Oklahoma Doctors (Libertarian) vs. Obamacare

[4est_4est_Gump]

Three years ago, Dr. Keith Smith, co-founder and managing partner of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, took an initiative that would only be considered radical in the health care industry: He posted online a list of prices for 112 common surgical procedures. The 51-year-old Smith, a self-described libertarian, and his business partner, Dr. Steve Lantier, founded the Surgery Center 15 years ago, after they became disillusioned with the way patients were treated at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, where the two men worked as anesthesiologists. In 1997, Smith and Lantier bought the shell of a former surgical center with the aim of creating a for-profit facility that could deliver first-rate care at a fraction of what traditional hospitals charge.

The major cause of exploding U.S. heath care costs is the third-party payer system, a text-book concept in which A buys goods or services from B that are paid for by C. Because private insurance companies or the government generally pick up most of the tab for medical services, patients don’t have the normal incentive to seek out value.

The Surgery Center’s consumer-driven model could become increasingly common as Americans look for alternatives to the traditional health care market—an unintended consequence of Obamacare. Patients may have no choice but to look outside the traditional health care industry in the face of higher costs and reduced access to doctors and hospitals.

...

Except for the clerical staff, every employee at the Surgery Center is directly involved in patient care. For example, both human resources and building maintenance are the responsibility of the head nurse. "One reason our prices are so low," says Smith, "is that we don't have administrators running around in their four or five thousand dollar suits."

In 2010, the top 18 administrative employees at Integris Health received an average of $413,000 in compensation, according to the not-for-profits' 990 tax form. There are no administrative employees at the Surgery Center.

Because bills charged by Integris are paid primarily by insurance companies or the government, the hospital gets away with gouging for its services. Reason obtained a bill for a procedure that Dr. Sigmon performed at Integris in October 2010 called a “complex bilateral sinus procedure,” which helps patients with chronic nasal infections. The bill, which is strictly for the hospital itself and doesn't include Sigmon's or the anesthesiologist's fees, totaled $33,505. When Sigmon performs the same procedure at the Surgery Center, the all-inclusive price is $5,885.

The Integris bill for the same nasal procedure went to Blue Cross of Oklahoma, so the patient had no compelling reason to question its outrageous markups. They included a $360 charge for a steroid called dexamethasone, which can be purchased wholesale for just 75 cents. Or the three charges totaling $630 for a painkiller called fentanyl citrate, which all together cost the hospital about $1.50.

A lot more at: http://reason.com/reasontv/2012/11/15/the-obamacare-revolt-oklahoma-doctors-fi

 

[RobDownSouth]

Consumer-driven pricing models are swell. Just swell.

Hey AJ, when your "daughter"'s appendix went south last year, how much time did you spend price-shopping various surgeons? Hmmmm?

System sorta falls apart when life-threatening stuff is involved, doesn't it? Even for free-marked-uber-alles Glibertarians like you.

If it makes you feel better, I had surgery earlier this year and had the luxury of price shopping. Saved eleven thousand dollars!

 

[unregistered]

 

[RobDownSouth]

You and Obama are going to bring it all down.

Und from zee ashes rises single-payer, as its most fitting successor!

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

You and Obama are going to bring it all down.

Why do you not come to your senses and put the cretin on ignore...

 

[Sean]

Funny how our "socialist, bloated bureaucracy system" provides universal coverage at half the price of the US and has better health care figures.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Why do you not come to your senses and put the cretin on ignore...

Because not everyone thinks like you do, a fact that we should thank God every day for.

 

[unregistered]

 

[miles]

Where everyone is covered but nobody get's to see a real doctor.

Pork Chop saved 11K because he didn't have the surgery.

 

[Sean]

Where everyone is covered but nobody get's to see a real doctor.

I've never had a problem seeing a doctor the same day. Ever.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Pork Chop saved 11K because he didn't have the surgery.

You've snooped in my photobucket account (and posted pictures here to prove it) so you've seen pictures of my scars.

 

[unregistered]

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

You don't have 320,000,000 people covered either. Apparently when it get's crowded in your system you just kill off a few hundred thousand to make room:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-000-elderly-patients-year.html#ixzz1yK7gbr7D

I do not think there is ever a problem when you are young (and your maladies inconsequential) and needed as part of the tax base.

 

[Sean]

You don't have 320,000,000 people covered either. Apparently when it get's crowded in your system you just kill off a few hundred thousand to make room:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-000-elderly-patients-year.html#ixzz1yK7gbr7D

It's the Daily Mail. Therefore it's undoubtedly a lie. When will you ever learn?

 

[RobDownSouth]

You don't have 320,000,000 people covered either. Apparently when it get's crowded in your system you just kill off a few hundred thousand to make room:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-000-elderly-patients-year.html#ixzz1yK7gbr7D

If it makes you feel any better, I've already volunteered to serve on your Death Panel. I promise to make your passing quick and painless.

 

[Sean]

It's the Daily Mail. Therefore it's undoubtedly a lie. When will you ever learn?

Yeah, as I thought:
http://www.cmfblog.org.uk/2012/06/2...ients-a-year-with-the-liverpool-care-pathway/

 

[garbage can]

It's the Daily Mail. Therefore it's undoubtedly a lie. When will you ever learn?

Of course, all opposing opinions are lies.

 

[Liar]

Of course, all opposing opinions are lies.

Did you miss the post where he showed it was a lie?

 

[Sean]

Did you miss the post where he showed it was a lie?

I keep telling them, get your information from the Mail and you're going to look like a fucking idiot.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Of course, all opposing opinions are lies.

He backed up his claim with a link containing facts that support his position.

I believe you owe him an apology.

 

[mercury14]

He backed up his claim with a link containing facts that support his position.

I believe you owe him an apology.

No apology needed. Garbage has made it clear long in advance that his point of view will not be impacted by things like facts or fact checking.

 

[Liar]

I'm just fascinated, is all.

Like this hogwash.

Where everyone is covered but nobody get's to see a real doctor.

...that he must know is hogwash. Right?

...Right?

 

[Sean]

I'm just fascinated, is all.

Like this hogwash.

...that he must know is hogwash. Right?

...Right?

He's been so brainwashed by the corporations that have an interest in keeping the status quo in the US that he'll believe anything.

 

[neci]

Where everyone is covered but nobody get's to see a real doctor.

i don't see a real dr.

I've never had a problem seeing a doctor the same day. Ever.

tried getting the munchkin - 2yrs old - into the dr when she was sick once. called at 8am. they were booked all day. i was told to go to the er. cash paying patient. $70 vs a couple of thousand easily for an upper respiratory infection. USA!

 

[Sean]

tried getting the munchkin - 2yrs old - into the dr when she was sick once. called at 8am. they were booked all day. i was told to go to the er. cash paying patient. $70 vs a couple of thousand easily for an upper respiratory infection. USA!

I've had five years experience with US healthcare and a small child. Luckily I had a decent managerial job with comprehensive benefits and I'd still take the NHS any day of the week.