Democrat's Platform

Here’s the thing. Medicare/Medicaid has always reimbursed much lower than all other payers and always will. There will always be doctors who take Medicare and Medicaid patients. Always.

 

That’s great. I’m sure a lot depends on the size of the town and average age of the population.
I’m a bit shocked people aren’t aware of this, but here’s a little info to get you up to speed.

https://www.hlc.org/news/more-physicians-no-longer-seeing-medicare-patients/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704454304575081852533567496

Glad your family was one of the lucky ones.

 

My in-laws had no problem getting doctors when they moved to Virginia and then again when they moved to North Carolina.

 

Well, your anecdotal evidence trumps my anecdotal evidence backed by CMMS and chief executives from the healthcare industry. Good to know there isn’t a problem.

 

Do much accounting? Other than tariffs the federal government (that's the one with the deficit) collects virtually no taxes on goods and services sold.

 

Just saying I know plenty of people who have no issue getting Medicare doctor. Sorry that bothers you...

 

No I’m happy that’s the case. I wish it was for everyone. The fact it isn’t concerns me in relation to the calls for Medicare for all.

 

Well, your experience doesn't match ours. And your argument doesn't even accurately comprehend the original argument, or take into account location or doctor type, so there....

 

If we went with Medicare for all reimbursements would have to be adjusted accordingly.

 

I have just merely been stating I know many people who’ve had no issue getting a Medicare doc. Sorry that bothers you.

 

What bothers me is you're arguing against a claim I never made, lol.

Not my problem.

 

No I’m not. I’ve only mentioned what people I know have experienced.

 

So have I. And it's more than one doctor. Like I said, this will be a gradually growing problem. Your experience doesn't invalidate the fact that medicare cuts caused multiple doctors I know to shut down their practice completely or stop taking medicare.

Simple fact. The initial argument was whether health care was a basic human right. It's not. Nobody can force a doctor to take medicare except by fiat. And that's slavery.

 

Never said my experience invalidated anything. If doctors “shut down” their practice because of Medicare then that tells me they were close to retiring anyway.

 

Yeh, to private pay levels if you don’t want to lose docs. Then we’re right back where we started.

 

Do you believe all or majority of docs would stop practicing medicine if the levels weren’t to what private insurers pay? For someone to go through all of the schooling and residencies I would submit you’re not going to see big numbers walk away from a profession these people are passionate about.

 

You basically said that if businesses taxes go up, but they don't raise prices to compensate they will go bankrupt. So prove that.

 

No, I said business can't operate at a loss indefinitely, lol.

 

Probably a lot of early retirement. Lower quality med school students. Less med school students. Who’s going to want to spend all that time and money with no revenue later to pay it back? Most of the docs, PA’s, etc. I went to school with wouldn’t have taken that path without the big payoff. One guy I know who is a doctor of chiropractic and a board eligible internist is already direct pay in his practice. I would expect some docs to move in that direction and some to flat monthly fee models. That’s if the government doesn’t make those models illegal. I agree few would walk away, but going forward we’d probably have to tap into a lot more immigrant docs to stay afloat. And Canada is already stiff competition for those folks. You have to think about the future consequences, not just immediate ones.

 

Your assuming that a loss will occur.

 

No. I'm not. It was just a statement in a larger argument.

When corporations' expenses increase, they raise prices. That's the basic argument. Let's start there, since there was a lot of red herrings drug across the path of this argument.

When corporation's taxes go up, they most likely will raise prices at some level of increase.

 

And that should be monitored.

 

Why?

 

Fairness.

 

Pay for it.