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Not all doctors agree with AMA support of bill
Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 | 2:02 a.m.
I have practiced medicine in Las Vegas since 1972, and I believe the American Medical Association’s support of the current Democratic health care legislation in Congress is outrageous. I have, therefore, canceled my membership to the AMA after having been a member for 29 years.
At present only 17 percent to 19 percent of physicians belong to the AMA. At no time have either I or any other members of the AMA to my knowledge been polled regarding our position or thoughts on this important legislation.
Thus the implication that the AMA represents anyone, let alone the majority of physicians, is really a fraud. Frankly, this bill is a disaster for our senior citizens, which should be a matter of great concern to those who rely on Medicare for their health care.
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As the H.R. 3962 vote count hit the 218 needed to secure passage, Democrats erupted in whoops, hollers, cheers and high-fives. They turned to hug and kiss each other and then shouted out a countdown of the last 10 seconds before the vote closed.
On 11-7-2009, in a midnight vote, the Nancy Pelosi House passed her 2% solution. After a dramatic visit by President Obama (to "answer the call of history") and the Stupak Pro-life amendment voted 220-215 to pass Health Insurance reform Nancy has a Health Insurance bill with a public option that will only cover 2% of the people and it costs just 1.2 trillion dollars.
The buying of Democratic votes had to go right down to the wire. Even with the Pro-life amendment bring over 64 votes, Democrats still had 39 defections; a switch of just 2 more congressmen would have lost it. The House also defeated the Republicans' plan (H.R. 3962 - Boehner Substitute Amendment), which was a more common-sense and fiscally responsible approach.
The Stupak Pro-life amendment brings us back to Obama's address to the American Nation from the "Halls of Congress" felt he was right to ridicule and call my opposition to the abortion position "a lie, plain and simple.
The fact that Obama and the Democrats finally had to capitulate and put a pro-life amendment into the Health Insurance bill show we were telling the truth. Obama implored critics to stop "phony claims" but Obama failed to debunk in his words the "more outrageous myths" of the healthcare proposals
Now people may believe Joe Wilson when he stood up and yelled "you lie". This bill has a provision to allow over 2 million illegals to get health care. The problem is,is that there will be more than 2 million.
I've been a democrat for 40 years. I will now change my party. The dems' don't deserve the dirt off my boots. I give thanks to the repub's and the handful of Dem's for trying.
you know what every single licensed physician in the great state of nevada should be doing???
they should be screaming at the top of their lungs at the pathetic performance of and culture at the nevada state board of medical examiners!!!
you know what the ama should do???
they should condemn the nevada state board of medical examiners as totally and completely incompetent!!!
that would do more to elevate the quality of medical care the citizens of the great state of nevada receive than anything else could possibly do...
for seniors and non-seniors alike...
period...
end of story...
I understand that over forty percent of America's doctors are considering leaving the practice if this monstrocity passes. Wouldn't that be too bad for the idiot in charge, Obama. I wonder if he will issue an executive order and force them to return to work.
The American Medical Association (AMA) was facing a 21 percent cut in physicians' reimbursements under the current law. Obama promised to kill the cut if they backed his bill. The cuts are the fruit of a law requiring annual 5-6 percent reductions in doctor reimbursements for treating Medicare patients. Bravely, each year Congress has rolled the cuts over, suspending them but not repealing them. So each year, the accumulated cuts threaten doctors. By now, they have risen to 21 percent. With this blackmail leverage, Obama compelled the AMA to support his bill...or else!
40% of doctors are considering leaving the practice of medicine if health care reform passes...
hee hee hee...
hoo hoo hoo...
haa haa haa...
isn't it funny how those who are part of the problem always scream the loudest when change is near...
what a joke...
good riddance...
the herd needs thinning anyway...
too many bad doctors who do it solely for the money...
period...
end of story...
and goodness knows the medical board doesn't protect the citizens of the great state of nevada...
The lazy bums that will live off the free health care that everyone else will pay for should be forced to work or should be left to rot. Thats the herd that needs to be thin-out BIRD!
Birdie, the medical board wasn't designed to protect health care consumers. It was designed to protect doctors and fund the government by having doctors pay large fees. This is just one of MANY reasons why we need less government, not more.
And then there's the AARP...
The AARP got a financial windfall in return for its support of the healthcare bill. Over the past decade, the AARP has morphed from an advocacy group to an insurance company. It is one of the main suppliers of Medi-gap insurance, a high-cost, privately purchased coverage that picks up where Medicare leaves off. But President Bush-43 passed the Medicare Advantage program, which offered a subsidized, lower-cost alternative to Medi-gap. Under Medicare Advantage, the elderly get all the extra coverage they need plus coordinated, well-managed care, usually by the same physician. So more than 10 million seniors went with Medicare Advantage, cutting into AARP Medi-gap revenues.
Why do you think AARP has been advertising their Medi-gap so much???
Dr. Kantor: Bully!
Dingo: WTF does this have to do with Vietnam? You sound like Walter Sobchak in "The Big Lebowski." Either put down the crack pipe orr stick to a subject you know, you friend and confidant Neal Bush.
Question of the Day: Is Obama an idiot or simply a fool?
jib01 said:
"I understand that over forty percent of America's doctors are considering leaving the practice if this monstrocity passes. "
Larry said:
"The American Medical Association (AMA) was facing a 21 percent cut in physicians' reimbursements under the current law. Obama promised to kill the cut if they backed his bill."
Where do you people come up with this stuff?
hey patrick...
do we actually agree on something...
that the medical board protects its' own and not the citizens of the great state of nevada...
stop the presses!!!
Congress in 2003 passed a one-year spending patch to fix the problem; six fixes later, that "temporary" solution has become an annual, bipartisan affair that hasn't solved the fundamental problem. So now, unless Congress acts, doctors are looking at a wage cut of 21% next year and 40% the year after.
ThisOneGuy can come up with this same stuff by looking it up. No big secret.
ThisOneGuy said...
"Where do you people come up with this stuff?"
It's called FOX NEWS and nut case right-wing radio!
ThisOneGuy-One of the major polling organizations, Investor Business Daily/TIPP sent out 1376 questionaires on August 28, 2009. One of the questions asked if the doctors would consider giveing up medicine if the national health care bill would pass. Forty one percent said they were seriously considering it. Sixty five percent said they opposed national health care as has been proposed.
That is exactly where I got this stuff! I would give Investors Business Daily more credibility than most news organizations, especially more than the N.Y. Slimes.
I would trust the drug companies more than I would the lying idiot Obamba, Botox queen Pelosee, and Whorehouse Harry Reid. There are bottom feeders and there is slime underneath that which is where you find those three.
I worked in the medical field for 36 years. So I feel I do know a few facts. I was a member of the AARP for several years not anymore they have become a joke, as for the AMA they are a bigger joke. Seems most think they know alot about this new so call health bill. If it goes through help us all Insured and Uninsured. This will distroy medicine in the United States.
Well, one good thing came from the congressional vote on Saturday! A lot of Dems will be looking for jobs after November 2010. But I also heard Obama will have a new Czar position open around that time. The who can kiss my (Obama) A$$ the best czar. Come to think of it, a lot of Senators will be applying for that job in 2010 as well! (Harry Reid)
"40% of doctors are considering leaving the practice of medicine if health care reform passes...
hee hee hee...
hoo hoo hoo...
haa haa haa...
isn't it funny how those who are part of the problem always scream the loudest when change is near...
what a joke...
good riddance...
the herd needs thinning anyway...
too many bad doctors who do it solely for the money...
period...
end of story...
and goodness knows the medical board doesn't protect the citizens of the great state of nevada..."
I agree completely! I have lived in several countries and in my opinion Australia has one of the best systems. I have spoken to many Doctors there and they are sent through college for free to serve their country. They have no school loans to pay back so they don't have to charge so much to their patients. And all the ones that I have spoken to feel a sense of duty just like out soldiers do...
No Wolfy...
It's called TIME Magazine: Latest Threat to Health Reform: Docs' Reimbursement
By Jay Newton-Small / Washington Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009.
and...
NPR and Kaiser Health ran a story today which talked about the long term issues of the 'Doctor Fix' bill.
and there's more if you care to look...
Interesting that a physician who made his millions on the back's of tax payors (Dr. K is a nephrologist) by virtue of supplying services to chronic kidney failure patients who are consistantly covered by medicare; would be up in arms about the the government extending ins. coverage. He really puts the "Hypocrite" into the Hippocratic oath.
It's interesting that when people think they are getting something for free, that makes them satisfied with the product they are receiving. They become satisfied with the status quo and lack the fortitude to expand beyond getting something for "free."
Many Canadians are happy with their free health coverage until they have a major illness. Those who had major illnesses are less satisfied with the service that they have received. Many Canadians who can afford it will seek medical treatment in the U.S.
Angry,
No one is saying medicine is going to disappear in the US. But when doctors disappear cause they are making less than guys flipping burgers at McDonalds and the well oiled machine (total sarcasm) of Congress is in control of your healthcare, being able to get access to it will disappear. You think waiting a couple hours to get seen at your current doctor when you have an appointment is long? Wait till you can't get in at all, or even better, not get to see your doctor of choice at all. That is what will happen if the healthcare reform gets past the senate.
realitycheck....the biggest hurdle we have in our healthcare system is our current legal system and serious need for tort reform. until that happens, we will continue to lose good physicians, and pay higher costs....as the insurers will just raise their rates to cover any litigation related costs.
I know that from working more than 20 years in the healthcare and insurance industry (both provider side and payor side).
Also, if you really think that have Gov't intervention/control in healthcare delivery/financing is good, then just look at the mess that both Medicare and the VA are in.
Need I say more?
Sergio: Let's also abolish the "Do Nothing" Department of Energy and put that agency's budget into a fund to pay for medical care for the saggers, taggers, indolent, Leftists, illegal aliens, obese, and drug addicts. Did I leave any special entitlement groups out?
Phargo, I hope you never need a Doctor. With your thinking I think you would just be SOL
Canada is a nation of lazy social parasites. If Iceland attacked them Canada would lose. I don't understand how people can give away all their freedom so they can get something they think is free. Stupid Stupid people.
Angry: At least we now know what has caused your angst. Are you gearing up to be a three-time loser?
Dr. Kantor, like many more doctors are giving us their opinion about something of which they are experts. I appreciate the information, and also agree. We can argue until doomsday but you can't get around the fact that we cannot afford $1.2 trillion dollars to cover 2% of the population. There has to be an answer, this simply isn't it.
I disagree Sergio. I lived in Canada and it's not as bad as it's portrayed. They don't have to worry about "paying the next bill".
What good is having the best car in the market when you can't even buy it? Inevitably, there are more than 40 million people who can't afford health.
Canadians are not upset with their system, I lived closed to Canada and they were happy with their system, their most notable and famous person (To them) is the man who designed their health care system. That's bull you heard from FOX news, you so called the
one who knows the truth".
Why is America ranked 30+?
We do have the best doctors and facilities, but it doesn't matter when your people can't afford it.
Frenchie: you are where you belong. What BS, "I lived close to Canada." Hello! They come here for their acute care if they can afford it. Obamacare is all about redistributing income and "levelling" society so that he can ascend to Heaven (which doesn't exist) when he's finished on earth. The Man is delusional in his aspirations.
After more than a decade of public healthcare with mandatory coverage, so many Canadian doctors have left the practice and so many young people have entered other fields that Canada ranks 26th of 28 developed nations in its ratio of physicians to population. Once, Canada ranked among the leaders in the number of physicians, but that was before government healthcare drove doctors out of the practice in droves.
In Canada, there is an eight-month wait for colonoscopies, Because of these long waits for colonoscopies, there is now a 25 percent higher incidence of colon cancer in Canada than in the United States. And because the leading drugs that we routinely use to treat the malady in the U.S. are banned in Canada because of their high cost, 41 percent of Canadians who get the cancer die of it, compared with only 32 percent in the United States.
Overall, the cancer death rate in Canada runs 16 percent higher than in the United States.
From HR 3962: Americans who do not maintain "acceptable health insurance coverage" and who choose not to pay the bill's new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.
Yes, now that I think about it, I'm sure I read in the Constitution that it's permissive to punish people who refuse to buy health insurance.
These liberals are simply over-zealous morons who refuse to see the consequences of what they promote. Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dodd, Rangle, etc all belong in prison.
LarryVegas:
I have many friends in Canada and not one of
them ever complained about their health care.
A friend just had wrist surgery and waited only one week.
So many untrue stories are spun here.
Something tells me that I don't want AngryReader involved in anyway if I got one of them there colonoscopies...
Enough aboot Canada, who cares, as long as they keep crossing the border and paying our doctors for simple care let them. It helps keep out doctors in business.
The best quote about healthcare I've heard is, "If the US goes to socialized medicine, where will all the Canadians and Cubans go for their health care?" A funny quote yes, but also a scary truth.
The other thing the left doesn't realize is that this bill will cause doctors to quit practicing. If they are reimbursed at less than or at medicare rates, they will not be able to stay in business. Yes, we will have almost, not all, insured, but what good is it if all those have to wait 6-10 months to get in the door for a bad cold or flu. Is this fear mongering? Not when it's the truth. Why is the left so afraid of the truth?
Health care is a self right, not a constitutional right. Unless, I have misread it, I don't see where it states, "this congress makes tax payer paid healthcare a right to all who live here."
If I am wrong please correct me.
all of you E-thugs FAIL.
sadly, this is not a discussion...but a bunch of children ranting.
LSinLV is correct about the need for tort reform in our medical system.
Without meaningful tort reform there will not be meaningful health care reform...
Typical daily trolls babbling nonsense. They don't have one brain cell amongst them. Libs this, Canadians that, everyone's an idiot, blah, blah, blah. You're correct, LSinLV, just a bunch of ranting and not an iota of truth amongst any of them. Welcome to the daily LVSun forum.
Hey moogie baby... If we are babbling trolls, does that make you a troll want-a-be? But don't worry about us babbling trolls. We will make it through the day and will be back tomorrow.
Get a life, and a brain, LarryVegas. You're here every day with the rest of the goon squad screwing up any discussion, about EVERYTHING! Seriously, you really need to grow up and get a job. Your mom would appreciate it.
Thanks for the advice there moogie...
Per you advice, I would like to grow up and get a job and I know my mom would appreciate it. But, I am grown up, retired and my mother is dead...
So moogie, go somewhere else and find someone else to patronize...
It's fantastic to hear Dr. Kantor, an Internist, weigh in as he should on healthcare reform legislation. Southern Nevada has a shortage of Internists, I know I could not find one in ALL of 2004 and EARLY 2005 to schedule me at MGM Mirage reimbursement rates when I need a diagnosis and referrals.
The next time anyone in Clark County needs an Internist and others are closed practices, or cannot schedule patients in a reasonable time window due to high demand, everyone can contact the offices of Dr. Kantor to count on a timely consult, timely referrals (to doctors other than Desai and a couple of other unmentionables in the Nevada Medicine Money Trough).
No matter, Dr. Kantor practices medicine and his views deserve the same attention as all the other leading physicians in the country who DO support healthcare reform.
Here are Dr. Kantor's political contributions for fiscal tax year 2008:
$500 - National Republican Trust PAC
$1300- McCain-Palin Victory 2008 (good one here)
$2300- McCain-Palin Compliance Fund Inc (lawsuits)
$1300- John McCain 2008 Inc
$1000- John MCain
Healthcare reform is about pushing the green more to PCPs struggling to survive financially, know their patient, and preventative front line care. It is also about empowering healthcare providers, certainly teaching and research hospitals.
For those who believe the government cannot afford the cost of healthcare reform, check your numbers on tax benefits for corporations providing self-funded healthcare plans to employees, with minimal protections of Erisa law. Those government subsidies are in the trillions. The government is already footing a big bill, the problem is unacceptable rising costs, access (hello CC Internists full up) and bad behaviors by Big Insurance and some corporations entrusted with stewardship to do the right thing for everyone.
US medicine, unless you quote from Heritage Foundation number crunching-research, is about 34th in the world in overall quality of care.
THIRTY FOURTH!
We have been fighting two wars with considerable attrition for several years, and our care is, one more time, THIRTY FOURTH.
Within country Number Thirty Four, Nevada is ranked just about dead last among that country's fifty states. So, Nevadans can decide person to person how they wish to vote, who they wish to represent them and in what manner and skills level, and whether they support Congressional action, which will pass soon, in 2010.
Healthcare reform in 2009 is a work in progress, a complicated beginning point that will be revisited for improvement in future Congresses as outcomes and numbers become available.
So, we'll see. At this point the majority of medical experts and math number crunchers are on the side of reform, not status quo.
Which is desirable, with over 600,000 Americans in the know and with the means traveling abroad for healthcare this year, and sans changes, from eight to nine million expected to go abroad because of COST-ACCESS within five years.
Actions, not emotions, speak for themselves.
RE: Larry Las Vegas
You personalized a couple of comments recently in rebuttal to my posting. Therefore, without "personalizing", I will gladly, ONE TIME, respond to one of your many posts above.
The healthcare reform in Congress will substantially reduce doughnut hole costs for those on Medicare and making the Pharmacy election. President Obama, Rahm Emanuel and others are to be thanked much for their work with Big Pharmacy.
It's a big, big secret out there, but other than the US Chamber of Commerce, Big Business in America is supporting healthcare reform. They need help with rising costs, too little competition (see McCarren Anti-trust exemption which hopefully Senator Reid can revoke with a Senate amendment and complicated contract plans they have to figure out or pay others to.
It's not just families deeply concerned about being shut out from affordable healthcare.
As for small businesses, you know, the ones the Republican Party has been talking up for years, they already cannot afford healthcare for owners and employees throug the business, as their group rates are much, much higher than corporate rates for large workforces.
WHERE HAVE THE REPUBLICANS AND BUSH 43 BEEN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS ON RISING HEALTHCARE COSTS for FAMILIES, CORPORATIONS AND SMALL BUSINESS?
Well, Bush and Republicans pushed through the Tax Recovery Act in 2003, using the RECONCILIATION PROCESS, a killer estate tax (see nursing home reimbursements paid from estates upon death sans living trust) for middle class Americans to pay for two wars. Trillions in middle and lower class equity targeted there.
Well, Bush 43 rewarded Big Pharma mighty big, tacking them onto the national debt, no accountability in how to pay for them in accrued real time.
Let's move on in America with the right changes, before China, India, France (almost up to our GDP now) move ahead without us.
Gregory:I wonder how much of your drivel ended up on your chin. Bush was a fool but Obama and his puppet-master Emanuel certainly aren't the Marvel Super Heroes you would have us believe. They shouldn't unpact too much of their trash because the fiscally responsible citizens of this country will send them packing in within three years.
Gee Gregory, sorry to see you spent so much of your time writing such a long post about George Bush...