Michael Moore releases secret HMO memo on SiCKO.
By on Jul 6th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Michael Moore releases secret HMO memo on SiCKO.
Capital BlueCross VP of Corporate Communications Barclay Fitzpatrick recently went to see Moore’s film SiCKO. In an internal memo, he writes, “You would have to be dead to be unaffected by Moore’s movie.” He worries that if “popular, the movie will have a negative impact on our image in this community,” and suggests “talking points” to discount the film. Read the memo HERE.
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Cool! So let’s see how many “dead” reichwing trolls stop by to trash Moore’s effort.
Clearly even the targets of the film know they’ve been outted. When you’re using “talking points” instead of just plain facts to counter, you’re in deep doo doo.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:56 am“You would have to be dead to be unaffected by Moore’s movie.†– - Is this a not-so-subtle directive to HMOs?
July 6th, 2007 at 10:00 amIt’s bad for them when their own employees are turning against them.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
In SiCKO, people with health care do the talking about their own horror stories. No BCBS talking point is going to change that truth of a real person suffering. And, really, their talking points weren’t even that good…
July 6th, 2007 at 10:04 amWait until Cheney makes his Hulliburton & Oil movie…called ‘ Sucko…”
July 6th, 2007 at 10:06 amBut I thought universal health care supported terrorism…
July 6th, 2007 at 10:08 amI agree that corporate health care is screwing the American people but the answer is not socialist health care. To switch from one abusive master to another is just plain retarded.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:08 amI can just hear Fox now, claiming this is just a publicity stunt.
If they have to issue talking points doesn’t that indicate that the facts are against them and they feel the need to “train” their spokepeople?
This film may be the catalyst toward finally addressing the health care crisis – but I don’t for one minute believe that the insurance companies and those making their huge incomes on the backs of all of us will go down quietly.
The industry has many friends in very high places.
This is going to take a ground swell by the people.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:09 amI bet I’ll get these talking points in a letter from BCBS as they are my provider. No doubt, at my expense…
Sad thing is, 27-15 years ago, BCBS actually paid for everything during my father’s 12 year battle with cancer. My mother never saw a single bill (he was employed by GM).
Now, in 2007, I had to wait two months to even see an approved HMO doctor – even with a medical concern. So don’t even bring up waiting times trolls… And then they pay only for $12 of my $65 monthly prescription despite a doctor having diagnosed me. While I pay $75 a month to them for this coverage. Appalling….
July 6th, 2007 at 10:09 amToasterhead – wasn’t that among the most ridiculous arguments they right wingers have offered?
Unfortunately, some people will believe them — you can lead a horse to water…..
July 6th, 2007 at 10:10 am#2:
July 6th, 2007 at 10:11 amIt’s quite simple really. People who are dead cannot file any more claims, and thus reduce financial exposure to the insurance companies.
This is going to take a ground swell by the people.
Comment by Marie — July 6, 2007 @ 10:09 am
I forwarded the email (I’m on his mailing list) to all my friends and family… And called for a health care revolution in our country.
I suggest everyone here pass the message along. It’s time to really do something about this crisis in America. Especially with all the new strains of viruses and bacteria threatening pandemics today.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:12 amunb
July 6th, 2007 at 10:13 amYears ago, some fortunate people who worked for years for a big corporation had great benefits into retirement – those days are numbered, soon to be gone forever.
I hope BlueCross HMO goes bankrupt!
July 6th, 2007 at 10:15 amMichael Moore is fat.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:19 amIn Sicko, the pictures and the people speak for themselves. Through lot of the movie Mike is asking questions of the people in the film from a “conservative American” viewpoint and even appealing to our patriotism at times.
People who misrepresent the content of the film obviously have not seen the film, and therefore have no credibility when they criticize it.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:21 amI just saw the show last night. People that have seen it are right, it will really affect your thinking of our health care system. Of course knowing that Mr. Moore typically only shows one side, I was still beside myself at the end. I am 34, a state employee and quite fortunate that I haven’t had any medical problems, so I don’t really have first hand knowledge of dealing with the health care industry.
If you haven’t seen it yet, I would recommend it to anyone.
And if you have seen it…, how about that big old helping of irony directed at the anti Michael Moore website owner. Now that is funny.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:21 amI work in medical collections, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield is the greatest bureaucratic nightmare in the industry.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:25 amOne thing I’ve learned in my years is that insurance companies will do whatever they can to keep from paying medical bills.
those days are numbered, soon to be gone forever.
Comment by Marie — July 6, 2007 @ 10:13 am
When I lived in California, I took at tour through the Wincester Mystery House. The guide and I started a conversation about the difference between people back then, always having or attending parties, and people now being just too tired to even make dinner.
He told me that an older man on a prior tour of the house had told him that when he was younger, they didn’t have the financial worries, debt, or work burdens that we have today, and so people enjoyed their free time – which probably explains their better health as well.
You’re right. Those days are over for most. Unless we do something…
July 6th, 2007 at 10:25 amPeople who misrepresent the content of the film obviously have not seen the film, and therefore have no credibility when they criticize it.
Comment by lw — July 6, 2007 @ 10:21 am
And the criticism is coming from people who haven’t seen it, and won’t see it. Typical neoconservatives… (The regular conservatives are with us – as 79% of Americans want a UHC system).
Even the VP of BCBS said you’d have to be dead not to be impacted. And unless he’s a nosferatu (which obviously don’t exist), he was including himself…
July 6th, 2007 at 10:29 amAnd if you have seen it…, how about that big old helping of irony directed at the anti Michael Moore website owner. Now that is funny.
Comment by b40 — July 6, 2007 @ 10:21 am
I’m still laughing about that… No one can call him a hypocrite ever again! :D
July 6th, 2007 at 10:30 amYou know, I always kind of thought the Right were dead. They sure act dead.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:34 amOne thing I’ve learned in my years is that insurance companies will do whatever they can to keep from paying medical bills.
Comment by Wilco — July 6, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Then what’s the point in even having private insurance?
Those of us who have it are trying to be responsible… Is Corporate America saying they don’t care about hard-working responsible people? Ouch to teh Republicans who think the only good people are hardworking, responsible people. These actions completely blow their theory about that!
July 6th, 2007 at 10:34 amunbelievable,
I’m also a child of a GM employee, who opted for the early retirement up her in SouthWest Michigan.
Ah well, at lease we can get the employee discount, eh?
As for the movie, I haven’t seen it, but the research staff from New York did contact me to learn more about HMOs and PBMs. I think the researcher was quite amazed that she was actually talking to a pharmacist that “leans left”
July 6th, 2007 at 10:39 amAs for PBM’s, they are disgusting. Too dictate what a MD can or cannot prescribe, then to get re-imbursed from a drug company if it’s particular brand is dispensed over another…Bull$hit!!!
Yikes.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:42 amTrolls, be advised that you really cannot attack any facts on this particular thread, but feel free to attack my many grammatical errors on post #22!
Sheesh, I gotta learn to drink less “Vault Zero” in the morning!
Denying claims, exempting pre-existing conditions, delaying payments, demanding “co-payments” lying outright. There is no limit to the amount of mischief that an insurande company will orchestrate to avoid paying out a rightful claim.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:47 amOne of my favorite scams involves “pre-existing condition”. They’ll insist on a full treatment history, refusing payment unless the patient provides proof he/she wasn’t treated for the same ailment before, requiring info from every doctor the patient has had going back years.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:51 amThere’s an insurance company in Ohio that will pend (not deny) any bill for an injury, requesting info from the patient whether it was work-related. It’s amazing how seldom they receive those requests back.
There have been improvements, though. When I started 8 years ago, a full third of all bills sent to the major insurance companies mysteriously never arrived.
One thing I’ve learned in my years is that insurance companies will do whatever they can to keep from paying medical bills.
Comment by Wilco — July 6, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Your statement is truer than you will ever know!
Years ago while workiny my way thru college, I was a medical claims examiner and many times I recommended a claim be paid but was overruled by the higher ups.
A few times when they were going to screw over people by rejecting perfectly valid calims because of technical “precondition” arguments that no non-medical person would ever know how to counter, I simply secretly signed on with the supervisor’s password and paid the claim anyway!
I knew the risk, but I would not have been able to live with myself if a person died from not having treatment that I knew would be paid for had the insured been better educated in knowing what to say to FORCE the isurance company to pay it.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:53 amAh well, at lease we can get the employee discount, eh?
LOL Such a benefit! And I’ve never used it… :D
As for the movie, I haven’t seen it, but the research staff from New York did contact me to learn more about HMOs and PBMs. I think the researcher was quite amazed that she was actually talking to a pharmacist that “leans leftâ€
So you’re really an Rx and not a basketball fan :D
That’s cool that they contacted you. I heard his next film will be about big Pharma. Maybe you’ll have your 15 minutes :D That would be cool.
As for PBM’s, they are disgusting. Too dictate what a MD can or cannot prescribe, then to get re-imbursed from a drug company if it’s particular brand is dispensed over another…Bull$hit!!!
Comment by DRxJ — July 6, 2007 @ 10:39 am
What’s a PBM?
My doctor is young (30 something) and I can tell that she really cares about her patients, but when I call with an issue, I have to talk to a nurse who is pretty dismissive with my questions and concerns about my medication. It’s clear that the medical industry has ruined our health care, and our health.
My dental provider is dropping my dentist (he’s not in a big group or a big building), so I am dropping them. Screw them. It’s cheaper to pay out of pocket to a small time family dentist than pay them to cover 10% of my dental bills…
July 6th, 2007 at 10:57 amhad the insured been better educated in knowing what to say to FORCE the isurance company to pay it.
Comment by criticalthinker — July 6, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Care to educate us? I’d love to know how to work the system… And sure many here would too. Thanks!
July 6th, 2007 at 11:01 amCare to educate us? I’d love to know how to work the system… And sure many here would too. Thanks!
Comment by unbelievable
Yes. A couple simple phrases to remember would be great!
July 6th, 2007 at 11:05 amI just E-mail mr Fitzpatrick, funny Myr Moore would include his e-mail in the documents!
July 6th, 2007 at 11:07 am“You would have to be dead to be unaffected by Moore’s movie.â€
Cheney was also unaffected. I guess that quote goes for the un-dead also.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:08 amtime to kill the messenger. Watch out Moore.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:08 amPBM stands for Pharmacy Benefit Manager. They are usually pharmacists, hired by large insurance companies. They are the ones that dictate what their firm will pay for, and what they will not pay for, regarding prescriptions. Usually, the drug companies give a rather decent size bonus to the PBM’s to only use their particular drug! Thus, to make a long story short, the PBM’s job is not to better the health of a patient, it’s to save their company money, and to be reimbursed significantly for loyalty to “Big Pharma”
As for the basketball reference, I’ve always been a Julius Ervin fan.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:15 amMy initials are D.R.J., and I’ve added the lower case “x” to signify pharmacy. It’s just coincidence that it appears as DR. J !!!!!
I’d say one of the biggest problems is that insured people get really frustrated. Don’t. Most insurance reps will help you if they can. Just ask what you need to do and what they can do for you. Stay on top of any bills they’re not paying. Call them, call whoever they tell you to call. Take notes. Lots of notes. Don’t assume when someone tells you they’ll “take care of it” that they actually will. Follow up.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:15 amWhether it’s an insurance rep or your doctor’s office, follow up. Don’t give up until you have the form from your insurance showing what they paid, when, and what you owe and why. And make sure you agree with their conclusion.
Toasterhead – wasn’t that among the most ridiculous arguments they right wingers have offered?
Unfortunately, some people will believe them — you can lead a horse to water…..
Comment by Marie — July 6, 2007 @ 10:10 am
I don’t know – the last six years have set the bar for “ridiculous arguments” so high you’d need a pressure suit and a parachute to do the Fosbury Flop over it.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:15 am“…It’s clear that the medical industry has ruined our health care, and our health.”
July 6th, 2007 at 11:26 amMy family Doctor retired at 50 not because he was done healing, not because he was too rich, but because the Insurance Companies and the DEA were more important than the patient in making treatment decisions, he literally couldn’t practice medicine properly due to the interference.
“It’s cheaper to pay out of pocket to a small time family dentist than pay them to cover 10% of my dental bills…”
And don’t even think of going to a psycologist or psychiatrist. That’s automaticly a pre-existing condition, not only will they (often) reuse to pay, but they raise youre premium if they find out that you’ve gone and paid out of pocket!
Any privacy that you thought covered your interactions with health professionals is gone. The Clinton administration formulated the HIPPA laws (don’t remember what the acronym stands for but they were laws designed to protect privacy of medical data). Those laws were “Ammended” when Bush came in to blow a truck-sized hole through HIPPA, allowing insurance companies to access all of your medical records. I had the disturbing experience of having some midlevel claims adjuster reading a conversation back to me that had been (I thought) between me and my doctor in private. He had noted the conversation in my chart.
They doubled my premium.
I’ts amazing to watch people argue that instead of having their taxes pay for health care, they want to pay thousands more for health care and still pay taxes.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:26 amThanks for the advice Wilco!
July 6th, 2007 at 11:35 amIt not the taxes we object to its the unaccountable federal government bureaucracy and the lack of choice which we object to. Freedom of choice is a progressive value is it not?
July 6th, 2007 at 11:37 amThey doubled my premium.
Comment by CV — July 6, 2007 @ 11:26 am
I thought that was illegal… That’s just awful. And immoral.
In his request for medical nightmares, Moore received over 15,000 emails.
For each of the fifteen-twenty people you meet on screen, there is roughly a 1,000 equivalent person you don’t meet with nightmares of their own.
It’s appalling…
July 6th, 2007 at 11:39 am10,000…
July 6th, 2007 at 11:40 amCV, strangely, HIPPA doesn’t apply to prescriptions, as there is a national database, federally funded, of people and drugs they’re prescribed. Not all the states contribute, but my recollection is that 30-some do.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:47 amCreate a government health system that you have the option of buying into and that is paid for in full by the participants in that program and I will support it.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:49 amHere’s an email address:
barclay.fitzpatrick@capbluecross.com
He wrote the talking points memo. You can share your stories with him!
And, now, I must leave to go to a funeral for a man whose insurance provider delayed approving treatment until it was too late.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:55 amIt not the taxes we object to its the unaccountable federal government bureaucracy and the lack of choice which we object to.
You think the fire fighters and police did a bad job in NYC on 9/11?
You think 39 cents to mail a letter 2500 miles away in three days is outrageous?
You think providing your children with a free babysitting service that also teaches many of them elementary reading, writing and math skills is a travesty?
You think our military is weak and incompetent?
You think the quality of your tap water is so bad you must boil it just to drink it?
No? Then STFU.
Freedom of choice is a progressive value is it not?
Comment by Troll — July 6, 2007 @ 11:37 am
You’re free to not participate… I’m sure a private carrier would treat you much better without all those many customers.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:55 amDRxJ – odd, just saw your post in queue. Thanks for the x-planation. :D
July 6th, 2007 at 11:56 amCreate a government health system that you have the option of buying into and that is paid for in full by the participants in that program and I will support it.
Comment by Troll — July 6, 2007 @ 11:49 am
But that’s not how the fire, police, military, post office or other tax-payer systems work. Look at the education system – it’s essentially what you are subscribing to in terms of only taxing a portion, rather than all – and look how poorly it is doing as a result for finances. It doesn’t work your way.
Taxes are your due for living in a system of high quality infrastructure.
You don’t get it do you? Without collective taxation, we wouldn’t be the country we are today. No Industrialized nation would…
July 6th, 2007 at 12:00 pmFascism is the OPPOSITE of Socialism…
Go educate yourselves. You look like idiots to people who know the facts.
Comment by unbelievable — July 6, 2007 @ 9:49 am
UB
You are wrong again. Fascism and Nazism were both National SOCIALIST ideologies. Both rejected liberal ideology. The only real difference between the two was the emphases of the fascist in Italy on the state vs. the nazis view of their race and cultures as superior to others and the state.
I understand you like wikipedia so here is a link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism#Italian_Fascism
It’s you that looks like an idiot now.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:08 pmI live in Germany. My medical coverage is 100% no deductible. All prescriptions are covered too. I never have to pay anything at all, and I never have to fight with a nitwit insurance agent. My medical records are confidential, its against the law to distribute them to anyone.
So, it is possible, but Americans must insist. Nothing will change if people don’t demand good insurance and good government.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:17 pmThe sad thing is in my experience, BCBS is one of the “best” providers out there right now. We recently switched to Cigna at work and they are HORRIBLE! They won’t approve anything and their drug plan is very expensive. (Very few drugs are considered “preferred” whereas MedCost and BCBS both had pretty reasonable lists.)
If BCBS is scared, then outfits like Cigna must be praying for a miracle to save them at this point…
We can’t let this issue die! We need reasonable medical coverage for ALL Americans!
July 6th, 2007 at 12:19 pmBy the way, we have no problem financing a war that costs 100 bilion $ a year or a defence dep’t that spends over 600 billion $. Why can’t we pay for Health insurance?
July 6th, 2007 at 12:20 pmUB
“You think the fire fighters and police did a bad job in NYC on 9/11?”
They are locally financed.
“You think 39 cents to mail a letter 2500 miles away in three days is outrageous?”
The Postalservice is only semi public and I have a choice to use it or not.
“You think providing your children with a free babysitting service that also teaches many of them elementary reading, writing and math skills is a travesty?”
You answered your own question in your next post
“Look at the education system – it’s essentially what you are subscribing to in terms of only taxing a portion, rather than all – and look how poorly it is doing as a result for finances. It doesn’t work your way.” Comment by unbelievable — July 6, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
“You think our military is weak and incompetent?”
No but it is used in ways the we the people object to.
“You think the quality of your tap water is so bad you must boil it just to drink it?”
Why is bottled water such a great commodity if public water is so good?
“No? Then STFU.”
July 6th, 2007 at 1:02 pmYes. So you STFU
UB
Said
“Look at the education system – it’s essentially what you are subscribing to in terms of only taxing a portion, rather than all – and look how poorly it is doing as a result for finances. It doesn’t work your way.†Comment by unbelievable — July 6, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
At second glance this is hilarious. It proves my point perfectly. All people pay for this, it is an enormous percent of our fed and state budgets and though we are throwing and increasingly large amount of money at the problem is has only become worse.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:34 pmThis is in no way a defense of the insurance companies and healthcare system we have. But, as a medic myself, I have seen what we are capable of doing to themselves. I come across people who drink soda like its water, who eat fast food 7-10 times a week. People who’s only exercise is to walk from the couch to the fridge to get another sweet snack. They further teach their children the same bad habits.
Our health is our own responsibility, we cannot treat our bodies like garbage cans and then expect the “system” to fix us. Obesity, Diabetes, Cancers and many other diseases all can be prevented to some degree by diet and exercise. No system, regardless of how perfect it is, can undo the daily damage many American’s do to themselves.
Americans are some of the most unhealthy people in the world and mostly it is our own doing. If we were healthier as a society, than there would be a far less burden on any healthcare providing system that would be in place. That would mean lower costs and better service.
Peace and Good Health
July 6th, 2007 at 1:40 pmA couple of years ago on vacation in LA, my teenage daughter got some intestinal worms. In Belgium, when this happens we go to the pharmacy and buy Vermox for about $5 a bottle. In Malibu, we had to visit a doctor, pay $75 for a consultation, and $25 for three tablets of guess what……. Vermox.
A standard ailment, with a Euro FDA approved off the counter drug as the remedy, costs you guys 20 times as much.
Is there no limits to the insanity of homo americus????
July 6th, 2007 at 1:45 pmWent shopping for my own helath insurance because my present company had increased the premium $60/mo.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:31 pmI am in good health, on no medications, no chronic conditions, weight OK; I thought I’d find something cheaper for just the basics.
My broker found one, $70 cheaper; I applied.
I was accepted IF I paid an additional $65/month. So I would be right back where I started — high deductible, no co-pay, and covered at 80% only if I am hit with something that costs more than $5000.
What could someone do if they had a benign condition, much less a serious condition? They go without.
I could pay thousands more each year in taxes for universal health care with the money I am spending on insurance that covers so little.
Why dont you start not for profit health insurance?
The Catholic Church used to run hundreds of not for profit hospitals but the doctors and nurses cost too much once the numbers of religious who practically worked for free taking care of the needy (dam religious fanatics). Additionally now the CT legislator is forcing those same hospitals that have survived to offer chemical abortions. So those hospitals which serve the poorest of the poor in CT will most likely close and be taken over by corporations who wont give a crap about the poor.
nothing like the government to screw things up.
July 6th, 2007 at 4:01 pmnothing like the government to screw things up.
Comment by Troll — July 6, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
We have the government we want.
Let’s face it, we want incompetence in government so we can blame government for our shortcomings.
Perhaps we should eliminate public schools. Those that can afford it are already sending their kids to private schools and colleges. Those that can’t afford it can just homeschool their children. What? both parents work? Well, let them homeschool their children after they come home from work.
And who needs government oversight into industrys. Let the free market decide which companies survive and which fail. So what if people die from tainted food, and unsafe products. Caveat emptor. You bought it, you suffer the consequences. Why should you be able to sue the manufacturer or meat packer for your choice in buying their product?
Police and Firefighters? Who needs them. Take care of your own property. After all, why should my taxes go to pay for someone else’s fire? Why should we pay to house people in prisons, “3 hots and a cot” when we should just be able to take care of it through applying our 2nd Amendment rights?
The only valid purpose of government is to secure wealth and power for the wealthy and powerful.
/sarc.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:11 pmLets be honest and just give the facts. If you never get sick, the Canadian Healthcare system is fine. If your coronary arteries are clogged, you can wait up to 2 yrs for surgery. If your DR feels a mass on your abdomen or your blood work comes back bad, try getting an mri done in 6 months in Canada. I know this because I ask all my Canadian pts why they come down here to get an mri. They dont want to die waiting for tests. I asked them what tax rates were- 40-50%. Do you want to pay that much for a failed Health care system? Imagine all the lawsuits from people waiting for healthcare here. Imagine the Drs leaving in droves because they cant afford malpractice insurance (as noted with Obstetricians). Imagine how many people would leave their current jobs and stay home or work parttime because they dont want to pay the 40-50% income tax rate. Why would anybody work if they didnt have to. Do you hear the giant sucking sound of a labor shortage and massive loss in tax revenue. Let consider some solutions- Get the real free market involved. Look at what happened with LAZIX eye surgery, Competition made this procedure a few hundred dollars per eye, which is cheaper than glasses every yr. Lets make providers of health care services (if they get government money) to advertise their costs of drugs, proceedures, xrays, lab work on websites which people can access. This has been done in MA and Florida to an extent. It forces pharmacies etc to match prices of drugs etc and other tests to get the lowest cost. Lets put people in charge of finding the best deal for test instead of having a third party pay for the exams. I will give you an example. I work at 2 mri locations. One charges almost 1000 dollars more for the same exam, yet most pts dont know this because a third party pays for it. If more people had to shop around this would bring costs down. Also we would need to put a cap on lawsuits. this is what is driving up health care costs because they make Dr’s order unneccesary tests so they dont get sued. Why anyone thinks the government can do something better than free market needs to look at reality. Try shipping something via the us postal service and via fedex and see which is cheaper. How about the motor vehicle dept. How about the VA. or the county hospital. If we made our healthcare a free market, it would work better, And to those who say they cant get healthcare- thats crap- no one can be legally denied healthcare in our country. We even give illegal aliens transplants here as I have seen.
July 7th, 2007 at 12:13 amI have lived in Germany and enjoyed their universal health care. The longest I waited for any appointment was 45 minutes, far less than I have waited for appointments for emergencies in the U.S. (finger nearly severed by power saw). My dentist is still amazed at the “quality of work” that the German crown and fillings reflect. My wife was seen every two weeks when pregnant in Germany, and a “mother’s book” was filled out each time to show exactly what had been done so that she could be seen by doctors in other cities.
July 7th, 2007 at 10:55 amThe health care is considered a “right of citizenship,” and the government’s involvement is to insure that the care meets all medical standards. That’s not terrorism, government control, or any of the other ills that for-profit medicine supporters use as talkin points. We NEED universal health care.
I read through your listeners’ comments of socialized health care, and its ironic to me that so many of them ridicule the system, and yet my country Canada who has “socialized health care” spends billions of dollars each year caring for Americans who steal our services. Some of your listeners are right, why would you change your system? The poor die young, the rich get richer, and the smart steal from other countries like Canada. Canadian nurses who work in the states tell me that you spend a ridiculous amount of time counting supplies and charging them to an account instead of caring for the patients. Doctors who I know who have worked there say that you need double the secretarial staff and triple the insurance policy. Drop the ego, and seriously look at your system. It’s the most expensive and the least effective.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:52 pm