News-Record.com

Would anyone like to start a donation drive for the poor Presbyterian therapists of Greensboro who hasn't had a raise in 12 years?

It's so easy even a therapist can do it.

“Moore produced a long segment on managed-care companies and their huge compensation packages. What he did not address as adequately was their impact on health care providers.”

Paula, I think, is the one who missed the boat. Paula says none of the reimbursement rates to health care providers have gone up for 12 years. So, from her standpoint, the doctors and therapists have been treated unfairly – how sad. However, I can guarantee you HMO premiums to patients have risen yearly (probably far more for individuals than for the employees of the N.C. State Employees Health Plan, who have bargaining power with the HMOs). So the premiums go up while the actual cost (i.e. reimbursements to health care providers) stays the same. Where do the increased profits to the HMOs go? Could it be for “huge compensation packages”? Didn’t Paula just prove the point the movie was trying to make? Good work!

I looked around on the internet and found out a lot what Paula says about Cuba is true. Despite some critical shortages of medical supplies due to the effect of U.S. embargo, both direct and indirect, Cuba still has a very highly rated health care system and one of the highest doctor to patient ratios. However, they also have a $40 million plus for profit business treating foreign patients. This health care is apparently better than for the average Cuban and does not suffer from the same shortages, but is considerably cheaper than what is offered in the U.S. However, this is going to be true of almost any country in the world. My son has limited income. He has lived in places near the Mexican border and routinely crossed over to get medical and dental care and prescription medications. He says the care is every bit as good as what he received in the U.S. and much, much cheaper. The prescription drugs, of course, come from the same companies that price gouge Americans.

LastVOR,
Great points. Unfortunately, they are points that will be dismissed by the right wingers who are shills for the corporations who run the country.
As a great person once said, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do".

Add the name "PAULA PILE" to the list of names that have great alliteration. Speaking of the "piles", where's neocon on this lte?

As I understand it - Fidel made it a point to use the soviet funding to well-train Cubans in the medical fields. He then sent out many many teams to - especially central America - but really all over the world -letting Drs. provide world class service to demonstrate the goodness of Fidelism.

Pretty clever when you think of it - and had the soviet's not collapsed due to 1) death of the last of the old guard (around 1980) and 2) political stupidity of the new guard (specifically Gorby) .. Fidelism would still be a major thorn in our side.

Consider this - The destitute get highly valued medical care form Fidel, they get their crops stolen by American Corporations .. who The destitute gonna appreciate?

James,
You have made the matrix of the topic, manifest.

Here is an interesting article;
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20070706/hl_hsn/medicaltourismtakesflight

Shalom

I'm doing this by memory so forgive if I'm a little off. We have a better health care system than Cuba as rated by the W. H. O.

They are 39th in the world while we're 37th.

Whooo hooo! We're number 37. We're number 37.

Take that Cuba!

We're the equivalent of the Yankees with the 200 million dollar payroll and sub .500 record.

.. no further comments from the O'Reilly School of Oversimplification and Half-Data-Only folks?

Looks as if neo and Danny have run for the hills with their tails tucked betwixt their legs.

Here Kitty, Kitty, kitty, Kitty!