Hospitals May Be Next to Suffer in This Economy
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People are losing their jobs left and right. Mass unemployment is hitting us and people are losing their homes. Health care in the United States has always been an issue. As if health care costs aren’t enough of a problem, what’s likely to make it worse is this economy. Avera McKennan is one of many large hospitals cutting pay to their employees. They are doing this after experiencing a record rise in patients. So why are they cutting pay after getting more patients? Well, less people are paying their medical bills these days.
A scenario where hospitals suffer and have to charge more to their paying patients could create an immediate need for universal health care. Like the banks, could we eventually see some sort of bailout for hospitals? The situation probably isn’t that bad, but if things get much worse it’s a scenario that could happen.
3 Comments
Matthew personal
February 25th, 2009
at 8:13am
It is a possibility, yes. But I certainly hope not. Because my daughter is taking up nursing. Won’t it be a bit depressing if you can see that her career in the future would be hanging by a thread? I wish the economy will rise back up to its feet again.
leftystrat
February 25th, 2009
at 7:43pm
Interesting that you bring this up. Hospitals have been seeing decreasing insurance reimbursement, increased costs, and decreasing patient payment. Oddly enough, so have physicians. Insurers are having trouble too.
The healthcare system is broken. All that’s left is to sound CODE BLUE. Unfortunately I’m having trouble figuring out what *would* work. Socialized medicine will be a disaster. It’s not exactly a treat in the countries that have it now. Besides - when was the last time you saw the gov’t improve ANYTHING it got its mitts on?
As for another corporate handout, nobody gets a penny until the taxpayers get theirs!
CareWolf
March 2nd, 2009
at 2:42am
I saw a mortgage hearing on C-Span and hospitals may be able to refinance their mortgages. They are having problems getting credit -just like we are. The problems with national health care are so numerous. Of course the first problem is access to health care. Also adm. is saying they will tell doctors if they are using the “right” treatment. In other words your doctor won’t be treating you any more. They are also talking about not allowing patients who are discharged to be readmitted. duh-what if they did something wrong?I think one of the problems is that there are steps to care. You may have a bad back and need an MRI.First they have to do x-rays-then a CT scan-and then if they can show need they may find out what’s really wrong with an MRI. Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just do the MRI when that is the test the doctor really needs? If National healthcare really worked, would Canadians be coming to US because of the waiting period for procedures and tests? Flawed as it may be, we have the best health care in the world. Let’s hope it stays that way.