Comments on: Medicare and medical errors: A taste of single-payer http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/medicare-and-medical-errors-taste-of.html medical blog Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:14:19 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: RoseAG http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/medicare-and-medical-errors-taste-of.html/comment-page-1#comment-79351 RoseAG Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:20:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/medicare-and-medical-errors-a-taste-of-single-payer.html#comment-79351 I wonder if this will be a nudge to families to move to palliative care instead of pursing more active care for the very old/sick who seem to be complication-magnets.<br/><br/>Several months ago the Washington Post had an article highlighting that some demographic groups almost never pursue hospice care for their very old/sick relatives. <br/><br/>I think it's not the kind of thing anybody wants to pressure families to do if it's not their choice. It will be interesting to see how a hospital might handle that situation. I wonder if this will be a nudge to families to move to palliative care instead of pursing more active care for the very old/sick who seem to be complication-magnets.

Several months ago the Washington Post had an article highlighting that some demographic groups almost never pursue hospice care for their very old/sick relatives.

I think it’s not the kind of thing anybody wants to pressure families to do if it’s not their choice. It will be interesting to see how a hospital might handle that situation.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/medicare-and-medical-errors-taste-of.html/comment-page-1#comment-79334 Anonymous Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:21:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/medicare-and-medical-errors-a-taste-of-single-payer.html#comment-79334 "For one thing, I never (nor do most surgeons, far as I know) charged for a re-operation, even if it wasn't for an obvious error."<br/><br/>I want this guy for my surgeon.<br/>I went through six follow-up surgeries to correct gland duct obstructions that followed one procedure. Was charged for them all. Understood then and now that this was not an unusual complication, but six is still a hell of a lot. Insurance fortunately paid most of it. “For one thing, I never (nor do most surgeons, far as I know) charged for a re-operation, even if it wasn’t for an obvious error.”

I want this guy for my surgeon.
I went through six follow-up surgeries to correct gland duct obstructions that followed one procedure. Was charged for them all. Understood then and now that this was not an unusual complication, but six is still a hell of a lot. Insurance fortunately paid most of it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/medicare-and-medical-errors-taste-of.html/comment-page-1#comment-79330 Anonymous Tue, 21 Aug 2007 06:17:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/medicare-and-medical-errors-a-taste-of-single-payer.html#comment-79330 No payment if the patient develops a urinary tract infection or pressure wound? The geniuses who came up with these crooked bean-counter criteria must have deep clinical experience and top-drawer training.<br/><br/>This alone should end the option of a single payor system in the United States for anyone even remotely rational or sane. No payment if the patient develops a urinary tract infection or pressure wound? The geniuses who came up with these crooked bean-counter criteria must have deep clinical experience and top-drawer training.

This alone should end the option of a single payor system in the United States for anyone even remotely rational or sane.

]]> By: MedFriendly http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/medicare-and-medical-errors-taste-of.html/comment-page-1#comment-79322 MedFriendly Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:11:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/medicare-and-medical-errors-a-taste-of-single-payer.html#comment-79322 Although some benefit will probably come of this new regulation, I am all but certain that some hospitals will be denied payment because CMS will say something was preventable that really wasn't. In such cases, I wonder if hospitals would be more apt to provide less expensive and maybe not as effective treatment and discharge the patient asap to prevent further costs. Also, as CMS goes, so do private insurers, so I expect they will be jumping on board soon too.<br/><br/>Dominic A. Carone, Ph.D. <br/>Founder and Webmaster of <a HREF="http://www.medfriendly.com" REL="nofollow">MedFriendly.com</a> and <a HREF="http://www.medfriendly.com/blog.html" REL="nofollow">The MedFriendly blog</a>. Although some benefit will probably come of this new regulation, I am all but certain that some hospitals will be denied payment because CMS will say something was preventable that really wasn’t. In such cases, I wonder if hospitals would be more apt to provide less expensive and maybe not as effective treatment and discharge the patient asap to prevent further costs. Also, as CMS goes, so do private insurers, so I expect they will be jumping on board soon too.

Dominic A. Carone, Ph.D.
Founder and Webmaster of MedFriendly.com and The MedFriendly blog.

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