Is ‘Obamacare’ the best solution to nation’s medical needs?
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At least one local physician suggests that the medical overhaul known as “Obamacare” is not the best solution to the nation’s medical needs.
“We all realize that changes had to be made but the depth and breadth of Obamacare is truly overpowering and in many instances burdensome,” Mark Tyler wrote in a guest column in Sunday’s Gazette. “It now seems that documentation and recording supersedes good care and excellent outcomes. But we must comply or there is no compensation forthcoming.
“We are asked to do more with less time to perform the tasks,” he continued. “Frustration is a common denominator what with the amount of documentation that has to be asked, answered and recorded. It is more expensive for the practitioner or the health system as more people are needed to help record, monitor and collate each encounter. Compensation now seems to be based on the process and not the outcome — a healthy and satisfied patient.
“Again, we all know and understand that reform was in the best interests of all of us, patient, doctor and payer. But did we need another, larger and intrusive federal bureaucracy?
“I submit that even with all its foibles and shortcomings that we already have a plan in place and we know it does work and it is called Medicaid,” he concludes. “Though it may take some time, I would have suggested that we “enfranchise” the next 8 percent to 10 percent of our population above the parameters that are now the rules for inclusion of Medicaid.”
Read the column linked above for more background. What do you think? Do you think Obamacare is the best solution to the medical needs facing the United States? Or would you favor another plan?
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Anytime I have to report my health insurance coverage on my tax returns, tells me that something isn’t right about this new “tax”.
What specific IRS requirement are you referring to and how is it “. . . tell(ing) me that something isn’t right . . .” ?
As far as EMPLOYER reporting requirements:
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Employer-Provided-Health-Coverage-Informational-Reporting-Requirements:-Questions-and-Answers
Oh Cedric, bless your heart. It’s not an IRS requirement, it’s an ACA regulation. You know gotta enact the law so we know what’s in it.
http://tinyurl.com/bfgqgn2
It’s number 2 on the list. You still need to expand your list of news sources.
Maybe he does need to expand his “list of news sources,” but Newsmax? How about finding a legitimate news source.
So, it’s your contention that particular section isn’t in the law? Is the USA Today a better source?
http://tinyurl.com/afgshl2
LOL (seriously), if one clicks on the link and then clicks on the link to “obamacaretaxform” (3rd paragraph down) which links you to “Americans for Tax Reform” site it shows a form “Form OBAMA”.
Talk about food for the gullible !
The Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. ObamaCare) is not the best solution but it is a significant improvement over the status quo. It’s a step towards the day when no one needs to worry about going bankrupt due to medical needs.
Our current system provides well for the wealthy and adequately for the poor. For the vulnerable middle class it says when you get poor we’ll help you but you need to go bankrupt first and loose virtually everything. With the Affordable Care Act, that fear is gone for the middle class.
” It’s a step towards the day when no one needs to worry about going bankrupt due to medical needs.”
All a person has to do is declare bankruptcy if they incur large medical bills. So, there really is no problem. People just need to be converted over to HSA and use their own $$$ for their healthcare, that way the prices will dictate the coverage.
Going bankrupt is not a trivial matter. It means losing most of your material possessions including your retirement savings. It means poverty for the rest of your life.
If you’ve already spent on your money on a medical bill, what more do you have left? Also, if you own a house you can keep that in IA.
” It means poverty for the rest of your life.”
Ha, that’s a laugh, I’ve had three people who’ve owed me a few thousand dollars declare BK to get out of paying their bills. You have an antiquated view of BK.
” . . . declare bankruptcy . . . there really is no problem.” No problem ? Well even if it’s no problem (losing credit for one problem) for the person declaring it the creditors not getting paid might find it a problem. That likely would include the medical profession which will simply spread the losses to those who pay. But I guess that’s one way to “spread the wealth” following your line of thinking of bankruptcy as a solution to being unable to pay medical bills. But never having filed maybe I have a biased outlook. Perhaps you have and it was “no problem”.
Bankrupcy no problem?
OMG.
I have a friend who was forced to declare bankrupcy when his business failed. He not only had to liqudate his business, he also lost his house, his car, and virtually all of his houshold goods. He moved in with his parents (one of whom is now dead, the other in a nursing home) and fell apart.
He’s fifty eight, looks seventy eight, he’s unable to work and is living on Social Security Disability. His eyesight is failing. He has difficulty walkiing. His mind is gone, short term memory is totally shot. He will never get better.
I have never seen a human being so totally destroyed. To say ”declare bankruptcy . . . there really is no problem.” as Abernathy did is cruel, stupid, and insensitive. I don’t know how else to put it.
” he also lost his house”
He didn’t lose that due to BK in IA you can keep your house. He lost that because he wasn’t paying the mortgage. You know, paying what you agreed to pay.
“as Abernathy did is cruel, stupid, and insensitive”
Please you vote for a man who has let the minority unemployment rate go above 14% and you say I’m “cruel, stupid and insensitive”? I know ridicule is the last resort of a LIB, but c’mon it’s getting old and if you’ve been reading posts on here for a while you know it doesn’t bother me. How’s that Obama phone working out for you.
“living on Social Security Disability”
Good thing I’m paying taxes to take care of him. Why don’t you take him into your house? Charity begins at home. If he’s that much of a peach give him a place to rest his head. C’mon show us how selfless you are to your fellow man, especially since he’s a “friend”.
Thank you, Mr Abernathy, for reafirming what has been said about you.
” That likely would include the medical profession which will simply spread the losses to those who pay.”
Do you hear yourself? You’re in the tank for B0 who’s ACA will decrease what Dr.’s are paid and now you whine about someone declaring BK? Which is it? Are you for stiffing the healthcare profession or being responsible, cause if you’re for the ACA you should have zero problem stiffing a Dr.
http://tinyurl.com/amb7z45
I never even mentioned the AKA (for or against it) but responded to your comment that ” All a person has to do is declare bankruptcy if they incur large medical bills.” ( Did I quote you correctly? ) Is that “personal responsibility” ? Furthermore I mentioned nothing about Dr. compensation. As Hanover said, you are indeed a “piece of work” ? Let’s hear from anyone that doesn’t find you one of the most obnoxious and dislikeable people here.
John I want to thank you for helping confirm my sense of pride in being a progressive, liberal… whatever you’d care to call it. If it is the opposite of your set of life views and values that is what I am, and thankfully a whole lot of others like me. You are a piece of work my man.
Paul, no problem, you’re a LIB dyed in the wool that is an obvious fact. Being an eater like you is easy, but those of us who are makers will get by, we always do. As far as your entitlement high tax mentality. “And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee” Face it what goes around comes around. I’m sorry this whole 1st amendment thing is such a drag giving us Conservatives a way to voice our opinion.
Obama care is only a decent start. But virtually anything is improvement over the horrendous status quo of our national embarrassment we call a health care system.
If it were not for the Republicans we could have just rolled back the age requirement on Medicare 5 0r 10 years at a time and everyone would have been covered in a short time and we know that Medicare works well with little complaints. But no we have to fool around with some patch work foolishness.
We can’t even get some of the mentally challenged republican governors to increase Medicaid that the u. s. government will pay for. Shame on idiocy.
“”We can’t even get some of the mentally challenged republican governors to increase Medicaid that the u. s. government will pay for.”
Dean, You do realize it’s the taxpayers that are on the hook for all this money, right? The US gov’t gets it’s money from the tax payers, no one else.
Abernathy,
The US government gets its money from taxpayers? Gee, I thought our government got its money from kidnapping the leaders of designated enemy tribes and holding them for ransom.
Taxpayers are on the hook for this money regardless. Either people with no money and no insurance show up in emergency rooms and we pay for that, or they throw themselves on the mercy of local charities and we pay for that, or they move in with relatives and we pay for that, or they die.
I have the feeling that you would prefer it if sick people and injured people and old people would just crawl away and die quickly before they cost you any money, but the rest of us decided a long time ago that we don’t want to live in a world like that. And if you don’t like it, we don’t care
No one else. The Government gets it money by selling bonds to the Federal Reserve and no one else. Where do you think you get the money to pay taxes, from the tooth fairy? Articale one Section 8 u. s. Constitution. Congress shall have power to coin money and regulate its value.