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Politics : A US National Health Care System?

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To: John Koligman who wrote (6117)2/16/2009 12:35:24 PM
From: i-node1 Recommendation  Read Replies (1) of 42652
 
Well, the way I see it people die in this country because of the way our healthcare system works, and too many people go bankrupt. I guess I don't understand why it's such a stretch for you - I see it kind of like SS - everyone pays into the system, including those who currently do not. Spread the risk around more, and eliminate the worries about portability and bankrupcty. Streamline the payment system, and cut down on the conflict that exists today. I'm not looking for a free ride, just a fair ride.

1. You do understand that SS is technically insolvent by many trillions of dollars if you apply GAAP accounting standards to it?

2. What makes you think that "streamlining" the payment system will make one iota of difference? Because I work in this field and have for the last 16 years, I can tell you that the biggest problem with the "payment" system is Medicare and Medicaid.

As an example, last May 23 a new rule went into effect requiring the use of "NPI" (national provider ID) numbers on claims. We had known this was coming for 10 years. A significant number of providers went months (in some cases six months) without a single payment from Medicare because Medicare's internal systems were so screwed up. I know of no example where the same happened with commercial insurance.

Another example: Effective 1/1/09, providers get a 2% "bonus" from Medicare for using E-prescribing (this is phase I of the mandate for EMR). I had several provider-clients who signed up for it. Because of the bureaucracy required to get paid for this additional 2%, NOT ONE is still doing it.

The truth is that the only payers having real trouble in getting claims paid are Medicare and Medicaid. So how is it you figure more government payers is going to be an improvement?
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