Comments on: How Boston’s top hospitals are paid much more http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/how-bostons-top-hospitals-are-paid-much.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Dr. Khttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/how-bostons-top-hospitals-are-paid-much.html#comment-88220 Dr. K Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:35:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/how-bostons-top-hospitals-are-paid-much-more.html#comment-88220 As long as the market will bear these extreme costs and medically unnecessary procedures people will act with their feet. However, with employers turning to high deductible/consumer directed healthcare plans, patients will have to do their homework, hopefully with their doctors counsel, as they go through their large deductibles (up to $7500 for a family). Health at any cost goes only so far as insurance pays for it; unless you are very wealthy. Please visit my website, www.kreisbergandassociates.com. Dr. Jeffrey Kreisberg As long as the market will bear these extreme costs and medically unnecessary procedures people will act with their feet. However, with employers turning to high deductible/consumer directed healthcare plans, patients will have to do their homework, hopefully with their doctors counsel, as they go through their large deductibles (up to $7500 for a family). Health at any cost goes only so far as insurance pays for it; unless you are very wealthy. Please visit my website, http://www.kreisbergandassociates.com. Dr. Jeffrey Kreisberg

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/how-bostons-top-hospitals-are-paid-much.html#comment-88214 Anonymous Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:04:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/how-bostons-top-hospitals-are-paid-much-more.html#comment-88214 The 800 pound gorilla gets what he wants. In most hospital/provider/insurer relationships, the insurer is the gorilla. In Mass, Partners is the gorilla. The 800 pound gorilla gets what he wants. In most hospital/provider/insurer relationships, the insurer is the gorilla. In Mass, Partners is the gorilla.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/how-bostons-top-hospitals-are-paid-much.html#comment-88212 Anonymous Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:03:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/how-bostons-top-hospitals-are-paid-much-more.html#comment-88212 Kevin,<br/>I was a patient at MGH for a routine procedure - childbirth. Since I had no complications, theoretically, I could have gone to a community hospital 10 minutes away from me. Except that I know that I would have gotten worse care there (close relative practices at both hospitals). I would have probably ended up with an emergency c-section. MGH has a pretty low c-section rate (much lower than the community hospital), even though they have a booming high-risk practice. That is due to many different factors. But as far as I, the patient, is concerned, that's where I want to go. So, saying that a community hospital can provide similar care is simplistic. Maybe yes, maybe no. In my case, it's a big fat no.<br/>Another question that comes up, though, is where that increase in fees goes. Partners is not known for paying their employees well, including staff physicians. Some physician salaries at MGH border on the line of embarrassing. Kevin,
I was a patient at MGH for a routine procedure – childbirth. Since I had no complications, theoretically, I could have gone to a community hospital 10 minutes away from me. Except that I know that I would have gotten worse care there (close relative practices at both hospitals). I would have probably ended up with an emergency c-section. MGH has a pretty low c-section rate (much lower than the community hospital), even though they have a booming high-risk practice. That is due to many different factors. But as far as I, the patient, is concerned, that’s where I want to go. So, saying that a community hospital can provide similar care is simplistic. Maybe yes, maybe no. In my case, it’s a big fat no.
Another question that comes up, though, is where that increase in fees goes. Partners is not known for paying their employees well, including staff physicians. Some physician salaries at MGH border on the line of embarrassing.

]]> By: DR. MARY JOHNSONhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/how-bostons-top-hospitals-are-paid-much.html#comment-88208 DR. MARY JOHNSON Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:15:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/how-bostons-top-hospitals-are-paid-much-more.html#comment-88208 Interesting. Allow me to share an old story:<br/><br/>The coffers of Medicaid's "disporportionate share" program in North Carolina (designed to compensate hospitals for seeing a "disproportionate" share of "underserved" patients) was liberally plundered several years back (over a period of seven to ten years if memory serves) to the tune of between a half billion and a billion dollars (depending on who you listen to). <br/><br/>In an incredible blunder, control/management of the program was literally gifted by the state government upon one of the largest hospitals in the state (which for blogging purposes here shall remain nameless). <br/><br/>As a result there was virtually no oversight of how the program was administrated - or (taxpayers') money was doled out. Some hospitals benefited MUCH MORE than others.<br/><br/>Millions (if not a billion) were misappropriated. The state auditor brought the matter to light (in true North Carolina fahsion, he was subsequently tossed from office for his efforts) . A long Federal investigation resulted in NO ONE being prosecuted, sanctioned or fined. <br/><br/>A settlement was negotiated for pennies on the dollar. Interesting. Allow me to share an old story:

The coffers of Medicaid’s “disporportionate share” program in North Carolina (designed to compensate hospitals for seeing a “disproportionate” share of “underserved” patients) was liberally plundered several years back (over a period of seven to ten years if memory serves) to the tune of between a half billion and a billion dollars (depending on who you listen to).

In an incredible blunder, control/management of the program was literally gifted by the state government upon one of the largest hospitals in the state (which for blogging purposes here shall remain nameless).

As a result there was virtually no oversight of how the program was administrated – or (taxpayers’) money was doled out. Some hospitals benefited MUCH MORE than others.

Millions (if not a billion) were misappropriated. The state auditor brought the matter to light (in true North Carolina fahsion, he was subsequently tossed from office for his efforts) . A long Federal investigation resulted in NO ONE being prosecuted, sanctioned or fined.

A settlement was negotiated for pennies on the dollar.

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