Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward
Ummm.....Pshrynk, does the amount you get paid not affect the treatments you are able to provide? This is not a dig at your personal integrity, but an observation that if "the system" won't pay for an expensive, but in your professional opinion, necessary treatment for your patient, doesn't that limit what you can do for your patient?
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Fortunately for my ability to shave in the morning without major lacerations, I work for a bunch o nuns who pay me for doing my job. I get paid for seeing someone whether they have no insurance, government insurance, or BLue Cross Blue Shield Platinum Wipe Yer Butt For Ya insurance.
When I was in private practice, one of the very difficult decisons facing me was to accept or not accept Medicaid patients. They were, at that time and place, paying about $.07 on the dollar billed. I could not take any non-insured patients unless they paid at time of service. I would give a steep discount for cash over the barrel head, but could not be running a lneding institution as well as office practice.
I eventually left private practice to work for the Sisters, because I was just fed up with the whole shebang. We see anyone who walks in and we send them a bill. If they can't pay, we write it off as charity care. We have the highest percentage of charity care in our catchment area. The Nuns go around prodding rich folks in town to contribute to the Foundation so we can stay in business.
In a more direct answer to your question, in some circumstances, physicians are having to limit the care they can offer to people who cannot pay.
I have not really said it so far, but I am actually an old die-hard National Health supporter. Yeah, it woudl be lousy care at times, but it would be care. Not a popular position, I know.
