show up to  a non-paying job putting their license and health on the line for charity no way.  he has taken out illegals and abortion from the bill, keep up with the changes. 

more than 10% is uninsured but that does not include the underinsured or those who could lose their insurance for a job loss, pre-existing condition, and oh yeah do you love the provision the Republicans voted to keep in several years ago that a woman who has been a victim of domestic violence has a pre-existing condition and is uninsurable!!  read the facts here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/14/when-getting-beaten-by-yo_...

By the way co-ops will not be able to compete with big insurance companies who control most of the market.  They will not be able to set price controls like medicare ans therfore will fail which is why the GOP and Skanky Blue Dogs are for it.  As always follow the money and see who will benefit from which scenariio.  Big Insurance will benefit from the co-op plan and you , me and every other middleclass and porr person will lose.  Follow the money, they don't care about you you are a means to a profit.

I think the plan is too big to tackle right now. We should really just start by making health insurance companies more competitive, like car insurance and car dealerships, and just about everything else. More competition means lower prices for us. Then people might be able to afford to have insurance.

mrbrownrn49 says ...

However, if the public option is cut out and the focus becomes facing these insurance companies down (which face it is the core of the problem for most) and putting the brakes on the pharmaceutical industry it will be a great start.

 

        I do not want a government health care plan option or a large increase of goverment intervention on the matter, yet I agree to a great degree with your above statement in cracking the whip on the insurance and pharmaceutical companies.  There is a lot of things these industries pull that a decade or two ago use to be considered white collar crime and we are sitting doing nothing about it as if it were business as usual.  The profit margins are just way to high when compaired even to the larger margins out there in the business world.  I laugh, but at the same time I wonder how they get away with it, really.  I'm a capitalist, but some of the goings on are just plane white collar crime.  I have Tricare Reserve Select from the military which is a government directed healthcare plan, yet it is run by outside company and my premiums went from over $250.00 in 2008 down to $183.17 per month in 2009 because they determined it costed less to run the benifit.  The Active Military is caught up in Tricare Prime which is government and miltary run, but I would not want to be in it as it has some rather large problems with administrative cost and access.  The Tricare Reserve Select I have is great insurance, but like I said it is government directed/private run.  The people I know that have it love it and that ($183.17) is the price for my whole family so just think about the profit margin your paying on your insurance or the policy your employer may have on you.  So if a company was charging $225.00 for a family, which equals about a >20% profit margin from my $183.17 figure they would be making a considerable profit on such a plan.  I know that most people's policys cost much more than this.  All this being said, I do not, I repeat do not want a government RUN policy as that my friend would be a large, big, grand, super size, huge mistake for sure, although the insurance companies could surely cut their margins a great deal.  These bonuses to the CEOs, CFOs, middlemen, etc are criminal.  To many rather large hands are in the pot, yet the government is not the solution as has been proven many times over.

 

Cheers - Tim, R.N.

 

 

 

mrbrownrn49 says ...

Yes, Tim, we do think about the profit margins these companies operate on. You don't want a large increase in government intervention and claim to be a capitalist. But you are ready for "them" to do something about costs and about pharmaceuticals.

A capitalist does not advocate for any restrictions in a free trade system. If it ain't illegal, like narcotics, then leave it alone. The price will float and settle, to be adjusted by market demands and changes in supply.

Why do you think the push for health care reform? You aren't the first to notice these things. Not even the 1001st. Wait for insurance companies to operate fairly. Help them do the right thing by letting them know we don't like it.

You see, we have and it hasn't worked. At all. It hasn't had the effect of a speed bump. The system needs to be fixed, it isn't going to be cheap and it is going to be painful But to do nothing about it will be the same.

       Yes Sir, but there are other ways than floating the tax payer booty to the tune of 1 Tril. min. into it as they are also not a reliable manager when it comes to these things.  Been there, done that, I work in the federal system and have also worked on and off with various federal off shoots involved in healthcare debacles and it does not work.  Your already paying much more in tax dollars than you care to know for the cause.  I could tell you endless stories that do not get to the channel 69 news center, but I would possibly get into some trouble in doing it so I'll hush on that info..  If you only knew.  The VA blows, Indian Health Services Blows (IHS), Public Health Services Blows (PHS), Medicare Blows, Medicade blows, and the list goes on homer.  How much dung do you need on your dinner plate to see that the meal many are looking for taste bad.  I'll comment no further on this subject as there are plenty of other great forums on this site and all the blindness pushes me, but I'll stop with wishing you good luck in the future and saying that often a stool sandwich taste like that which it is, a stool sandwich.  Don't forget the Ketchup.  Next forum please.

High hopes & God speed - Tim, R.N.

very interesting hmm so there is no big hospital in Maui..well maybe the gov wants you to  fly to Oahu for surgery or trauma. by the way good post usaflightmedic.  i think there needs to be a big change but throwing it all out at once makes me nervous.  i wish people would have realized a long time ago  that loaning the dollar 4 X might just bite you in the a$$. oh well learn it or lose it i say.  if they get together and find a way to include and tax ALL of the people they will have enough money to support 50million uninsured . otherwise it will be just like it is now ...ripping off the middle class. amen to that. ah yes and one tribute to the current administration kudos for extending the Patriot Act very well done.

There goes RNprogressive again - "It was 50.000 people marching." Maybe you're right, but why do you think you know everything? Were you there??? I wasn't, so I'm not so egotistical as to tell everyone how many people were marching.

RNP has some valid thoughts, but can't get past the childish insults and egomaniacal "I'm RIGHT!" thinking that turns everyone off...

Give it up - just make your argument like the sensible left-wing and right-wing people on this site. People will pay more attention and take you more seriously and respect you more. Really!

mauiJan-

Hawaii has a broken and corrupt and slow island mentality state government I live here and see it everyday they are not the yardstick by which to measure good health care only bad.  So no extrapolation is possible to other states or the republic as a whole.  I'm sure you will be happy to accept Medicare and Medicaid at your private hospital on Maui, yes?  If not how will your clients on Maui pay?

Capt Eric, I fail to see my answers being anymore contrary than anyone elses.  This is a debate , I do not sugar coat my words in real life I am not a fluffy person.  I am direct.  Those that really know me see nothing wrong with that.  By the way did you read my whole forum section on Jefferson and govt health care .  It was polite, clear and well developed.  I get tired of the rantings of the do nothing keep everything the same I got mine too bad about yours mentality of FREAKING NURSES.  I am amazed at the lack of humanity and caring and compassion on a Nurses forum.  Truly  saddened.  The fact a majority of those here do not see the need for change or will actively do anything they can to prevent positive changes in healthcare insurance and to reform the system is tragic.

The plan won't fly! Mainly because the cost is unrealistic , no matter how you add it up what he says it will cost is only a drop in the bucket compared to the actual cost. The government is incapable of run anything on or under a projected buget, because they know they can always take more of our hard earned money or just borrow from somewhere else. If you want examples of how poorly the government runs programs just look at our Socail Security or Medicare/ Medicaide both are on the brink. They have run both programs into the ground.

If he wants to do something about the cost of health care he should start with Tort reform and end some of these frivalous lawsuits that are filed so regularly. Then go after the groups and individuals that abuse the system, this includes all the hypocondriacts out there, and finally Stop spend our tax dollars to provide all the free medical care for the MILLONS OF ILLEGAL ALEINS (not PC but I don"t care) they are a huge drain on our health care dollars.

In closing I'll leave you with this: Health Care is NOT Uncle Sam's responsiblity it is the individuals. Let them choose between there big screen TVs, video games, all they're cable channels,expensive cars and accessories, and cell phone with all the bells and whistle or they're health insurance.

Mike in NM

You know we have to get insurance for our cars are we not more worth it? NO one crys about car insurance.... Needs to be more afordable!! I can not pay my whole paycheck for insurance when I have to pay rent also... Hello do the math..

       "Obama's healthcare plan. Will it work or not?"  If I recall this right, and things haven't changed in the past few days we do not really know what the plan is and the last HR took on some water while floating about, so we will see, and then I'll comment again.  Until then speculation is more weighted in this subject than a clear premise with facts.  So hey, I certainly don't know if it will work or what it is to begin with.  Sorry about the sarcasm, but there really is a great deal of hot air being expelled at this time.  In the mean time I'll settle, listen, and think, like I do with my patients.

Cheers - Tim, R.N.