• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Martin Skreli blames doctors pay for increasing healthcare costs

The Sauce

The Sauce

Diamond Member
Holy crap! Just watched an interview on Bloomberg with scumbag Shkreli who, after wrecking his company and being charged with securities fraud, blames doctor pay for increasing costs rather than pharmaceutical price increases like his HIV drug. Completely ignorant to the nationwide physician shortage due to flat and/or decreasing physician pay and related widespread practice closures. Egads how has this guy not been shut down yet?
 
Plenty of blame to go around for high costs, greed knows no bounds. The physician shortage is a result of artificially limited med school seats.
 
Homerboy said:
No doubt! My healthcare costs were in a steady decline until stupid OBozo took office and forced everyone to have health care.
Click to expand...
Many don't see the full costs because their employer picks it up or they might get subsidies. Mine weren't in decline before but since 2011, my premiums have gone up $6800/yr. (225%) Looks like I need to bump up my usury rates a little.
 
highland145 said:
Many don't see the full costs because their employer picks it up or they might get subsidies. Mine weren't in decline before but since 2011, my premiums have gone up $6800/yr. (225%) Looks like I need to bump up my usury rates a little.
Click to expand...

I think you missed my /sarcasm.

In all honesty, even with the ACA my rates have gone up only marginally (actually the same, if not less than prior). My employer has been very good at doing everything they can to keep rates tolerable. That being said, I don't have issues with the ACA. It could certainly be better, but I'm all for ALL Americans having healthcare.
 
Homerboy said:
I think you missed my /sarcasm.

In all honesty, even with the ACA my rates have gone up only marginally (actually the same, if not less than prior). My employer has been very good at doing everything they can to keep rates tolerable. That being said, I don't have issues with the ACA. It could certainly be better, but I'm all for ALL Americans having healthcare.
Click to expand...
I didn't miss it but couldn't pass up bitching about the ass reaming I'm getting.
 
IronWing said:
Plenty of blame to go around for high costs, greed knows no bounds. The physician shortage is a result of artificially limited med school seats.
Click to expand...
QFT

I guess we're fortunate here. Haven't heard of or experienced a shortage problem. Except dermatologists but that was the case prior to the aca.
 
Homerboy said:
Colonoscopy? that should be covered by your insurance.
Click to expand...
lol yes and just had that done 2 weeks ago. The wife's was yesterday. After they took her back, I had to call some friends and tell them that she was taking it up the butt.😀

One of my costs this year...had a ct scan after the pneumonia. The imaging center (aka local hospital) billed me $3300. Asked if there was a contract rate adjustment. Nope. Asked if there was a one time cash payment. Yep, $3300. Obviously this is unrelated to the aca but shit mushrooms...$3300?
 
highland145 said:
lol yes and just had that done 2 weeks ago. The wife's was yesterday. After they took her back, I had to call some friends and tell them that she was taking it up the butt.😀

One of my costs this year...had a ct scan after the pneumonia. The imaging center (aka local hospital) billed me $3300. Asked if there was a contract rate adjustment. Nope. Asked if there was a one time cash payment. Yep, $3300. Obviously this is unrelated to the aca but shit mushrooms...$3300?
Click to expand...

Usually you can (and should) shop around for a CT and similar "diagnostic" type things. We have UHC coverage and we have a sort of "concierge" that we can call or email and they help navigate the bullshit and hurdles that everyone seems to put into place
 
highland145 said:
Many don't see the full costs because their employer picks it up or they might get subsidies. Mine weren't in decline before but since 2011, my premiums have gone up $6800/yr. (225%) Looks like I need to bump up my usury rates a little.
Click to expand...

Is that your individual, or is that the whole family? My dad is paying ~$7k for individual coverage since my mom is on medicare.

I just checked my pay stub, and I only contribute $1,500 for my own coverage. It doesn't actually seem to pay for anything though, since my deductible is thousands of dollars. It pisses me off that you can't get a price upfront and shop around for procedures and treatment. If there's one thing the ACA should have done, it's mandated that healthcare providers publish their fee schedule. I bet that would help a lot with the bullshit prices.
 
Homerboy said:
Usually you can (and should) shop around for a CT and similar "diagnostic" type things. We have UHC coverage and we have a sort of "concierge" that we can call or email and they help navigate the bullshit and hurdles that everyone seems to put into place
Click to expand...

Great timing... maybe I should check to see if we have a similar service. Nothing bothers me more than going in for non-emergency care and the price is a huge secret until you get the bill. I've had a stye in my eye for like two years now, love to get it taken out.
 
Homerboy said:
Usually you can (and should) shop around for a CT and similar "diagnostic" type things. We have UHC coverage and we have a sort of "concierge" that we can call or email and they help navigate the bullshit and hurdles that everyone seems to put into place
Click to expand...
Good advice. The local hospital is the only game in town but there are several places across the river. And I didn't even think about them sticking it to me. Idiot. Just had an MRI done at my orthopedics and the bill for that was $2100...$1200 less than the ct? WTH?
 
Blackjack200 said:
Is that your individual, or is that the whole family? My dad is paying ~$7k for individual coverage since my mom is on medicare.

I just checked my pay stub, and I only contribute $1,500 for my own coverage. It doesn't actually seem to pay for anything though, since my deductible is thousands of dollars. It pisses me off that you can't get a price upfront and shop around for procedures and treatment. If there's one thing the ACA should have done, it's mandated that healthcare providers publish their fee schedule. I bet that would help a lot with the bullshit prices.
Click to expand...
Me, the wife and a 15 y.o. $822/mo $10K deductible for 2017. I can keep the UHC for 1 more year. Under the ACA, it would be $1400/mo with a $12.7K deductible. BC/BS is the only policy writer left in the state. My agent said it would be $2K/mo if I was 60 y.o.

We have joined medi-share, $489/mo, $5K "deductible" so I'll be dropping UHC soon. After reading a lot about them, I'm still not sure what I'm getting. Hopefully, I won't need to find out.
 
Blackjack200 said:
Great timing... maybe I should check to see if we have a similar service. Nothing bothers me more than going in for non-emergency care and the price is a huge secret until you get the bill. I've had a stye in my eye for like two years now, love to get it taken out.
Click to expand...

highland145 said:
Good advice. The local hospital is the only game in town but there are several places across the river. And I didn't even think about them sticking it to me. Idiot. Just had an MRI done at my orthopedics and the bill for that was $2100...$1200 less than the ct? WTH?
Click to expand...

They even introduced a thing online this year where you can pull up a map of locations around you that do the services and how much it costs at each location (approximations of course). Haven't tried it yet, but certainly will peek at it. The more and more we use the services and website that our provider actually provides, I'm more and more impressed with what is provided. It's sad that it takes all this "work" to get healthcare at an affordable pricetag, but it's just the way it is and is going to be.
 
Hospitals, meds, defensive medicine, and malpractice are probably the biggest drivers of cost of healthcare. Insurance is just a method of payment.
 
He's kinda right but its very complicated

http://www.managedcaremag.com/archives/2007/12/how-doctors-are-paid-now-and-why-it-has-change
http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/27/pf/jobs/doctors-pay/
https://journal.practicelink.com/vital-stats/physician-compensation-worldwide/

http://www.pnhp.org/single_payer_resources/health_care_systems_four_basic_models.php
http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/05/28/are-u-s-doctors-paid-too-much/#3c00cd473e5c
http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centre/press_release/en/
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/how-much-do-doctors-in-other-countries-make/?_r=0


Also add me to the list of people who have watched health care cost climb at a steady rate for 20+ years.
At the very least, in NY with Aetna, 16+ years of steady increases.

I've gotten talking points provided by management explaining the increases on occasion.
Each year its tweaked a little
"Younger people requiring chronic illness care"
"Uptick in knee replacements"
"Their was the 3 year streak of "Fat people....all the damn fat people"
"Your premiums increasing but your choices are expanding !!!"
 
momeNt said:
Yes, but it is driven by a market necessity, large medical bills bankrupt people. They are buying risk and deserve that margin, do they not?
Click to expand...
Well, in a universe where single-payer universal doesn't exist, sure. But it does.

My point is just that you can't say things like "Insurance is just a form of payment" when it is demonstrably false and misleading.
 
cbrunny said:
Well, in a universe where single-payer universal doesn't exist, sure. But it does.

My point is just that you can't say things like "Insurance is just a form of payment" when it is demonstrably false and misleading.
Click to expand...

It's about the same as a credit card. That's not really that misleading or false. You are paying for something for which you cannot afford.

Also, do you not think that single-payer will have its own administrative costs? It will cost more than cash, but still really a method of payment all the same.
 
momeNt said:
It's about the same as a credit card. That's not really that misleading or false. You are paying for something for which you cannot afford.

Also, do you not think that single-payer will have its own administrative costs? It will cost more than cash, but still really a method of payment all the same.
Click to expand...
Single payer universal has costs. Sure. It is also objectively superior to a profit driven system. That's why just about every country other than the USA uses it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top