Pay Attention!

I have been away for six months, watching, waiting, digesting and paying attention to the current situation in Washington D.C. I know many people wanted change, but as I look at the change in the works; I now need a change of underwear. More in a moment.

I have worked in the health care industry, on the hospital side, for almost 25 years. Those years have been spent doing insurance verification, insurance billing, patient registration and consulting on all of these. Some say that it is not the best health care system but I say if it is not the best it is a very close second to whatever is first.

Most of my years in health care have been spent in states bordering Canada and I have payed attention. I have seen Canadian patients come to America for care, because they had to wait 4 months just to see a Dr. and another 6 months if they need to see a specialist, and months more if they need any special diagnostic tests. and in some cases that wait would have guaranteed their deaths. You see the government is paying the bills so they naturally scrutinise all care; they have to in order to control costs, and anyone who says differently is being less then honest with you.

Are you paying attention?

Ask the Canadians if they like their health care most likely the population under 50 loves it, but that segment over 50 has reservations, why? It is because they are like me; approaching that time in life were doctor visits are more frequent and the care needed is more aggressive. You better believe there is some government "bean counter" calculating their life expectancy to determine if the care is "cost effective." And, maybe, just maybe a pill would do rather then intensive care. Now where did I hear that statement? Oh, yes. President Obama said that this past summer. I payed attention. I watched him say it and I heard those very words.

Are you paying attention?

If national health care becomes law your life will be in the hands of a government "bean counter". Oh, and you doctors and nurses out there...do you like your current paycheck? Well guess who's coming to the bargaining table?...yep, that same "bean counter". We will see less care, less pay and less doctors and nurses. There is no other way to control costs. And that will trickle down to all involved in health care.

Now, let's add in the estimated 45 million newly insured patients to an already overworked medical system and how fast do you think you will be seen at your doctor's office? Those 45 million new patients will be in the system almost over night. It takes a med-student 8 years to complete education and training. Run the mumbers, the over all wait just got 45 million times longer.

President Obama said... "We will control cost by cutting waste and fraud." Now pay attention. The government has been trying to do that since Medicare became law over 40 years ago with little success. If they could have done it they would have. Vice President Biden said, and here again please pay attention, the VP said that with the $700 billion dollar bail out there was 10% fraud and waste! Are you paying attention? Now do the math. That is $70 billion dollars!! And he blew it off saying...that is just the way it is. If that is our governments definition of cutting fraud and waste we are way beyond serious trouble.

So pay attention, don't believe everything the politicians are saying, pay attention to what they are not saying, pay attention to the world around you. Put down your cell phones, put down your game controller, change the channel from "reality TV" to real TV. Watch the news, all the networks, read the news paper and above all PAY ATTENTION. You health and maybe your life depends on it. For what it's worth.