I think it's important to note why health care costs are so high, first of all, SM
Posted By: tough issue on 2007-09-25
In Reply to: does anybody wonder if we get universal healthcare - QAgirl
one big problem is govt involvement, just like with college, the more the govt is involved, the more the cost goes up. Secondly, laywers run up the cost by frivolous lawsuits and docs have to pay higher premiums for their malpractice insurance. Third, we are paying for illegals, people using emergency rooms for care and not paying, the list goes on and on. Hospitals charge people with insurance more to make up for some of this, because they know the insurance will pay for it, so people who do pay cash really end up paying inflated prices too.
It's complicated, but that is the root problem.
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Govt is promoting EMR to reduce health care costs.
Major cuts taking place in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. See Bush's Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, billions of dollars being cut. Word is that private insurance will follow suit, with higher deductibles among other things. You can thank the
My take on a big part of the high cost of health care and why we are
Do y'all know how much nurses get paid? My sister is a nurse and gets around $40 an hour, where she works no weekends, no evenings, occasional call for which they get paid very well, OT if they happen to have to go in on the weekend, DOUBLE PAY if they work on their birthday, etc., etc. And then there's the pension, and the great insurance and on and on. Sometimes all they have to do is make phone calls to make their dough, and I am not talking OR nurse. And then we get thrown to the dogs. And no, I am not going to go into nursing because I am too old. I am just disgusted.
Here's another reason why health care is so high people can't afford it and ...SM
A while back I had to go to the ER for a particularly bad Meniere's episode. I asked for an itemized bill, and you know what they charged me for 4 mg of ondansetron?
$544.
It is important to note that when you were an employee,
your employer paid half of your Social Security. As an IC, you are responsible for the whole thing, 15%. You'll have no taxes taken out of your pay as an IC, so you must pay both your state and federal income tax on the taxable income. The first year is usually not a huge problem, but after that you must be sure that 90% of these taxes owed are paid by December 15, otherwise the IRS will fine you for underpayment of taxes. It can all get pretty stick. Talk to an accountant and visit the IRS online for more info that you will need. Best of luck.
One important thing to note is - (sm)
how are the MTs at your place being treated? If you're treated less like human beings and more like dirt, that's a HUGE red flag, as it was happening in the hospital I once worked for. Also - are they hiring, or cutting back on MT staff? Have your benefits increased, or been gradually decreased? Red flags.
Our situation was strikingly similar to yours, too. A few people were working at home, but they were mostly 'teacher's pets' - so to speak. Meanwhile, more and more work was being sent out. VR came into the picture, and even though it was working poorly, they were hellbent to keep trying to make it work, regardless.
The rest of us who were originally told we'd eventually be working at home were strung along for about 8 years, and that option never materialized. Meanwhile, the at-home MTs began to lose their 'pet' stature with management, and began to be treated as poorly as the inhouse staff. They were also held to higher line-count minimums per day then the inhouse bunch. Later, about half were let go, and those that remain will likely get the axe before too long. Like your place, radiology was the only work remaining inhouse, as more and more work was sent out. MT's with expert knowlege of all medical specialties were being pigeonholed into radiology-only, which had a difficult platform. Meanwhile, the outside MTs enjoyed using the easier platform for the regular hospital work.
Appalling mistreatment of the MTs continued, and still does to this day. Quite a few of their most productive & experienced MTs flew the coop, and (HUGE RED FLAG) - are not being replaced.
Anyway, it doesn't take a crystal ball to see that the 'master plan' for that place is to have all radiology done by VR, with a few inhouse MTs-turned-editors remaining to clean up the mess that produces. And the remainder of the hospital transcription will most likely get divided up among several MTSOs, depending on the quality of work needed for different specialties.
Anyway, if they've been stringing you along for 6 years, saying one thing and doing another, I'd be a little bit suspicious of their ulterior motives. If they DO send you home, it's a good opportunity to buy yourself a really nice PC, and to put out the feelers for other at-home work, just in case the work at your hospital mysteriously 'dries up', with only VR-radiology remaining.
high healthcare costs
two little words, consider waste and fraud, people who have zero hope of meaningful life being on total support which many of them do not want, many disposables could be changed back to reusables by proper sanitation. up coding to get more $$, etc etc. there is probably more but those two came to mind.
yes $40 an hour seems excessive to me too.
MT in addition to other health care job?
I know that there are MTs out there that are MTs along with another HC job, but have never heard anything specific.
I am about to start MT school but in about 2-3 years the opportunity for me to go to school to become an RRT will present itself (it might not again for another 5 yrs past that point). It (being an RRT) is something I have wanted to do for a while, but only as PRN or part time work because of the shifts, the ages of my kids and my dh's work schedule (out of town a lot and weird hours). Because of that, I figure I could work as an IC (obviously 20hrs/wk or less) during RRT school and nights and weekends when I am not at my RRT job. We move every couple of years and IC work (for a national at home) could also serve as a steady income source while I find another RRT position (which could conceivably take a while considering my limitations regarding work hours outside my home).
Since I obviously do neither job right now, I don't know how realistic my expectations of this are. Does anyone juggle these two jobs? I know its most likely nurses that do this, but I welcome anyone's comments.
I definitely plan on going to MT school, because its available now, the work will be there, and being an MT is an excellent fit for me. Just trying to plan ahead - I know dh will want to know if I am giving up plans to go to RRT school because of this.
Thanks.
Socialized health care
http://www.liberty-page.com/issues/healthcare/socialized.html#britain
Here are some stats you might find interesting
Canadian Health Care
A 6-8 week wait time to see a gynecologist? Is that good or bad for the US. I personally have been waiting to see an endocrinologist for 1 year, 3 months...still nothing. Seriously. The wait time for any type of procedure of specialty is actually quite scary. Sometimes it feels as though we are in Russia, we just happen to pay more taxes. We "pay" for our health care with 13% tax on absolutely everything you buy. That is supposedly for health care, but it really doesn't seem to help. I personally believe the problem is in the fact there are not enough doctors. When you compare how many doctors there are in each specialty to the amount of patients that require them, that is where the wait time comes into play. Ironically, Canada is starting to implement "pay as you go" clinics for procedures because the wait time is so ridiculous. It seems that Canada is adopting the US's health system and the US is looking to adopt Canada's system. That reminds me of something...the grass is always greener on the other side (nope, same grass, different place). Take care all.
Whether you like it or not, your private health care is distributed to others
Everytime you are diagnosed, have a test, go to the doctor, everytime you are billed, your information goes into a data base that all health care providers (insurance companies) have access to. I don't get the big deal over this all of a sudden. So someone in India finds out you are treated for a wart or depression. So what? What difference does it make as far as privacy goes if India MT knows this or Kansas MT knows this?
I will take canada's health care in a nanosecond
Well, I gotta tell ya, I would love to have Canada's health care, as I dont have health care..You see, if you are an SE, MQ does not offer health care. So, universal health care through the govt, IMHO, is better than paying out of my pocket.
Anyone have info on K Force Health care? nm
nm
This is an example of our mangled health care system.
So my husband smacks his elbow on something at work at the end of the day and as he is driving home notices his elbow is swelling up huge. He goes to the doctor and they say they can't do anything without his employer's consent to workers' comp and send him home without even an ice pack. The next day he goes to work and his boss gives him $100 to say it was done at home and to go get it fixed. I have taken a picture of his elbow and sent him to the doctor. He had already told them it was done at work when he went in yesterday anyway, so he is going to tell his boss that and give the $100 back. Amazing.
Aurora Health Care wiscionsin also.
xx
There needs to be a way to provide universal health care BUT sm
I don't believe that a national system is the right answer. If you look to Hawaii which has a law for universal coverage, it works pretty well.
We have had CHiPS which is the child health plan. I know something about that and had it for my own grown kids when it very first started. You get that if you don't qualify for Medicaid, and if your employer doesn't provide or if the premium of what is provided through employment is more than a given percentage of income.
This issue is one that I feel is best handled by the states, not by the feds. All you have to do is look at the No Child Left Behind to see how well that kind of thing works. States know what their demographics look like. They know what sector of the population is without health insurance and they know what funds they provide to various indigent programs to provide for the poor. It is the lower middle class woman and the lower middle class child who is most likely to be uninsured because they make too much for Medicaid and too little for any type of private insurance and most employers in this bracket can't/won't offer anything.
If you look at Medicare, which is a mess actually, and CHiPS which functions better, they are about the same idea for two different sectors of the population. There are HMOs and plans that one chooses. They are all a bit different, but you all know how this works. The companies who insure people through these plans keep costs and premiums down in order to participate.
I am in favor of the federal government figuring out a capitation rate along the lines of Medicare or Medicaid and paying this to the states, but more broadly to cover more people. Then, the states can figure out what they can contribute. If they eliminate funding for indigent services to cover these people under a statewide plan, that can go into the kitty. Every person in every state WITHOUT employer provided insurance, will be required to contribute to the state plan in some way, based on income. Employees with company provided insurance can opt to participate in the state program. The idea is to recoup the money wasted on county, city and state indigent programs and put it to the greater good. With having not to cover unpaid medical bills because there aren't any, anymore, it should help to raise the amount that states and other agencies have to pay into the system. Insurance companies will have to bid lower to participate in this, because I think it is best that they are the ones who administrate, private sector always does better...
well now I am boring you, but I see what I mean! LOL
A husband to take care of the bills and the health
nm
Soon it will be the government, Universal Health Care, nm
xxx
United Health Care medical insurance
 Well, I am about to use my vision coverage insurance for United Health Care. Eye Exam 2000 said they only covered 15-20% of the exam, 20% of cost of lens/glasses. I have never heard of such a low amount covered. I guess I have the wrong plan. Anyone else disappointed with United Health Care benefits besides me? I work for a large national.
Thanks. I guess I am hoping someone will tell me I am wrong and that 80% of the bill is covered. That this is all a mistake.
Signed,
Squinting
you can't insure your body, just paying for health care for it.
x
off shoring tests for health care professionals
Below is an ad I found were they are offshoring the devlopement of questions now this is scary
Title: Healthcare Exam Question Writing |
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
![](http://www.offshorexperts.com/images/pixel_gray.gif")
The client is based in the United States that is providing training and education to health care professionals.
The client is looking to outsource the process to outsource agents who can write exam questions from the source material (source material can come from journal articles, books, etc.)
1. The client will provide the source material either by email or by providing the web address.
2. The outsource agent will write multiple choice questions from the source material provided. Each question will only have 4 possible answers, with only one answer being correct.
3. The client will designate the number of questions required per course.
4. The outsource agent will format the questions in a format that will be provided.
5. The outsource agent will email the questions to the client for review and editing.
6. The client will email the edited questions back to the outsource agent.
7. The outsource agent will upload the edited questions to the client website.
The client will pay one dollar US ($1) for each question written.
We believe that for a typical set of question will require 15 questions and will most likely take about 3 hours to complete. This equals about $5 US per hour. We anticipate rejecting some of the questions that are developed, though the client will consider paying for the development. The client will work with the selected agents in the future to assist with question development.
No Project Files
IL Health Care Worker Background Check Act
Type "225 ILCS 46/" in your search engine. It should give you the Health Care Worker Background Check Act for Illinois. There are several proposed amendments regarding non-fingerprint-based ID before the legislature for the 2007-2008 session. I hope this is what you seek.
OOps meant best health care in the world
x
If you think that's bad, just wait 'til we get "free" health care. NM
xxx
Good for you. You're a wise woman. Take care of your health first. nm
x
51yo female, divorced, 20yo son, 35 yrs in health care
Excuse me, but who was the health care worker who then disclosed the HIV status?
Ashe's HIV status and career decline. had nothing to do with a healthcare worker disclosing it.
Could your hubs become a patient of a home health care agency and then you could work for them
s
Study found that electronic health records did not boost patient care. sm
Link to article on yahoo news stating that electronic health records fail to improve care, study says.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/records_dc;_ylt=AsT2t1nasUEaoOxgIsyoMUOs0NUE
I dont care if you stay home because ofyour kids, a health issue - sm
or because you just like to work in tne nude. The fact of the matter is, settling for a lower rate jsut for the convenience of working from home is BS. I've been doing this for 25 years and have been home since 1996 and while I know I am not making the same money I did in the haydays, I sure as he11 will not work for less. Many of these companies are bluffing if they tell you they have to lower your rate. In fact, if you hold your ground and have a decent reputation, you can even make more.
It's too bad that so many people don't believe in their abilities and worth to hold out. You should never base your decision on fear. Use logic and common sense.
Beware of ink replacement costs. The more inexpensive the printer, the more the ink costs.
s
Kinship care versus foster care/adoption
Having been placed in a position where I now have custody of my 3 YO granddaughter and going through the legal system, I sought an online network of relative caregivers for children. I would encourage you, especially since you are in Georgia, that if you take any children into foster care with the idea of adopting them, there is federal law that requires the state to take certain actions in a specific time frame. When a child is removed from it's bio parent(s), the state is required to investigate any possible relatives who can take the child before foster care is considered, but even before that, reunification with the parents is the priority. Once a child enters the system and is in the system for 15 out of any 22 months, the state is required to find permanent placement for the child.
The problem with this is that there are case workers who may favor a foster family and do not seek out relative care. I have a good friend in Georgia who had to fight all the way to the state level to get custody of her grandson after the child was placed from the hospital into a foster care home with the promise that the foster parents would be allowed to adopt. She has now adopted her grandson, but it was a long, hard battle to get the state to admit their own interests were placed above those of the child and/or family.
If you get a child placed through the state, please make certain there is not a relative who wants that child before you get your hopes up. The courts are now favoring return of children to relatives even after a child has spent years with a foster family who hoped to adopt them.
States get bonus federal funds by complying with the time lines and being able to close the case, so some states place children in foster care because it is easier than trying to locate relatives.
Didn't mean to go off on a tangent, but I can't imagine my sweet bella going to someone outside her family.
costs
I also agree that the cost of vet care has gone way up in the last 10 years, having animal companions is expensive. I think as more and more people are coming to realize their companions are senient beings they are willing to do whatever is necessary for optimum care just as you would do for a human. That being said, it is extremely expensive and where I used to have 5 cats and 2 dogs, I now have 3 cats and 1 dog due to losing some to old age and illness. Although I would love to have more, I know I cannot afford it if one of them gets sick.
Can you tell us how much this costs?
Have the Martel catalogue but oddly it does not give price. Am hoping it is under $50.
Rx costs
I get 2 of my meds from Canada. Can you get yours that way and save $? Just do a search for cheap drugs or Canadian drugs.
MT Costs
I have been a working MT for 2+ years and I am still buying things. I have a full library of books but there are only a few I use all the time. Still there are days when I find I need the others. I believe I have around 16 total. The Book Of Style is an important one. I would recommend that for sure along with any other specialty books for the type of account you plan on typing. I had my computer prior to training but with books, the MT course, pedals, software (spell checker, expander) I spent over $2,500. This doesn't include a desk, chair or the other things you'll need. I would suggest you buy some 3-ring binders to keep samples in for each account you type. I have a binder for every doctor/client. Every doctor you come to learn to type will have his/her own rules. The binders are my Bibles. At first I went through a ton of legal pads. I always keep one at my desk to jot things down. Now I only need one on occasion. It will be a learning experience and slow going at first, but hang in there. Like some other MTs mentioned, it is not as easy as it sounds, but I do enjoy it. Welcome to the club! 
It costs more than $10 believe me.
They take a percentage of what is sent to you - it's not a flat rate fee. The more you make the more they take.
My costs have actually gone down
This year my property taxes will go from over $2,300 to $800 a year, that is because I have turned that magical number of 65. That is good and yet if I were to die, then the taxes would go right back up for hubby as he is 10 years younger and has not gotten there yet. He better treat me right!
If it was a clinic, it might have been urgent care, but it was NOT acute care. sm
Acute care refers to work in an acute care setting, a hospital, doing at least History and Physicals, Discharge Summaries, Consultations, Surgery notes, Emergency Department notes, and much more, including GI procedures, Cardiology procedures, Neurological procedures, Pulmonary Function Studies. It goes on and on and it means and acute care hospital setting, not a clinic.
Yes, and that same jug of water costs how much after it's
been paid for with tax dollars, hauled in on trucks, and handed out by National Guardsmen and FEMA workers who are being paid and are away from their own families? That little jug of water costs more to the taxpayers than Perrier.
My son did too. It costs a lot and unless you're
a real people person who can SELL, you won't make any money and you'll spend a bundle. TURN AND RUN, don't walk away unless you're ready to LIVE IT! IT has to be all you think, talk, eat, use, buy, etc....and you won't make a bunch if you don't get people to sign up.
I cut my costs a year ago...
I have noticed very little difference. I get the same speed and the only things that inhibit that are the usual things such as when the ISP is doing an update etc. Everyone I know with different DSL companies have said the same. You can always go back up to the higher speed if it doesn't work well in your case. To me it was worth saving the extra $20/month
AT&T business costs
I pay 230 a month for three lines, unlimited long distance, and DSL on a business plan. The biggest difference is the DSL cost is higher, and they charge per jack on installation. As opposed to 20 per line, i pay a flat rate of 50 for the LD for all three lines.
hidden costs by being an IC
The taxes are more as an independent contractor. period.
you pay the matching that the employer would pay.
Normally your benefits pkg from the hospital or employer of sick days, holidays, insurance, etc is worth about $10,000. Somehow you have to absorb that with what you charge. In addition to losing the matching the employer is paying. Otherwise the company you are contracting with is making out like a bandit -- and you truly are coming out on the short end of the stick -- they know this -- and they are laughing up their sleeve until we wake up out here and start charging so they won't be coming out the winner in this all the time. The very reason they OUTSOURCE is to get rid of those hidden costs and we now have taken on.
And then of course the hidden days down for work on computer, waiting for storms to pass, and the various and asundry responsibilities you take on and absorb that the company you are contracting with gets to turn loose of.
p.s. and oh please don't pop up with ITS WORTH A LOT TO TYPE IN MY JAMMIES. No, we are expected to be professional whether in Gucci or WalMart specials. And we should be paid accordingly. That argument doesn't fly. and being home with the kids doesn't either. Only one thing can be done at one time, and you can watch the kids or you can transcribe but you can't do both simultaneously. The guilt factor may be less when one needs to do errands in the day -- but guess what -- while people are sleeping guess who is up into the night beating the keys. No, this should not be a trade off. It's a business like any other business who does a contract with another company.
phone costs
Hi,
Cell phone runs 89 per month,, that is the whole package, unlimited internet access, free text, nights and weekends, etc,,,,and I was able to do away with home internet altogether. No longer have a land line or DSL at home so the savings there made up the difference
Actually, VR actually costs the client....sm
less money,which is why some are changing to it...to pay less for transcription, which is why WE get paid less. That is how it is with my company. So in essence, the company is taking a cut in pay as well....why else would anyone use it, including the MTSOs??? I'm just sayin'.
Well, it costs sometimes. I have had to change employers before because
they were not going to negotiate with me. HOwever, there are plenty of places to work and I have luckily landed in 2 good ones.
I feel very fortunate today with my employment. I know full well it may change tomorrow but I am prepared - emotionally and financially - and will not let that disrupt my life. Too many options out there, folks.
I noticed this too! Costs me approximately
$50.00 more for the usual items such as health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, paper products. Cost of living is going up and our salaries are not.
India's MTs are living very well, according to a friendly gal working for AOL out of Bombay.
I don't know what I am going to do. I got cable t.v. for the winter and feel like I am living extravagantly. There is so much I need. Even keeping my car warrantly valid requires a $500.00 tune up which is hard to budget for.
One thing I do not have is credit card debt.
MediSpell is decent and only costs around
It was about $10-$20 when I first got it, but I'm sure it's gone up since then. There's a free trial (or at least there was) and you can compare it to others. Not sure what Dorland's is like so I can't tell you comparison, but I've found MediSpell to be a decent medical spellchecker at a reasonable price for starting out. You can add to it, of course, too, but I don't think they ever issue updates like new drug names, tec. so you might want to invest in a more thorough one later on.
I too believe it is a trend, basically to cut costs. As far as MQ, SM
I don't work for them, but honestly, from reading posts, seems like they were just bought out by a mad scientist who thinks up ways to drive people crazy. Sort of a game of how far can we drive people before they crack.
Keeping up cert costs too
I was a CMT for 20 years before I finally let it go. Only one company I worked for in all that time paid extra for the CMT; then they were bought by Medquist who didn't care. If you ever change companies - voluntarily or otherwise - the CMT may no longer bring you extra cash. Remember, too, that you'll have to pay to keep up the cert. I went to the conventions every year. They ran me at least $1000 then with registration, airfare, hotel, food, ground transportion, etc. Worked in-house then, and my employers didn't reimburse. I was *lucky* I could get my vacation then. It would probably be more now; everything else is. If you don't have PTO where you work, then it will cost you what you would have made for those days as well. Perhaps you're lucky and have a strong local chapter that will provide you CEs for much less cost and aggravation. If you use the articles in the Journal, it will still cost. Plus, it's not just any credit-worthy activity, it's one from column A, two from column B, etc. It makes it much harder to get what you need (which may or may not have anything to do with what you REALLY need to improve your skills). I didn't regret it while I was doing it, but I wouldn't do it again unless forced. I hoped for 20 years that it would mean more than *personal satisfaction*, but it never did.
Help with raising food costs sm
While not available in all areas, this is a wonderful program to help out families and communities. I used it for years when I lived in Colorado and now that I have moved, I am in the process of finding this program in my state.
The program consists of paying a certain amount for a given box of food (you can buy more than one) on a certain day or days. Then, you put in volunteer hours in your community for each box you purchase. You have a volunteer slip signed where you volunteer. On D-Day, you go and pick up your boxes of food.
The boxes consist of fresh fruits and vegetables and meat items. Occasionally there is cheese too. There might be pasta and/or rice. There is often a prepared food item. They offer seasonal boxes for holiday baking, meat lover's boxes in time for summer grilling and Thanksgiving boxes. The retail value of what you get in a SHARE box is usually at least double the cost of the box, and that has been my experience. The kids and I used to go and help on D-Day, passing out boxes, cleaning up for our volunteer activity.
http://www.sharecolorado.com/
is for Colorado and several other states, but should link you nationally too.
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