Medical Care for seniors LRGH

fatlazyless · 10-29-2011, 02:38 PM

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/story...nda-baer-10-28

is a letter to the LaDaSun from Laconia Ward 4 Councilor Brenda Baer, one of five Laconia city councilors.

This seems to be a very complicated issue that involves the state and federal governments and individuals who are looking to get some medical help, and the whole issue requires a lot more understanding of the issues than I have.

Argie's Wife · 10-29-2011, 06:54 PM

Heaven, with all due respect, I think you missed the fact that the NH legislation passed the bills that tax the hospitals that are operating as non-profits, thus putting the patients in the path or in the middle, of this.

Since the payments to most hospitals for their care to the Medicaid patients was at no profit - even a deficit to the hospital - yet the hospital was expected to run status quo, why did NH legislators see fit to try to get blood from a turnip?

You've posted that you have insurance. Are you aware that the services you receive from your healthcare provider are paid at a discounted rate than what a self-pay or out-of-pocket patient may pay? Healthcare providers negotiate a contact with the insurance company to pay pennies on the dollar of a bill.

For example, a service billed at $500 to the health insurance company may see just 40% of the payment because that's what was agreed upon in the contract between the healthcare provider and the insurance company.

That same $500 service will be billed at 100% to the self-pay patient. That includes the folks who aren't eligible for Medicaid but maybe can't afford insurance - like the small business owner.

That same $500 service may not bring in a dime from Medicaid - but that's not something the healthcare provider could negotiate with the government. Having done billing and managed a practice, I can tell you that many services are expected to be provided for "free" by the physician - some of those services are very costly.

So, is it fair that the tax payer has to make up the difference because taxes are placed on a hospital and the difference has to be passed on to the self-pay patients? Should the hospital be expected to cut back even further on staffing, supplies, equipment and maintenance just to make up the difference when they're already operating at a $4million deficit this year.

The hospitals and healthcare providers really have their hands in the air in a "hold 'em up" with the State of NH demanding a hospital tax. The hospitals and healthcare providers in this area have nothing left in their pockets now but lint. As the saying goes: You can't get blood from a turnip.

Really, couldn't the State of NH find a better way to make revenue? Is creating a tax off the back of the healthcare industry a prudent decision in these difficult economic times? I think not.

barefootbay · 10-29-2011, 07:17 PM

Both these hospitals have been significantly over reached and over built for the numbers and types of patients they encounter.
The competion of hospitals and the levels of care provided are in a large part responsible for the burgeoning cost of health care.

Heaven · 10-29-2011, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Heaven, with all due respect, I think you missed the fact that the NH legislation passed the bills that tax the hospitals that are operating as non-profits, thus putting the patients in the path or in the middle, of this.

No, I didn't miss the point, I was serious. It was brilliant of the 1M$+ CEO to throw the patients under the bus because it is the patients and their friends that can and hopefully will toss out the current legislators. Not that it matters, but I have only been insured for 5 years out of 35 that I have lived in NH, so I do know of what you speak. Also, just a side note that 4M loss is not a large amount compared with the total revenue.

Argie's Wife · 10-29-2011, 09:01 PM

I respectfully submit the following link about CEO pay in the area:

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll...S_01/704059845

The article is from 2009 but it mentions the CEO's pay about three quarters of the way down the page... Anyhow, it comes in at less than half of what you've quoted, I'm afraid. Maybe you have a better source for your information - I'm not saying I don't believe you, just that I don't know where you got your information.

Personally, I think CEO pay scale is fodder for a different discussion. Even if it was a million dollars and even if the CEO gave 100% of his pay back, the organization would then be $3million in the hole.

10-29-2011, 02:38 PM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 9,173 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 310 Thanked 1,103 Times in 812 Posts	...from Laconia City Councilor Brenda Baer http://www.laconiadailysun.com/story...nda-baer-10-28 is a letter to the LaDaSun from Laconia Ward 4 Councilor Brenda Baer, one of five Laconia city councilors. This seems to be a very complicated issue that involves the state and federal governments and individuals who are looking to get some medical help, and the whole issue requires a lot more understanding of the issues than I have. __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store!

10-29-2011, 06:54 PM	#2
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	You can't get blood from a turnip Heaven, with all due respect, I think you missed the fact that the NH legislation passed the bills that tax the hospitals that are operating as non-profits, thus putting the patients in the path or in the middle, of this. Since the payments to most hospitals for their care to the Medicaid patients was at no profit - even a deficit to the hospital - yet the hospital was expected to run status quo, why did NH legislators see fit to try to get blood from a turnip? You've posted that you have insurance. Are you aware that the services you receive from your healthcare provider are paid at a discounted rate than what a self-pay or out-of-pocket patient may pay? Healthcare providers negotiate a contact with the insurance company to pay pennies on the dollar of a bill. For example, a service billed at $500 to the health insurance company may see just 40% of the payment because that's what was agreed upon in the contract between the healthcare provider and the insurance company. That same $500 service will be billed at 100% to the self-pay patient. That includes the folks who aren't eligible for Medicaid but maybe can't afford insurance - like the small business owner. That same $500 service may not bring in a dime from Medicaid - but that's not something the healthcare provider could negotiate with the government. Having done billing and managed a practice, I can tell you that many services are expected to be provided for "free" by the physician - some of those services are very costly. So, is it fair that the tax payer has to make up the difference because taxes are placed on a hospital and the difference has to be passed on to the self-pay patients? Should the hospital be expected to cut back even further on staffing, supplies, equipment and maintenance just to make up the difference when they're already operating at a $4million deficit this year. The hospitals and healthcare providers really have their hands in the air in a "hold 'em up" with the State of NH demanding a hospital tax. The hospitals and healthcare providers in this area have nothing left in their pockets now but lint. As the saying goes: You can't get blood from a turnip. Really, couldn't the State of NH find a better way to make revenue? Is creating a tax off the back of the healthcare industry a prudent decision in these difficult economic times? I think not.

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10-29-2011, 07:17 PM	#3
barefootbay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 395 Thanks: 81 Thanked 108 Times in 76 Posts	Both these hospitals have been significantly over reached and over built for the numbers and types of patients they encounter. The competion of hospitals and the levels of care provided are in a large part responsible for the burgeoning cost of health care.

The Following User Says Thank You to barefootbay For This Useful Post:
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10-29-2011, 09:01 PM	#5
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	I respectfully submit the following link about CEO pay in the area: http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll...S_01/704059845 The article is from 2009 but it mentions the CEO's pay about three quarters of the way down the page... Anyhow, it comes in at less than half of what you've quoted, I'm afraid. Maybe you have a better source for your information - I'm not saying I don't believe you, just that I don't know where you got your information. Personally, I think CEO pay scale is fodder for a different discussion. Even if it was a million dollars and even if the CEO gave 100% of his pay back, the organization would then be $3million in the hole.