Doctor tells Obama supporters: Go elsewhere for health care

[kpete]

Source: Orlando Sentinal

Doctor tells Obama supporters: Go elsewhere for health care
A Mount Dora doctor posted a sign telling Obama health care supporters to go elsewhere.



MOUNT DORA — A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care "elsewhere."

"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical," Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist and a registered Republican opposed to the health plan, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."

The sign reads: "If you voted for Obama … seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years."

Estella Chatman, 67, of Eustis, whose daughter snapped a photo of the typewritten sign, sent the picture to U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, the Orlando Democrat who riled Republicans last year when he characterized the GOP's idea of health care as, "If you get sick, America … Die quickly."

Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-mount-dora-doctor-tells-patients-go-aw20100401,0,5593120.story

[Berry Cool]

1. I would call him an asshole

but maybe it would make more sense to call him a pisser.

[toppertwot]

58. I would call him typical Republican

Republicans kinda think the whole world revolves around
them,and anyone who don`t agree with them ain`t no good!

[pasto76]

60. dont forget

"The idea that the minority party represents the "will of the people"
(not some of the people, but "the people") is the seedling of a totalitarian mindset.
In this mindset -- democracy doesn't matter, ideas are not to be discussed,
and opposing views are not to respected. What matters is that they alone have truth,
they alone are metaphysically connected to the "mind of the people" can interpret their will,
and because they have truth and speak for the people,
others represent a threat and must be silenced and stopped."

[superconnected]

84. What are you quoting? That's quite good.

[The Doctor.]

91. Sounds like KO. eom.

[Enthusiast]

168. I agree. nt

[silverweb]

174. James Zogby at HuffPo:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/frightening-gop-behavior_b_508969.html

[Styxiv]

233. So true

The idea that the minority party represents the "will of the people"

Ya I don't get it how can you say you represent the MAJORITY of people? If that where the case wouldn't YOUR PARTY be the majority party? Seems you're the MINORITY party because the WILL OF THE PEOPLE voted you out? Hmm it's like saying 4 plus 4 equals 2 I don't get it. Plus as has been said OVER AND OVER IF you agree (in principal) the system needs to be fixed WHY DID YOUR PARTY DO NOTHING FOR EIGHT YEARS PLUS??!!!!

[saigon68]

270. Guiding principles of Sarah Palin

[cyclezealot]

61. Likely one of those Greedy GOP types

Who not only run their practice but run related diagnostic centers, clinic, nursing homes. Etc . And recycle their own patients into his own related health care business' . Of course at an inflated price , raising insurance premiums for all.. Thinking he can run his daisy chain without anyone knowing the difference..

[Bill_Segundo]

220. Wouldn't a greedy doctor take anyone, and overcharge them?

Doing something that costs you money based on politics could be called many things, but I think greedy isn't among them.

[nxylas]

269. OK, greedy and stupid

I suspect he didn't really think it through. You forget, Republicans are governed by their lizard brains, and lack the higher reasoning functions.

[cyclezealot]

282. Bill . Not necessarily talking about Dr's fees for an office visit..

What I had in mind is when a group of doctor's form their own parasitic chain of clinics or diagnostic centers, snuff out the competition within a given community and then charge excessively for their services.. Sort of like setting up monopolies as learned from Cornelius Vanderbilt , when he built his railroad empire 150 years ago..

[kenfrequed]

88. I think this doctor is confused

He must have mistakenly taken a hypocritic oath rather than a Hippocratic oath.

[jaded_old_cynic]

67. I prefer to call him an appendix.

All repubs are like an appendix. They serve no useful purpose, and when they get inflamed, they only end up giving you pain and costing you money! At least assholes have a purpose.

Peace.

[valerief]

100. A tumor is a better name for him. nt

[dotymed]

186. How true..

This Dr. needs to go into banking. If we truly got the health care that the majority of Americans want.....I wonder if he would be as "pissed" off?
Single Payer is supported by citizen and professional majorities....

[Frosty cupcake]

89. I think this is a fine idea.

In fact, why not force every ignorant, Republican-loving asshole to identify themselves. That way I know who to avoid giving any of my money to.

[No Elephants]

124. I'd like to know who's who as well.

[lsewpershad]

201. One sick jerk

Hope the next doctor he visits tells him to go elsewhere.

[DissedByBush]

223. So much for the Physician's Oath

"I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patient."

Yep, blew that one.

[humbled_opinion]

250. This will happen more and more.

The Right Wingers talking points will start festering and Doctors will begin to reject medicare and Tricare patients. My doctor is already talking about not taking any new medicare patients, and believe me I feel sorry for him I see the bill i.e., he charges $75.00 for an office visit but is reimbursed $35.00 from tricare, he told me he has to write off the losses and it just doesn't pay as all costs to him keep going up and medicare and tricare reimbursements keep going down.

[bemildred]

2. Oh yeah, like I would really want this tool taking care of me? nt

[TeaBagsAreForCups]

235. You would want it less if you knew HIS BACKGROUND...

...as I posted last night in GD:

This guy's a real winner. First, he practices the most severe form of intimidation in a medical environment evidencing a deplorable, reprehensible, and entirely unethical medical standard.

But the real kicker is that, if we didn't understand it already from such behavior, he's unequivocally third rate: 1. after graduating from Rutgers in 1976, he could not even get into a United States Medical School. So, he deferred for two years and finally settled at St. George's University School of Medicine in GRENADA! - where it appears it took him FIVE years to graduate. 2. after that, it was one lackluster appointment after the other.

Anyone reading his own writings finds nothing but a bitter, bitter and sorry old man. Just what you want in a compassionate Physician, huh? Heal thyself first, idiot, then work on the healthcare system. Intellectually, "Doctor," you can't hold a stethoscope to President Obama.

Yet another twist to this scam: ... from the Orlando Sentinel cited article, page two: "Cassell, whose lawyer wife, Leslie Campione, has declared herself a Republican candidate for Lake County commissioner...." Just perhaps this is all part of a marketing and publicity campaign to garner attention for the wife's political objectives?

(A repeat of my post in the Comments Section of the original ORLANDO SENTINEL Article and elsewhere.)

[Cirque du So-What]

3. 'Mount Dora'? In Florida?

I didn't realize there were any features anywhere in central Florida that resembled a 'mount.' Perhaps it was a subliminal wish on the part of an early settler to...mount Dora?

[loudsue]

13. Maybe Dora was his pet goat

Or sheep. The mount part....don't know about that. :evilgrin:

[Cirque du So-What]

21. Reminds me of a joke...

Q: How is Mick Jagger different from a Scotsman?

A: Jagger says, 'hey, you, get off of my cloud,' while the Scotsman says, 'hey, McCloud, get off of my ewe!'

[damonm]

158. Which reminds me of another one...

Q: Why do Scotsmen wear kilts?
A: Sheep can hear zippers for MILES...

[stillrockin]

113. lol

[Lorien]

17. It's slightly hilly...very slightly

popular t-shirts in the area are sarcastically emblazoned with "Ski Mount Dora" and "I climbed Mount Dora". It's mostly a retirement community, but there's a lot of creative types up there so it does lean to the left.

[Dr.Phool]

38. They have a good dog bakery there too.

A friend of mine always buys my pooch some treats when she goes through there.

[prole_for_peace]

86. They bake DOGS??!!

Yikes....

Just ignore me. I am sick and slightly delirious

[Bill_Segundo]

227. It's lower fat than frying them....

[whopis01]

130. Oh come one, we have Mount Dora, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain...

When you live here, I suppose 184 feet above sea level seems like a mountain....

[MissMillie]

4. apparently this guy thinks people vote w/ their dicks

bully for him.

[pattmarty]

57. In the case of Palin, evidently some do.

:sarcasm:

[stray cat]

5. Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist

This guy? http://floridahifu.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=27

Ratings for this doctor: http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Jack_Cassell.html#

[Mnemosyne]

11. "Dr. Cassell has been reviewed by 134 patients. The rating is 1.0 out of 4 stars.

The Overall Average Patient Rating of Dr. Jack L Cassell, MD when asked is Poor."


Apparently his puke patients don't care for this jerk either.

[stray cat]

25. Almost all are based on his politics - but I wouldn't trust his bedside manner or skils

[1monster]

132. That rating has gone up to 1.5. Apparently, the good doctor is getting more votes due to the article

Or, he's calling in his friends.

[CLANG]

30. I gave him a really "good" rating!

[lonestarnot]

47. Ackety, wouldn't want something like that looking at my urethra.

[emulatorloo]

62. Not to mention putting a catheter in . . .

EOM

[shireen]

111. it's a bit more complicated than that ...

Being Republican doesn't mean he''s a bad doctor. (In his case, the patient ratings may say otherwise.)

i have a very good gynecologist who thinks Obama is a socialist. She said his early political writings were socialist. I told her, 'depends on your definition of socialism' and mentioned that Sweden is a 'socialist' country with a good standard of living. She quipped, 'so move there'. I replied, 'but he's not acting like a socialist'. Now, some people may quit seeing her based on that exchange. But I've known her for a really long time; I like her and know she's a fundamentally good person. She's seen me through some very rough medical crises and did an excellent job. She's got views that i don't agree with and I certainly question the logic of those views. But as far as medicine is concerned, she's a good doctor.

Bottom line; people are complex.

[No Elephants]

121. He's the one who made politics an issue. It's his freaking attitude that would keep folks away, not

his politics.

[shireen]

264. agreed. nt.

[Crunchy Frog]

173. I don't care about his politics. His behavior towards his patients

is apallingly unprofessional and unethical. He's apparently abandoning cancer patients mid-treatment because he disagrees with their politics and is throwing a temper tantrum over a piece of legislation he doesn't like.

He may be a good mechanic as far as the human body is concerned, but he's a shit doctor.

[shireen]

265. yes, he's definitely ethically-challenged! nt

[fasttense]

273. And what happens when a restaurant owner decided Obama voters need not eat there?

What if a theater said Obama voters need not see their movies? What if a grocery store posted a sign that said, "No Obama voters allowed"? And what if those same places put up signs saying, "No Jews allowed or No blacks allowed"? Think about it.

This is no different than discriminating against someone because they are of the wrong religion or wrong skin color. Yet, some people see this guy as just some silly nut.

Just wait until you start seeing these signs everywhere. Then what are you going to do?

[Milford81]

200. Socialism isnt a bad word

Next time someone says socialism in a derogatory way ask them if they have actually read the socialist theory that was written 300 hundred years ago. Maybe if we were still in the cold war this might hold some fear, but republicans use propaganda to make good ideas seem horrible, like unions and socialism. Do you like weekends, well thank the unions because its there idea. Socialism and Marxism and capitalism are all out dated ideas it holds no relevance when someone uses those terms and no ones seems to realize that we live in 2010 not 1750 times are different we need different ideas and need to use ideas that work. We live in a socialist capitalist marxist country they're all blending into one. Ask her if she likes recieving mail from the post office, that is a socialist idea ask her if she likes firefighters, socialism, police, socialism.

[troubledamerican]

241. Publicly-funded socialist roads are the entire backbone of the U.S. economy.

[shireen]

261. +1 nt

... edited to add .

welcome to DU :hi:

[wolfgangmo]

203. Just my 2 cents, but....

As the owner of a medical clinic that takes mostly very complicated cases (we get referrals form other docs because they don't know WTF to do with "hard" (i.e. those who do not respond to standard or drug protocols "like they are supposed to) patients, I can tell you that the practice of medicine depends on experience but also a certain fluidity of thought.

And your good old doctor seems to be displaying a certain rigidity of thought. You might want to make sure that your doc medical diagnosis and prognosis skills are not fossilizing as her political mindset seems to be doing.

On the other hand she might be perfectly fine. I just know that if I had an option I would take it and if I didn't I would be looking for one.

[shireen]

263. i'm not concerned about her skills

she's seen me through a couple of very serious medical conditions, and did a great job.

i was simply trying to point out that people are complex, and we should not stereotype or assume the worst about the whole person just because they have particular political beliefs.

[marybourg]

213. I bet I know what she tells her patients who find themselves with an unwanted

pregnancy. It's a shame that medicine, and especially gynecology has become politicized, but that's one specialty where I would want to know the doctor's ideological leanings before I visit her.

[shireen]

260. "I bet I know ..."

you don't.

edited to clarify: don't assume that being 'anti-socialist' is the same as anti-abortion. There are pro-choice Republicans out there too. (I don't know if she's a Republican, she could very well be an independent or libertarian.)

As i said earlier ... people are complex.

[oedura]

222. She quipped, 'so move there'...

To which you should reply, "Why should I move? I'm not the one who's bitching."

Also, as a gynecologist, does she ever do abortions? If so, remind her that her Republican friends like to kill her kind.

[shireen]

267. sigh!

> She quipped, 'so move there'...
Sometimes, writing does not convey the nuances of a quote ... I know her well enough to understand that she didn't mean it literally.

> Also, as a gynecologist, does she ever do abortions?
> If so, remind her that her Republican friends like to kill her kind.

Wow ... i hope you did not mean that literally!
If you did:
- for obvious reasons, NEVER ask, in a public forum, if a gynecologist performs abortions.
- regarding your "kill her kind" comment: courageous people like Dr. Tiller were killed by religious lunatics. To associate those vile murderers with Republicans is a very cheap shot.

[CLANG]

239. Anyone that thinks Obama is a socialist is a simpleton.

[lonestarnot]

252. Yes, he more than likely smells too.

[No Elephants]

117. Ratings for this doctor: piss poor.

[wordpix]

151. good one - and he only wants to see his pee-ple

[pundaint]

153. No fan of the sign, or misrepresentation - those ratings are bogus - check the dates

and comments. All yesterday and today - is this an April fools prank?

[stray cat]

215. They mostly state the reason for the ratings - his selective treatment - nothing bogus there

[rasputin1952]

181. I had to look up my doc on that site, he was there...

Unfortunately, he passed away last month.

Dr. William Becker, Norfolk NE. He had 4 stars, and there was a note that stated he was rated 17 out of 144 of the best FP's/Internist's...in the country!

He was a fine man and an excellent Dr. One of those you could call at Midnight, and could expect to see him within half an hour if it was an emergency.

May he Rest in Peace, he helped an untold number of extremely grateful patients.

O8)

[BrklynLiberal]

196. That is just SOOOOO predictable.... That man is a total asshole. I wonder why he went into

urology! I would have thought proctology would have been his chosen field

[Lorien]

256. Looks like the teabaggers are trying to rescue his ratings. nt

[24601]

6. It's probably legal - and there are plenty of doctors who would

prefer to treat "blue" patients. If there are organizations that urge people to "buy" blue or red, sellers of services are likely to follow suit. This guy is unlikely to make the buy blue preferred list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BuyBlue.org

[WorseBeforeBetter]

87. The Hippocratic Oath (Modern Version)[10]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath

~~~

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

~~~

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

~~~

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

~~~

It's unethical, and I imagine the appropriate board will be going after him. BuyBlue.org is no longer around (did you read the Wiki link you provided?). As someone who referred to it, I'm certain medical professionals were not included. And I'm also certain that the vast majority of medical professionals are NOT focused on the political stripes of their patients, but for the wackos with Teabagger leanings.

[DeeDeeNY]

119. Not to mention:

I will treat without exception all who seek my ministrations, so long as the treatment of others is not compromised thereby

http://www.members.tripod.com/nktiuro/hippocra.htm

[wolfgangmo]

152. Unfortunately most medical school no longer issue that oath.

This all started in the 1980's (big surprise there) and now very few MD's take the oath. There are notable exceptions.

However I wouldn't be surprised if this oath was not taken by the doctor in question. Or if it was then he is one of those freepers who consider oaths of office (like the pres) to be more suggeestions than oaths.

[Enthusiast]

171. Yeah, big surprise there.

About half the country became Ayn Rand converts under Saint Reagan.

[wolfgangmo]

204. I finally tried to read Atlas Shrugged.

Good god - just on a literary level, that book sucks. It may have been one of the worst books I have ever attempted.

And the rape scenes? WTF is up with that?

[Enthusiast]

230. She seems to be a fan of rape.

And just think, Atlas Shrugged has almost become a Republican/RW owner's manual.

[stray cat]

214. are you sure? - the ones I know do

[WorseBeforeBetter]

166. Good one. But they'll come up with some loopy "logic" around it, i.e., ...

the treatment of others (non-Obama voters) WILL be compromised if they treat Obama voters. I can hear the right-wing blowhards now, from Baby Beck on down to my "Obama is the anti-Christ" wacko neighbor. They're nothing, if not predictable...

[Rage Inc.]

179. The HYPOCRITIC Oath*

*corrected for accuracy.

[24601]

183. No I didn't read the wiki - my bad. But back to the doctor - he's

been careful to say he'll treat whomever comes in. Since the sign is not accompanied by improper (or any) action or inaction, it's just expressing an opinion - the heart of the 1st amendment, protecting both popular and unpopular views equally.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

218. He's probably trying to have the comments scrubbed at vitals.com as I type this --

freedom of speech, you know. One reviewer in support of Cassell referred to Obama as a "mulato," which pretty much sums it up.

http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Jack_Cassell.html

He's talking out of both sides of his mouth and, yes, is free to post his juvenile little sign. But as a patient, "red" or "blue," I'm free to take my money (and insurance coverage) to health care providers I consider ethical, and hope others do as well. I certainly have no interest in getting medical care from some colossal prick looking for his 15 minutes.

[haele]

94. They'd prefer to treat "blue", but to outright deny care?

Big difference between advertising being progressive and saying "I don't treat someone who believes differently than me".
Look at it this way - do hospitals that advertise Christian affiliations also advertise they will deny treatment to Atheists or Muslims, or will they target more positive advertisements in Christian venues to help those potential patients decide for their services even as they target their normal public advertisements to the quality of care they can provide?

Even if they won't do certain procedures (and I'm trying very hard not to thread-jack, so I'm not even going to go "there" and beg people not to go there), it's based on the procedure, not the patient's political or religious views; they'll generally go out of their way to give any treatment they can beside that procedure - and advertise on the quality of that treatment, rather than showcase their personal prejudices to the general public.

This guy has no PR sense - by posting that sign, he's advertising how immature, self-centered, and/or bigoted he is. Who is he trying to attract with that sign the way it is? The hard-core bigot or tea-bagger only?
Are there enough bigots out there to whom a sign like that would be the clincher when they're trying to decide "who do I want handling my penis?" when they're worried about prostate cancer, sterility, or erectile dysfunction?
I can hear it now -
"Yeah, that Doctor Jack - he's a real he-man. He won't take any of those latte drink'n gumm'int tit-suckin' lie-brul punks who are trying to take over Our Country(tm) with their damn Soc-u-list Agendas. What - you say he won't take Medicare or Tricare now?"

Haele

[No Elephants]

120. Target used to be considered a Blue store, but Walmart never put up a sign saying "No Democrats."

Attempting to funnel consumers to one store rather than another is very different from a store rejecting patrons.

And, being a doctor is very different from being a store. As the dick man said himself, turning away patients is unethical. Do you really accept his self-serving statement that putting a sign up telling certain patients to go elsewhere is very different from turning away patients?

Why are you trying to rationalize this guy's behavior, anyway?

[The Wielding Truth]

199. No Doctor should ever refuse to treat a patient because of their political

affiliation.

[noiretextatique]

285. discrimination is not legal in most places in the US

but in florida, who the hell knows.

[AlbertCat]

7. I'm not turning anybody away

I'm just telling them to seek help elsewhere.


Oooooh kay! Like NO PROBLEM.


What a kook. Who's want this selfish dick to look after them anyway?


Watch, Conservative fruit loops will think this is great....funny.... and courageous. Morans! :eyes:
(how many walk-ins does he have, y'think?)

[xxqqqzme]

80. That will be the response to any

criticism - Hey, it was just a joke! Rethugs always find this sort of behavior 'funny'.

[Kingofalldems]

8. He should become the official physician for the teabaggers

[No Elephants]

123. Because he's a urologist with a pissy personality taking a pissyfit?

[stray cat]

9. How did he get through medical schools without relying on student loans?

He either had wealthy parents or is a hypocrite and takes government help but resents help to others

[Bette Noir]

32. School was cheaper, years ago.

It used to be possible to work one's way through college as a waiter/waitress.

[haele]

76. Hmm, if he's 56, unless he went to college when he was 16 or so -

He'd still have some outrageous 6-figure costs for education as a specialist - and would need a student loan or grant of some sort to pay if mommy and daddy weren't able to drop $45K - 50K a year for the 6 to 8 years of education he'd need. The government began to privatize student loan processing in the early 80's (Thank you Uncle Ronnie!), so I suppose he could justify operating under the delusion that he "never took government money".
And it looked as if he developed a patented procedure, which might have allowed him to pay off his student loans early - a procedure which he probably developed with some sort of government help, either directly or in-directly.
Haele

[wolfgangmo]

96. Further

The government, through the use of grants and fees, pays for the majority of residency costs, which for a specialist run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

This guy was basically given a free ride his entire life and he is whining that the gravy train might have a higher ticket price.

[stray cat]

216. Not med school even twenty years back

[mbperrin]

41. Or perhaps his student loans just need to be accelerated and called due.

Certainly would not want to force him to have been reliant on a government he disagrees with for his education.

Looks like a little investigation is due.

And using the word "ethical" just shows how far gone he is.

[pundaint]

187. Did you notice the off-shore Dr school listed on his bio?

[BrklynLiberal]

194. HAH!!!!!!!!!

[mrs_p]

197. first thing that stuck out for me

not that all students that go to medical school offshore are bad -- but it does suggest s/he couldn't get into a US med school for some reason or another...

[stray cat]

217. He is one of the off shore guys? So he could not get into an American Med School

Off shore now a days takes most people who can pay

[jtuck004]

10. I wonder if he went to public schools and college, and how much public money

he took then?

[wordpix]

154. good questions for some enterprising reporter to research

[Lorien]

12. He would have gotten the same plan from McCain or Romney, so what's his beef?

Sad. I hope his brainlessness comes back to haunt him.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lil Missy]

29. Hey look! Kiss my ass!

[CLANG]

31. Pepperoni or Sausage?

[smoogatz]

40. Enjoy your brief but pointless stay on DU.

[Dinger]

46. I Don't Like Pizza For Breakfast, However, In This Case I'll Make An Exception (nt)

[arbusto_baboso]

49. It's called the Hippocratic Oath, dipshit.

Perhaps you've heard of it? It's UNETHICAL and ILLEGAL for a doctor to do this.

[trumad]

50. Like your profile...

So you're a staunch conservative eh?

LOL---

[ronnie624]

56. Do you not understand the purpose of a political forum.?

Your sarcasm is illogical. The doctor has a right to dissent, and Democrats have a right to criticize his stupidity. There's nothing wrong with "piling on" in this context. It's what happens on political websites.

Your message is exactly the sort of nonsense one can expect from ALL conservatives.

[No Elephants]

128. This is not a political forum. It is a political forum for Democrats, as distinguished from a

political forum where political views of all kinds are welcome.

Conservatives do not belong here.

[ronnie624]

133. Not true.

I see 'conservative' opinions expressed here frequently.

[No Elephants]

136. Read my post again, please. It doesn't say what your response implies.

I see conservative opinions expressed here by few. How conservative posters managed to hit 1000 posts and remain here for years, I don't know. Stayed just under the radar, I guess. But, that doesn't change the fact that this forum is for Democrats and conservatives don't belong here--even if some trespass.

[demwing]

172. This is a forum for Democrats and other progressives

Rule #2
Who We Are: Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats . Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office. Democratic Underground is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, and comments posted here are not representative of the Democratic Party or its candidates.

It doesn't say conservatives don't belong here at all

However, Rule #4 says the following:

"But please remember that this is a large and diverse community that includes a broad range of opinion. People who are easily offended, or who are not accustomed to having their opinions (including deeply personal convictions) challenged may not feel entirely comfortable here. A thick skin is necessary to participate on this or any other discussion forum."

[wolfgangmo]

205. I disagree (with caveats)

Caveats: that republicans do not belong here and likely not libertarians (although some of us might agree with the overseas military being brought back home and drasticallyy downscaled). But someone who is conservative is someone who conserves. ONe can conserve a union (traditional family values). One can conserve a six pack (although I've never managed). One can conserve a social program.

I guess I think of myself as having conservative fiscal ideas. But I'm not a free marketeer - because I have conservative fiscal ideas. And I think that our culture and country can best be conserved as it has in the past, by absorbing /adopting / welcoming other cultures and people - not by closing borders and circling the white wagons.



Does this seem like hair spliting to you?

[ronnie624]

255. I believe there are many Democrats

who I would consider to hold a 'conservative' world view. Voting Democratic does not necessarily make one liberal or progressive. That's what I meant to imply. No offense to you was intended, No Elephants. I value your opinions (especially on legal matters), so I would never presume to put words in your mouth.

Good day to you.

[rocktivity]

15. The doctor has a condition known in the medical field as "sore losing"

of the election, HRC, and most likely a chunk of GOP donor money.

x(
rocktivity

[closeupready]

16. They've got that backwards. If you took the Hippocratic Oath,

and you would turn sick people away in light of these changes, then you need to retire from medicine altogether.

[TygrBright]

18. So, how's that Hippocratic Oathy thing workin' out forya, then, Doc? n/t

[MidwestTransplant]

19. Sounds like more of a proctologist than a urologist.

[No Elephants]

134. Meh. He sounds pissy enough.

[wordpix]

155. yah but he's pretty shitty, too

[Dawgs]

20. Why am I not surprised that it's some elderly white dude?

:hi:

[humbled_opinion]

23. This is only the begining folks...

More and more doctors will reject patients with Medicare and Tricare if reimbursement rates are cut. Doctors complain that current government reimbursements do not allow them to keep up with costs. This was the complete argument for Single Payer and since our leaders decided that we would take a baby step and go all in with it the pain will become evident, repukes will make it all the fault of Democrats and if Democrats are not in power your chance at getting a single payer is ZERO.

[xsquid]

51. I have one rhumatologist in this area that takes medicare

(out of 5) and he had a sign up that if the cuts happen he will no longer be taking us.

[wolfgangmo]

109. Not to be a jerk here but I have to address this basic misconception.

No doctor "takes" or "accepts" any insurance including medicare. Doctors started to bill these companies as a courtesy about 40 - 50 years ago which was pretty easy back in the days when most insurance companies were either mutuals (owned by the policy holders) or non-profits (like what BCBS used to be before most of them privatized). These days there are literally thousands of insurance companies with 100's of different policies and doctors offices hire billing companies full of insurance billers to fight with insurance companies insurance deniers. Talk about a bureaucracy.

Since RayGun, the insurance companies have reduced payments, made collecting payments long and time consuming processes, and made it very hard to turn a profit. This is why more and more primary care doctors have stopped billing insurance for patients as a courtesy - they simply can't afford to anymore. What would you do with rent and employee salaries coming due every month and the insurance companies holding payment for a service from anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. I have personally seen a letter send by BC/BS to another practice demanding back payment for a service that the doctor did on several patients (preauthorized on every patient it was performed on) and then 3 years later after all these preauthorizations they CHANGED THEIR MINDS and wanted their money back. To get it the insurance company stopped paying for current patients for 8 months.

Is it any wonder more and more doctors are not billing insurance?


Having said all of that it is clear from this docs website that he is still firmly sucking on the public teat for all he can. I would not see this unethical grunt as a doctor and I would send that picture to the state board of medical licensing (ethics).

[Sgent]

125. Its not just billing the insurance

its the fact that they sign contracts which require them to accept certain reimbursement amounts.

One of my doctors is happy to submit the claim to my insurance company, but since he's out of network and hasn't signed a contract the check goes to me (not him) and there is no insurance negotiated discount on his fees. I'm responsible for paying him directly.

[wolfgangmo]

160. Yes reimbursement is part of it.

And the fact that they pay very little, "negotiate" the rate lower every 3 to 6 months and then don't even stick to their own contract when it comes to paying on time that is causing so many doctors to step away from those contracts.

Can you imagine if in your job, you did a service, and then had to accept about 50 cents on the dollar (or less) 6 months to 3 years later and only after spending hours on the phone and writing letters justifying your payment? Would you still do your job? Oh - did I mention that rent, phone, internet and the 3 to 6 people whose salaries you pay are all waiting for their checks NOW.

Insurance companies are a pip. They screw the public. They screw doctors. They screw public hospitals. For all I know they are screwing their mothers. The only people they don't seem to be screwing is their majority stockholders.

[xsquid]

246. I don't know what point you are trying to make, but

they **WILL NOT** see medicare patients period.

If someone has chronic problems as I do then the DR. takes or accepts you as a patient. It's not a walk in with a cold type deal, and he bases whether takes or accepts you on your *INSURANCE*. So I disagree with you anyway. If a dr. takes you as a medicare patient, whether he hands you the paper or not, he cannot charge more than the capped maximum if he wants to get paid period. Even if you see a DR> that does not take medicare he stll has to fill out the forms for the patient to get reimbursed. So it's not as easy as seeing a dr, paying for it yourself, then getting reimbursed for it. They still have to fill out the paperwork.

Read it here:

http://www.medicare.gov/basics/fac.asp

My Provider or Supplier ACCEPTS Medicare Assignment

You pay your share of the bill (coinsurance and deductibles) to the provider or supplier. The provider or supplier files a Medicare claim. Medicare pays its share of the bill directly to the provider or supplier.

My Physician or Supplier Does Not ACCEPT Medicare Assignment

Note: Only physicians and suppliers can decide not to accept assignment.

If your physician or supplier does not accept assignment for covered services, your physician or supplier may require that you pay most or all of the bill at the time you receive services or supplies. However, the physician or supplier is still required to file a Medicare claim on your behalf. Medicare then pays its share of the bill directly to you.

Medicare cannot pay you its share of the bill until a Medicare claim is filed. You should take the following steps if your doctor or supplier does not file the Medicare claim in a timely manner.

[keepthemhonest]

78. they are going to be payed more than they hae been

for medicare patients, it's not getting cut.

[Mojorabbit]

266. Right now there is a cut

They did a temp fix last month and then kicked it down the road again. My hubby is family practice. Last month medicare held payments for the first ten business days to see if it would be fixed and will do so again in April as congress left for break without addressing it. ie.....

Massive Medicare Pay Cut Will Take Effect April 1
arch 26, 2010 — A 21.2% Medicare pay cut will take effect April 1 after the Senate today failed to pass a bill extending the effective date to May 1 before lawmakers recessed for 2 weeks.

The Senate was poised to vote on the Democrat-sponsored legislation this week, but Sen. Tom Coburn, MD (R-OK), put a procedural block on it, saying Democrats were engaged in a harmful exercise in deficit spending. Sen. Coburn said they should find a way to pay for the bill, which also would have extended expired unemployment compensation benefits, subsidies for health insurance premiums for the out-of-work under the COBRA program, and various tax breaks.

The 21.2% reduction in reimbursement taking effect on April Fool's Day does not necessarily mean that physicians will experience the Medicare meltdown everyone has dreaded. When Congress goes back to work on April 12, Senate Democrats will try to pass the 1-month extension again and make it retroactive to April 1. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that it will freeze payments on physician Medicare claims for the first 10 business days of April and then pay the full amount — as if the reduction never occurred — once the 1-month extension passes in the Senate.

That very scenario played out just weeks ago when the pay cut took effect on March 1, and the Senate voted the next day to delay it until April 1 (the House had approved that measure the week before). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services did not process physician claims for the first 10 business days of the month to spare physicians the impact of smaller checks.

more at site http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/719321

This was killer for us last month as we had to dig into emergency funds to pay bills on time in the absence of the govt paying claims and it looks like another roller coaster ride in April.

[keepthemhonest]

274. I know the last 5 years or so

doctors in general are getting less from medicare. However, in the health insurance reform bill they were going to pay more to doctors for care given.I was not aware of this one that you are talking about and how it will relate to the healthcare bill.

[stray cat]

24. I wonder if his affiliated hospitals below like this kind of publicity about their doctors?

Dr. Cassell is affiliated with 3 hospitals :

Florida Hospital Waterman
201 N Eustis St, Eustis, FL
Top 25%

Leesburg Regional Medical Center
600 E Dixie Ave, Leesburg, FL
Top 50%

[secondwind]

26. he's probably upset because he has to be careful not to "bundle" or "double dip" when

when he bills Medicare from now on! :rofl:


He has to follow guidelines that will prevent him from testing the same patient more than once for no "reason".... :rofl:


And, yes, he probably didn't vote for our cool President either! Suck on it, Doc! :rofl:

[CLANG]

27. I hope he loses at least 53% of his patients over this.

What a pig.

[stray cat]

28. Florida Hospital Waterman; Leesburg Regional Medical Center - Does Dr Cassell speak for them?

Dr. Cassell is affiliated with 3 hospitals :
Florida Hospital Waterman
201 N Eustis St, Eustis, FL
Top 25%
Leesburg Regional Medical Center
600 E Dixie Ave, Leesburg, FL
Top 50%
Show all hospital affiliations >>
Hospital quality is often a reflection of the doctors associated with it. Where available, hospital ranking by specialty is shown.

[bc3000]

33. He went to medical school in Grenada

According to this: http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Jack_Cassell.html# he went to St. George's University: http://www.sgu.edu/life-at-sgu/index.html

I don't know much about medical schools, but don't people usually go to schools in the Caribbean when they can't get into any schools in the USA?

[CLANG]

34. Yes, and Grenada would not my a top choice outside the US either!

[wolfgangmo]

162. Ah good old Surf U.

I remember it well. The wind, the waves, the sun, the bikini's, the bales of weed, and the occasional class.

[kestrel91316]

39. Yes. It's understandable for a veterinary student to go to the Caribbean

because it's so difficult to get into US vet schools. But it's laughably easy to get into US medical schools. Unless you aren't a very good student, lol.

Infer what you will about the guy........

[No Elephants]

139. Meh. I know someone who had great grades, but got cocky and applied to only 2 med schools.

Or, maybe he just didn't want to spend a lot of money on application fees. Anyway, he's a frickin' genius--except for applying to only two schools--but ended up going to Grenada because neither of the only two med schools to which he applied ending up accepting him and he did not want to wait a year and apply elsewhere.

[Crunchy Frog]

177. Oh, one of "them". One of "those" "doctors" nearly killed my mother's SO.

[Joe Chi Minh]

35. I trust when a single-payer system is finally introduced, his royal nibs will be remembered,

and his rejection of the public will be changed into a boycott of his "services" by them. Makes you wonder who would want to be treated by such an individual.

[DailyGrind51]

36. I wouldn't want him messing with my privates anyway!

[Richardo]

37. I guess it's appropriate that he's a dick doctor.

[bc3000]

45. *rimshot*

I like the way you post.

[Javaman]

42. meh, an old dumb bastard.

he deserves himself.

[smoogatz]

43. I'll betcha 80-90% of his patients are on Medicare.

Damn that socialized medicine!

[xsquid]

53. I doubt it, most have already dropped us medicare patients nt

[smoogatz]

64. Most?

Got a link for that bit of mis-information, bub?

[wolfgangmo]

207. Most no - not yet.

But it is the fastest growing trend in general and family practices. And not just medicare, but all insurance.

Our practice no longer bills insurance, but we provide a superbill with all procedure and insurance codes on it so patients can submit it themselves. With the money we have saved by not spending 1 hour arguing with insurance company for every hour spent with a patient, and by dropping the expensive billing services that exist to fight the expensive insurance denier clerks, we have a better profit to loss ratio and can afford to treat patient who have lost insurance or who have crappy insurance at lower costs.

[eagertolearn]

289. So the patient has to bill the insurance company and fight for procedures?

They are dealing with their illness and don't know the system of getting the insurance companies to pay. I haven't heard of practices doing that.

[eagertolearn]

292. My husband wants to know are you making people pay up front?

How can they afford that and what if they find that the insurance company only paid a percentage of what you charged and then they are out a bunch of money. This doesn't make sense. We live in a small town and I don't think that would go over very well.

[xsquid]

244. Link? How am I going to post a link to show you who has dropped me?

Out of 6 rhumatologists here there is one left that takes medicare and he has a sign up (my last visit) that said if the cuts go through he will be forced to drop us. If you want to know how bad its getting talk to people on medicare, don't just assume you know. It'd obvious you don't know your backside from a hole in the ground.....Bub. Get a clue.

[Name removed]

101. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ikonoklast]

104. Those that assert, must first prove.

Back up that opinion with facts.

You are welcome to your own opinion, but not to your own 'facts'.


Link, please, to 'most' doctors in this country already dropping medicare patients.

[xsquid]

245. Another clown. Most here have, I have medicare and as I said in another post

out of 6 rhumatologists only one was still taking medicare on my last visit and he had a sign up that if the cuts haooen he will drop us. It took me over a year to get an appt with him. Many complete facilities are not taking medicare at all, including all of thr dr's there. Most of the ones that do take medicare are not taking new medicare patients. I found one (1) internal medicine dr to take me, that was because he was new with no patients yet.

Don't act like you know what you are talking about unless you are out there trying to find dr's while on medicare.

[caseymoz]

81. Nope. My urologist stopped seeing me when I went on medicare.

Medicare doesn't pay him what private insurance plans do.

[Bill_Segundo]

221. Medicare turns down a lot of patients, and doctors turn down a lot of medicare

The future is going to be interesting. Since it can't be based on free will and free markets the government is going to have to figure out a way of getting something for nothing out of people smart enough to become MDs. I wonder how that works? Some may be so generous they work for less, but most people don't go through years of school and residency so they can make less than a lawyer or politician.

[caseymoz]

284. Well, there is another side to that. MD's owe A LOT in student loans.

And, really, it was the government's policy to base education on student loans. It was extremely bad policy brought to us the Vietnam war, and conservatives' resentment for students.

But really, that might be the bargaining chip to get universal healthcare: forgive doctors' student loans. I'm certain that will make them think different about this socialized medicine

[xsquid]

247. Don't expect any of these kids to believe you, they

think everyone is clammoring to take medicare.......I'd love to see their faces when they hit medicare age.

[wisteria]

44. Typical Repub jerk, he is under the wrong impression that his profit will be affected by HCR.

Of course, he is cutting into his profits by not insulting possible patients. He isn't just a jerk, he is an ass to.

[Bill_Segundo]

228. If profit were the object he's obviously gone the wrong way.

[Dinger]

48. his License Should Be Revoked, Yesterday (nt)

[Xenotime]

54. Agreed. AMA needs to shut this asshole down.

[liberation]

85. You kidding? The AMA will give this jackass a lifetime achievement award...

The AMA is one of the very reasons we have the clusterf*ck of an inhumane medical system we have. They are one of the main actors behind the creation of artificial shortages of medical professionals (esp. doctors and surgeons) which have hurt our society as a whole for the better part of 5 decades (if not more).

[No Elephants]

141. Florida's licensing board, not the AMA.

[66 dmhlt]

189. Probably best to complain to his County Medical Society

You can download a Complaint Form at the Florida Dept. of Health here - but you probably have to have standing as a patient or a relative:

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/enforcement/enforce_csu.html

You can easily let his County Medical Society know what you think w/ an easy fill-in the form here:

http://www.lakesumter.org/contact.asp

Or you can call or send a FAX directly to Dr. Cassell this way:

Tel: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

[Bill_Segundo]

243. Just complain randomly?

When you file a complaint you ought to have a reason. Free speech on his part isn't one.

[66 dmhlt]

293. But Medical Abandonment IS!

His sign, posted at the entrance so ALL - including established patients - would have to view it - meets the legal criteria:

1.) Caregiver accepted an assignment, i.e., had established a doctor-patient relationship
2.) Caregiver did not provide acceptable notice before terminating
3.) Caregiver did not allow for reasonable arrangements to be made for providing car

[knitter4democracy]

272. AMA has no power. That's why fewer than half of all doctors belong.

It's basically a union/lobbying group. That's it.

[DeSwiss]

52. K&R

[LibDemAlways]

55. With any luck a huge percentage of his patients will

become former patients - affecting his bottom line immediately.

[bigworld]

59. His profile makes him sound like a real prick

Graduating from Rutgers College in New Brunswick, New Jersey with a B.A. in Microbiology in 1976, Dr. Cassell remained in town employed at New Jersey Dairy Laboratory as a food chemist. There he remained until matriculating into the 1978 class at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. Becoming increasingly tired of the near-perfect weather and magical surrounding over the next five years, Dr. Cassell thought it best to return to New Jersey. There, he would often shovel his less than dependable car out of what seemed like glaciers during the winter months, only to drive twenty miles to one of Newark's many inner-city hospitals. For the next five years, "Jack," as he was called around the hospital, honed his clinical skills during the usual 36 hour periods on call while attending to thousands of victims of "drug deals gone bad." Despite the many adverse factors that affected the author during his urologic surgery residency, he generally managed to keep a bright outlook via denial and emotional repression, much of which has not resurfaced as of this writing.

Vowing never to practice in the north, unless mandated by a court of law, Dr. Cassell accepted a urologic oncology fellowship at the University of Florida in 1987. Initially lulled into a sense of well-being by Gainesville’s lack of nightly gunshot victims and snowstorms, "Jack" gleefully embraced the new position he had with Dr. Zev Wajsman, as this gifted professor’s sole protégé. What at first seemed to mark the end of Dr. Cassell’s training, ala "the Manchurian Candidate method" back in Jersey, was in retrospect, more like a warm up for things to come. As luck would have it, Dr. Wajsman was rumored to have been an Israeli drill sergeant before becoming a physician, and, therefore, more than capable in his ability to provide Dr. Cassell with a few "finishing touches," during his last affiliation with the academic community.

Bidding Shands a fond, "Shalom!" our author found his way to Lake County, Florida in 1988, to treat the good people of the area. Jack got privileges at Waterman Medical Center, the community hospital he still calls home, though it was recently renamed after being assumed by a local hospital system. In 1995 Dr. Cassell served as Chief of Surgery at Waterman. It was also around that time that he and several others attempted over a several year period to create a medical insurance product in the state unlike any other before it. The goal was to form a physician and hospital owned HMO, in which the smallest possible profit would be realized, allowing for more money to go back for the provision of healthcare. The Physician Hospital Corporation, as it was called, was complete in the physician arm, with several counties of doctors united and ready to go with both moral and financial support. Had a strong hospital partner felt the same dedication, it is Dr. Cassell’s feeling that no other HMO would have possibly been able to compete with the healthcare products it offered. After all, traditional HMOs have to turn a profit for their investors!

Our author has dabbled in many exciting projects over the last few years. It is our understanding that every week he would spend a few spare hours trying to capture the true flavor and content of his urologic office experiences on paper. Besides pounding out this entertaining and informative book, Dr. Cassell was actively inventing a urologic device to aid in reanastamosing a patient’s bladder and urethra once the cancerous prostate is removed. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Jack a patent for this exciting device on Decemeber 23, 2003. Several medical corporations are presently examining its possible applications in and out of the field of urology.

[skypilot]

127. Someone upthread posted a link to another profile...

...and in it was this little gem about his years studying and working in New Jersey:

Those five years of northern, inner city medicine proved to be instrumental in his decision to move to warmer, more bucolic surroundings.

Hmmm.

http://floridahifu.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=27

[No Elephants]

144. Capture the true flavor and content of his urological practice? Ewwwww.

[sfwriter]

63. A pissy urologist...

[golfguru]

65. Even much before HCR passed, it is much cheape to seek HC in

Costa Rica, Thailand, & India.

For example a knee replacement will cost less than half and that
includes airfare, deluxe hotel & food.

[rhett o rick]

66. That's actually cool. He let's everyone know where he stands so you can go to another dr.

I would hate to learn my urologist was a reich-wing wacko after the fact.

[begin_within]

68. I'm glad because I'd rather know who he really is, instead of supporting him without knowing that

Assenti's Pasta in San Diego put up a sign equating Democrats with Communists, and someone mentioned it on Yelp, and now the owner is so unhappy that people don't like it... but it's actually good for them to be informed of who the people really are.

[No Elephants]

146. Thanks for posting that. I may go to San Diego. I'll make sure not to go to Assenti's,

unless I feel like picketing it!

[begin_within]

178. The truth is

I've known the Assenti brothers a long time (18 years) and I've been friends with one of them off and on all that time, but I didn't realize how right-wing they are until since Obama was elected. I knew they were NRA types and I assumed they were Republicans, but to bring that into their business is crossing some sort of line. They do make very good fresh pasta, but if politics trumps that, then it would be better to buy it somewhere else.

[liberation]

69. ... and these are the people your friendly DLC representatives want to compromise with

... in order to appease them and maintain the status quo. And yet us lefties are the "extremists" who have been forced to give up miles in order to cater to people who are not willing to bulge a single inch.


Doing what is right means standing up to what is wrong, pretending that "change" can come from catering to the same people who are part of the problem is not stupid to the extreme, it is also the cowardly thing to do. I am tired to pretend that weakness and compromise is somehow strength and resolution.


So enjoy all the compromises, they sure ain't giving up on any of their positions.

[wordpix]

156. drill baby drill to appease is definitely not the way

[Mad_Dem_X]

70. "I'm not turning anybody away"

Umm, then why does it sounds like you are? What an unprincipled asshole.

[go west young man]

71. Not a very smart capitalist....

he could have 32 million new customers plus half of america. Instead he'll probably just be teabagging his friends.

[cadmium]

208. teabagging is a urology procedure nt

[AllyCat]

72. While I agree this is hardly a health "care" bill, this guy is an ass.

How awful for a professional to behave this way. This health insurance bill will not really affect him in any way. I hope he's out of business soon.

[laughingliberal]

73. If he's the preferred provider for any of his patients' insurance companies,

the patients need to call the insurers and demand other options. Obviously he's been benefiting from the current system. That needs to change.

[W T F]

74. Who would want to go to see this Quack anyway? He has obviously violated his Hippocratic Oath

[Wapsie B]

75. I so wish we could just create a part of this country for people like this.

Let them create their own little conservative utopia.

[No Elephants]

149. Me, too. I'd recommend Texas, but I already feel so bad for our Dems who live there.

[AlphaCentauri]

77. A doctor who suppose to cure impotence suffer of it n/t

[melm00se]

79. my doctor is similar

She doesn't (for the last 10 years) accept patients on Medicare/Medicaid. I don't hold it against her as it is clearly stated right up front and she provides a list of doctor referrals to those who will.

Asked her about it and he comment was that the reimbursement rates are too low (she loses $$$) and too slow for her to operate her business.

[eagertolearn]

107. My husband is an surgeon and he still takes medicare and medicaid

but he did say if the reinburstments drop and this is what he will get for everyone if we go to a single payer that he couldn't make it in private practice. I believe all doctors should take a precentage of medicare and medicaid until these problems get solved. My husband voted for Obama and was in favor of health care reform but he sees with his own practice that a single payer would be better for everyone. Its amazing how much money is spent on tracking all the different plans and arguing with insurance companies what they will pay. He also believes that everyone deserves health care! There is a hotel in Biggs, Oregon that has a message board for its hotel saying "terrible" things about the president, vice president and democratic idea's(when you stop at the Pilot station you can read it while you are waiting). The parking lot seems empty all the time...its kind of funny!

[liberation]

157. It depends on which branch of surgery he practices

my better half is a cardiovascular surgeon, and she can only practice with large medical groups (very costly infrastructure required for the procedures she performs).

But she most definitively is in favor of universal coverage (she has actually practiced in technical/academic exchanges with overseas teams and loved the experience) or at least a single payer system. The overhead that insurance companies puts on her and the staff they have to employ, literally to take care of all the paperwork required by insurance with absolutely no value added to the patience, is a sight to behold first hand.

In fact, part of the reason why she is advocating non-insurance based coverage is due to the simplification her life would attain. Right now a lot of her professional decisions are made that much difficult by the compounding of having her every single action and decision being double or triple checked and questioned by people who have little education or professionalism for that matter.


Comprehensive health care reform has to be fundamental. Right now the system puts patients in a very unfair position, and also medical professionals. My wife had to deal with insane costs for her education (the level of debt a surgeon accrues, even through state schools, is insane), then the amount of investment in time and effort that surgical training requires. Yet being below poverty level for all intents and purposes for a significant chunk of my wife's professional career. And then there are the issues of the insane overhead induced by insurance, and the costs of malpractice fees. And let's not forget the insane work schedules they are put through. Most people don't understand that the average doctor in a hospital by the time they hit the middle of their shifts, they are by all intents and purposes at the same awareness level than your run of the mill drunkard. And all for no apparent justification, other than the cost structures of the insurance companies dictating every aspect of health care right down to the shift structure of medical centers.

I find it interesting that the insurance companies always find a way to pit patients vs. medical professionals. Talk about divide and conquer. When my wife has the procedure turned down by the insurance, she is the one who has to give the bad news and face the wrath of the sick and desperate people. Both patients and medical professionals are put through such insane and unfair stress and angst levels, and all due to the fact that insurance companies feel entitled to 1/3 of the overall cost for no value added whatsoever to the process.

Being married to a health care professional, I can say that this system victimizes not only the patients, but those poor souls who went to the medical profession to actually help and take care of their fellow human beings. It is no coincidence that surgeons and pharmacists, for example, are among the top profession in rates of drug/alcohol abuse and divorce. The pressure and misery they are put through is insane.

[eagertolearn]

192. Medical groups are the way that most doctors are going because of

all the costs you mentioned above. Our small town is gradually turning into one large medical group run by the hospital which is not a bad thing but my husband has the best office staff ever and doesn't want to move over and leave them out or their salary would probably go down. He is an Orthopedic surgeon and in these times being in business is difficult. By the time he made it through residency and did a fellowship he was 33 and like your wife he gave up all those years after high school making only a small stipend plus had student loans for years to pay off. Now that we have three kids about in college money in decreasing and costs going up and with the economy still tanking in our small town it is a little scary for him (now that he is on the last stretch before retirement). Just think of all the savings that would occur if they had one system they were working with instead of all these insurnance plans. Like you said, sometimes the insurance company will deny coverage for a surgery now. Most medical plans ae limiting what they are covering because of the costs and their plans are costing a lot more for less. We need a major change. Obama's plan is just one step toward what we need. We chose the small town because of the quality of life for our family which has been great but now it is a little scary!

[wolfgangmo]

219. Did you know...

...That the average doctor in the US see patients for 35 hours a week and then spends another 35 hours a week getting treatment approved or paid for. Yup - 50% off their time is spend just trying to get their patients treated or themselved paid.

...That the average doctor in the US has 3 employees (or a service with 3 employees) whose only job is to go head to head with all the employees that the insurance companies devote to denying treatment to patients and payments to doctors. This raises the overhead costs of doctors drastically for no good reason which in turn is a cost passed directly on to patients in the form of higher premiums, deductables and cash pay prices.

...That US doctors pay huge malpractice premiums. No other country has this problem because the largest cost of a malpractice case is ongoing medical care which is not a factor in any country with universal coverage or single payer.

...That Doctors in Canada have none of these issues?

[wolfgangmo]

When we stopped billing insurance...

we were able to drop our cost to patients by 1/3 to 1/2 depending on the service. THAT is how much the insurance companies are contributing to the cost of care in America.

If you add that to the average of 27% that is the overhead of the average private insurance company then the American public is getting raped.

[wolfgangmo]

210. When we stopped billing insurance...

we were able to drop our cost to patients by 1/3 to 1/2 depending on the service. THAT is how much the insurance companies are contributing to the cost of care in America.

If you add that to the average of 27% that is the overhead of the average private insurance company then the American public is getting raped.

[superconnected]

82. I wouldn't want a doctor who's care depends on my political beliefs. I think his license should be

pulled.

[caseymoz]

83. Hey, what if they read the sign and they don't turn away?

And tell you to your face that they supported Obama. Are you going to turn them away then?

[superconnected]

90. He says in the article that if Obama supporters come anyway, he will help them - apparently because

he has to.

[caseymoz]

129. Which, of course, serves him to avoid any ethics charges.

But tell me if doing anything like this instills any confidence in his professionalism? No, just the opposite.

[47of74]

92. I wouldn't want this son of a bitch touching me anyways

[AzNick]

93. I'd say this guy is PISSED

Sorry.

[Jankyn]

95. I'm seeing part of a larger problem...

...and that is the idea in America that doctors--especially "specialists"--deserve a much higher income than any other professional (I'm thinking of Ph.D.s as "professionals"--for most Ph.D.s, even in the liberal arts, the amount of study, work and money required to earn a degree is very similar to what an M.D. puts forth).

We've got this idea that becoming a doctor is a ticket to a high-end lifestyle in the U.S.; the media has fed it by portraying all doctors as upper-middle class at the very least. But maybe we ought to think for a minute about that.

If medicine is, as Hippocrates envisioned, a call to the service of others, why should doctors expect to make big money--and be disgruntled when Medicare or Medicaid doesn't reimburse for services at the rate they think the market should bear?

Of course, doctors do rack up student loans at an appalling rate. That's because our system of higher education works about as well as our health care system.

But in nations with a national health care system, doctors are solidly middle class. They make good money, but not what a cardiologist, radiologist, or even a urologist makes in the U.S. They also don't have to pay off student loans, and BINGO! Don't have to pay for their own--and their employees--health care.

The problem is that doctors, dentists, and optometrists in the U.S. are all first and foremost businessmen. That colors all the decisions they make. If, in fact, they were professionals seeking employment in a national system and without the burden of student loans, they could concentrate on providing service and living a comfortable life, instead of trying to turn themselves into money machines.

Another benefit? We'd have a much more service-oriented standard among health care professionals if they weren't attracted to the career in hope of becoming a wealthy plastic surgeon or inventing a new surgical tool that would rake in the dough from patents.

Health care needs to be on a service plane. So does education. These are not "privileges" to be reserved for the people who can afford it (or afford to hock their lives for it); they are rights to be accessed by all citizens.

No student loans would increase competition at all levels--we'd get a brighter, more committed group of professionals--and the current crop of mediocrity that generally passes for straight, white, Christian Republican males would find out what it's like on a level playing field.

If I sound like a socialist, it's because I am. I am a socialist-leaning Democrat, and I'm not ashamed of it. By the way, I'm also a Ph.D. (literature), still paying off student loans. A decade out of school and I still owe $48,000. I make $34,000 a year, which would be enough to live very, very well if I weren't still paying off student loans and if I didn't have to pay for health insurance.

[JustAnotherGen]

105. Very well said

I tend to lean Socialist too. ;-) And I think that Physicians should be treated as public service - along with Police Officers, Teachers, Social Workers . . . anyone who wants to pursue work that helps the 'people within the infrastructure' should be educated for free. We need these people to focus on their WORK when they are doing their job - not worrying about how to pay off outrageous student loans.

[superconnected]

110. Good post! People who are in it just for the money will go into another profession which they

should.

[wordpix]

159. +1

[valerief]

97. I think every single one of his patients, no matter who they voted for, should go elsewhere. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

98. FUCK YOU! nt

[fascisthunter]

99. then he has no business being a doctor

since when is someone's practice based upon someone's voting record... these so-called conservatives sound more nazi everyday.

[DirtyDawg]

102. I agree with those that...

...say this is a good thing. I'd much rather know ahead of time so I could go elsewhere than for the SOB to find out that I was a Liberal Democrat while he had my laticibles in his hands or a catheter rammed up my piss-chute.

[DirtyDawg]

142. Now that I think more....

....about it, this could represent pretty good grounds for a malpractice suit if anything should go wrong. I mean the guy has already gone on record as having deep-seated prejudice against 'certain' of our citizens so he certainly couldn't claim 'absence of malice of forethought'. All one would have to do is swear that he mentioned something about how great Obama was in one of their 'consultations'.

Actually, whatever it would take to put the POS out of business would be the goal.

[mod mom]

103. I hope his business tanks-really!

[crim son]

106. In time, signs like this one

will put him out of business. At the moment, I'd be glad to know he's a moron and wouldn't want to be treated by him in any case.

[goclark]

108. Isn't that against the law for doctors to refuse a patient

for that reason?

[kestrel91316]

195. No - professionals may chose those whom they enter into a contractual relationship with.

Just like me. If a client pisses me off, I can divorce them. There is, however, a proper way to go about doing so, so that my patients are not put at risk. And while that client is still a client, I must practice good quality, ethical medicine or be faced with a possible malpractice lawsuit or complaint to the veterinary board.

That said, I have had plenty of RW clients over the years, some of them excellent long-term loyal clients, and they know I am liberal, but we just don't argue politics because we value our professional relationship.

A relatively new client came in yesterday afternoon - he had offered to fix a broken drawer for me (he's retired, very handy, and loves to putter) for free. When he was done he made a comment that indicated he leaned right, and obviously wanted to draw me into a discussion of how awful Obama was, lol. I just said some vague pleasantries, told him I voted for Obama but wasn't happy with EVERYTHING he had done, had a little laugh with him over it, and then we LET IT GO. He is free to remain a client - I won't hold it against him and don't care even if he's a teabagger. Sometimes people can agree to disagree and not let it be a problem. He's very kind and helpful person and I wouldn't think of making him go elsewhere because of his politics as long as he remains pleasant.

[goclark]

211. I ' ve done the same think you have done

[Demobrat]

112. I think this is a very good thing.

Better to look elsewhere for health care than to put your trust in a doctor who despises you. If this man cares more about politics and money than healing his patients have a right to know that and good on him for being open about it. There's no way I would trust him to put my health ahead of politics and nobody else should be put in that position either.

[devilgrrl]

114. The poll on this has been freeped big time

:puke:

[Joey Liberal]

115. The Doctor is Sick.

[burning rain]

116. In my view, what this doctor's doing should be forbidden by law.

Along with refusing to serve people on the basis of race, sex, religion, etc., or trying to dissaude them from using one's services. Doctors, like other business owners, have besides their legitimate interest in making a living, a public responsibility--to provide services to the public (at least to those who can pay) and employment to those who are qualified.

We need less, not more, pandering to individual bigoted whims of businesspeople. People who will not offer all the public a full range of services need to be fined and ultimately stripped of their licenses if they persist, whether they be hotel owners who won't rent to blacks or pharmacists who won't offer or dispense the morning after pill. This may not seem like such a big problem in large areas with numerous providers, but it's glaring in sparsely populated places with few providers.

[TheCowsCameHome]

118. Piss on him. That's his specialty anyway.

[bluestateguy]

122. I'm sure he'll walk this back in a matter of days

This can't be legal, nor is it good publicity for him.

[thereismore]

126. I hope that urologic care dries up for this pissant. nt

[WinterParkDonkey]

131. Unfortunately, knowing Lake County....

he will be made into some kind of hero. This is a county where the School Board tried to make creationism part of the county's required curriculum. PS - This guy's wife is running for office.

[RoccoR5955]

135. Screw him!

If I needed his services, I would walk into his office, and get care from him. AFTER he treated me, I would tell him that I voted for health care reform, and he can take his sign and shove it!

[Jester Messiah]

137. Doc needs to see a proctologist for his butthurt.

And they might even be able to find his head!

[Richd506]

138. This doctor is bad medicine

I'm surprised doing something like this isn't illegal. Or is it? Help me out here...

[alp227]

140. In this case, the doctor is MANUFACTURING the situation that ObamaCare is bad

by denying health care to people who voted for Obama. He should get his medical license revoked.

[ejpoeta]

143. i assume he doesn't accept anyone on medicare then? or medicaid???

perhaps if he had no business at all that may cause him to rethink his attitude!

[601Liberal]

145. He needs his license taken away

Cassell, who previously served as chief of surgery at Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares, said a patient's politics would not affect his care for them, although he said he would prefer not to treat people who support the president.

So, if it were up to him, he can decide who lives and who dies just because of their politics. Just imagine if a Democratic doctor said the same about not treating Republican patients. Fox Nothing would be frothing at the mouth over it for years to come.

[mnhtnbb]

147. I hope the income from his practice decreases by at least half.

Typical a$$hole urologist.

[dadzilla]

148. Take him up on that...

Seriously, this guy can't be the only urologist in the area, I'm sure other doctors offices would be happy for new clients.

[Jefferson23]

150. Hey, thanks for letting America know how you feel...I mean that. Who

the hell would want to go to this idiot now, I do not know. He wants to politicize his practice, fuck him, I hope he feels a pinch
from this garbage.

[No Elephants]

161. Here's hoping Florida residents file lots of complaints with Florida's licensing board.

[craigmatic]

163. Wow that's unprofessional but in the long run it's a good thing because

he's probably not a good doctor. I certainly wouldn't want this kind of person working on my body. How smart could he really be? He probably voted for palin.

[barbtries]

164. i wouldn't want to be treated by

an asshole.

[Bucky]

165. Oh, looky. It's the hypocritic oaf!

Something tells me this guy, whatever his technical skills may be, has a really shitty bedside manner.

[Enthusiast]

167. Just another Republican

asshole, nothing new here.

[Ticonderoga]

169. Physicians Oath:

At the time of being admitted as a member of the medical profession:

I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude which is their due;
I will practise my profession with conscience and dignity; the health of my patient will be my first consideration;
I will maintain by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession; my colleagues will be my brothers;
I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life from the time of conception, even under threat, I will not use my medical knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity;
I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honour.:nuke:

[ConservativeDemocrat]

170. I am so glad...

This will backfire so badly on the Republicans. Hell, I told a dyed in the wool GOP friend of mine
about this, and he practically turned green.

And when he brought up Code Pink, I told him Rove is in the game and says controversial things, not
just some private patient who needs treatment. You know you've got 'em when they start hemming and
hawing, and saying it isn't everybody who does this.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Enthusiast]

175. This doctor should not

have the option to do this. The country's health care should be fully socialized single payer anyway. Why are we putting up with shit like this?

[Kerrytravelers]

176. So... a doctor is opposed to more people being insured.

What a swell guy. :eyes:

[FarLeftFist]

180. Who the hell would.....

Want to go to a doctor that into politics, I'd rather go to a doctor that into medicine. This guy must have a puss on his face all day long. Who wants to go to an unhappy doctor.

[carlyhippy]

182. He is turning people away, and it is unethical

patients need to find an unbiased doctor who leaves his political views at home.

[marshall]

184. Some doctors just don't want to be bothered with the new rules

Two doctors I know, who are otherwise very liberal and who tirelessly supported Hillary, told me that under the new system most of the clients they see in their cancer clinic will not be eligible for care under the new system.

[louis-t]

185. I hope it costs him lots of money.

[Geek_Girl]

188. He sounds like a nit wit. If I was a potential patient I'd take his sign as a warning

that he is a complete dumb ass and I probably wouldn't want a doctor with such poor judgment treating me.

[and-justice-for-all]

190. I will gladly go and receive Swedish health care...

or any other country with socialized health care, if he will buy me a plane ticket!

[Wizard777]

191. Piss on him! They should take his license to practice medicine.

[BrklynLiberal]

193. It was said in another post..but bears repeating. This man is a total hypocrite...

and when his practice goes down the toilet, he will blame Obama, not his own arrogance.

[tcaudilllg]

198. Take away his medical license

Such rhetoric is a sign of insanity. He's not rational and cannot be expected to provide quality care.

[whatsthebuzz]

202. Sadly I have a friend who thinks this is OK

Guy is a very rational Republican, but thinks that it's OK for a doctor to post such a sign. I told him that a doctor should stay neutral with regard to politics, but he feels if he's a doctor against the health reform bill, he should speak out.

[Bill_Segundo]

242. Obama passed out lab coats to docs

and they got on TV to support him. There is going to be a lot of politics injected into this debate. I just wonder where the smart money is regarding doctors. What plan will get us the best doctors at reasonable prices.

[lefty2000]

206. Good for him

With an attitude like that, you wouldn't want to go to him.

[skepticscott]

209. It was not that long ago

that a DU member posted how he had refused to sell to people in his shop after he realized (from a button they had displayed, if I recall), that they were Bush supporters. He was enthusiastically supported by almost every responder, with "fuck them" seeming to be the predominant attitude. I was one of the few to point out that it would not be a good thing for society in general if people started deciding who to serve and who to do business with based on their politics. Now it seems the shoe is on the other foot. Perhaps not quite the same thing, since we're talking about a doctor. On the other hand, he is not refusing to treat anyone, though he is telling them that they are not welcome. It is certainly not a trend I would care to see continue, in any trade or profession.

[Psephos]

229. I had to read all the way down the thread to find this sensible post.

I remember the post you mentioned, btw.

This doctor is an asshole. So was the shopkeeper who wouldn't sell to the pugs with the political button. I remember someone else here bragging how they wouldn't help a woman with a flat tire. They pulled in behind her, saw a pug bumper sticker, and just drove right off. Fucker.

Want a post-partisan future? Here's where it starts. Treat people like people. I'm sick of pugs pissing on progs, and I'm sick of progs pissing on pugs. Vigorous political debate is good. When it bleeds over into asshole actions it's gone too far.

As Sting said in that old song, the Russians love their children too.

[Bill_Segundo]

237. Good luck with that

I'm all for vigorous debate, as well as civility, but it has to go both ways. Not helping with a flat tire is somebody's right, but don't expect civility when you won't give it. If you compare political parties around the world, the US Republicans and Democrats aren't nearly as far apart as many major parties in parliamentary systems.

[skepticscott]

238. Perhaps it's up to us folk from Ann Arbor

to inject a little sense into the debate.... :toast:

[Bill_Segundo]

240. Start at the next Ohio State game.

[xsquid]

254. I agree with you and I don't know how many

here that show so much hate and bigotry (like refusing to serve repugs in their store) can call themselves any different than the repugs. I don't give a damn what repugs do, they are not progressives. Acting like them makes one like them and not any better. Guess I am old fashoned, I believe in tolerance. Hate goes nowhere.

[skepticscott]

268. I'm not saying that I want to be all that chummy

with people espousing the Republican Party line. My argument is more that political fights should be kept in political arenas, to the extent that that is possible (not always, I know). A society where people only associated or did business with others of the same political bent is not a place I'd care to live. Would we like to see a country with Republican and Democratic restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals, car dealerships, etc.? Would we want to always be checking for the D or R on the door before we went into a shop? Don't think so..

[xsquid]

279. Chummy and not hating are two very distinctly

different things. I think we are on the same page with both of these things, I have always believed progressive means that. Tolerance of others included, and no I am not talking about chummy. Hate leads to this DR. and the person refusing to serve repugs, as you say I would rather not see this happen widespread. I tend to believe most progressives are above all of that, its the wannabees that are the haters.

[Bill_Segundo]

286. That's old fashioned liberalism.

It's a lot different than left-wing authoritarianism.

[xsquid]

287. Yes, I'm an old fashioned liberal and will admit it. Child of

the 60's.

[wial]

212. true health care reform begins

when it becomes impossible for people like this to become doctors.

I went to a college with a lot of pre-meds, and frankly, most of them disgusted me. A bunch of mindless money grubbing nitwits with no higher ambition than to own a big car, selected by the system because they were good at taking organic chemistry tests.

And no, it's not envy, except of the undeserved respect they get. I took a genetics class with about 250 of them and scored higher than any of them.

But I couldn't abide killing and torturing animals for the sake of humans when it's the job of humans to care for nature, not the other way around.

someday though, society (or some other society that replaces us) will figure out it wants its doctors to be good people instead of greedy animal torturers.

[Bill_Segundo]

224. Not to worry, Republicans probably won't want to be doctors

with the government controlling their pay and what services they can provide. They'll probably end up going into some other field where there's more money and less regulation.

[Martin Eden]

225. Piss on him.

That's what I'd do before I sought urological care elsewhere.

[WinkyDink]

226. Worried about his golf club dues, I reckon.

[OhioChick]

231. This is fucked up on so many levels......

A doctor denying (possibly life saving treatment) due to political affiliation.

What a disgrace to the medical field. Sounds like he needs a refresher:

The Hippocratic Oath: Modern Version

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

[Indi Guy]

232. Olbermann just commented on this n/t

[Dinger]

251. What Did He Say? I Missed It. (nt)

[Mr. Ected]

234. FAUX News will probably end up hiring him

Their new Chief Media Urologist.

[Beartracks]

236. Wow - Matthew 25:36 not too important to this doc

That's the Bible passage that says:

"I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me."

Hey, Doc -- two out of three ain't bad, right?

--------------------

[Sparky 1]

248. I hope the buzzard ends up with only three patients.

It would serve him right. If the shoe were on the other foot and I were his patient and he did told Republicans to get lost, I wouldn't see him any more. I'd figure his caring about his patients wasn't what mattered to him.

[Dinger]

249. Just Saw This fucker On A Local faux Channel

The anchor said that this asshole has "republican based material "available" in his waiting room. he needs to have consequences.

[CLANG]

253. I watched the Fux interview and his explanation of his "concern"

with the HCR bill is what is scheduled for enactment in 2011. I don't know what is on his BOGUS timeline, but this is what is scheduled for 2011. What am I missing?:

2011

Long-term Care

* Establish a national, voluntary insurance program for purchasing community living assistance services and supports (CLASS program).

Medical Malpractice

* Award five-year demonstration grants to states to develop, implement, and evaluate alternatives to current tort litigations.

Prevention/Wellness

* Improve prevention by covering only proven preventive services and eliminating cost-sharing for preventive services in Medicare; increase Medicare payments for certain preventive services to 100% of actual charges or fee schedule rates. For states that provide Medicaid coverage for and remove cost-sharing for preventive services recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force and recommended immunizations, provide a one percentage point increase in the FMAP for these services.
* Provide Medicare beneficiaries access to a comprehensive health risk assessment and creation of a personalized prevention plan and provide incentives to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to complete behavior modification programs.
* Provide grants for up to five years to small employers that establish wellness programs.
* Establish the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council to develop a national strategy to improve the nation’s health.
* Require chain restaurants and food sold from vending machines to disclose the nutritional content of each item.

Medicare

* Require pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide a 50% discount on brand-name prescriptions filled in the Medicare Part D coverage gap beginning in 2011 and begin phasing-in federal subsidies for generic prescriptions filled in the Medicare Part D coverage gap.
* Provide a 10% Medicare bonus payment to primary care physicians and to general surgeons practicing in health professional shortage areas. (Effective 2011 through 2015)
* Restructure payments to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by setting payments to different percentages of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) rates .
* Prohibit Medicare Advantage plans from imposing higher cost-sharing requirements for some Medicare covered benefits than is required under the traditional fee-for-service program.
* Reduce annual market basket updates for Medicare providers beginning in 2011.
* Provide Medicare payments to qualifying hospitals in counties with the lowest quartile Medicare spending for 2011 and 2012.
* Freeze the income threshold for income-related Medicare Part B premiums for 2011 through 2019 at 2010 levels, and reduce the Medicare Part D premium subsidy for those with incomes above $85,000/individual and $170,000/couple.
* Create an Innovation Center within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Medicaid

* Prohibit federal payments to states for Medicaid services related to health care acquired conditions.
* Create a new Medicaid state plan option to permit Medicaid enrollees with at least two chronic conditions, one condition and risk of developing another, or at least one serious and persistent mental health condition to designate a provider as a health home. Provide states taking up the option with 90% FMAP for two years for health home related services including care management, care coordination and health promotion.
* Create the State Balancing Incentive Program in Medicaid to provide enhanced federal matching payments to increase non-institutionally based long-term care services.
* Establish the Community First Choice Option in Medicaid to provide community-based attendant support services to certain people with disabilities.

Quality Improvement

* Develop a national quality improvement strategy that includes priorities to improve the delivery of health care services, patient health outcomes, and population health.
* Establish the Community-based Collaborative Care Network Program to support consortiums of health care providers to coordinate and integrate health care services, for low-income uninsured and underinsured populations.
* Establish a new trauma center program to strengthen emergency department and trauma center capacity.
* Improve access to care by increasing funding by $11 billion for community health centers and the National Health Service Corps over five years; establish new programs to support school-based health centers and nurse-managed health clinics.

Tax Changes

* Exclude the costs for over-the-counter drugs not prescribed by a doctor from being reimbursed through an HRA or health FSA and from being reimbursed on a tax-free basis through an HSA or Archer Medical Savings Account.
* Increase the tax on distributions from a health savings account or an Archer MSA that are not used for qualified medical expenses to 20% of the disbursed amount.
* Impose new annual fees on the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8060.cfm

[Oldtimeralso]

257. I Don't Know How He Can Treat Patients With His Condition...

Crainiumenrectumitis!

[anachro1]

258. Apparently he traded in his

Hipocratic oath for a hypocritical one.

[Wizard777]

259. First there was the Tea Party. Now we have the Pee Party.

I guess this means the Tea Party is on it's way out.

:rofl:

[Anakin Skywalker]

262. What a Piece of Shit! Oh Wait...

since he's not a proctologist but a urologist, he's just a puddle of pee! Hah hah!

[knitter4democracy]

271. Gladly. I see a real urologist, dumbass.

But if I saw you, believe you me, you'd get this bitchy ex-doctor's wife in your face about such a stupid sign. It's a violation of your oath, and you know it or you wouldn't be trying to defend it.

[struggle4progress]

275. ... Cassell's former medical partner in Eustis, urologist Dr. James Young, 57, a self-described

liberal Democrat, said a patient's politics should be no more important to a doctor than his favorite baseball team. "It'd be like me saying I'm not going to treat a Cubs fan," said Young, a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. "There are a number of thoughtful doctors who feel like Jack and probably a like number who feel the exact opposite, but they're not going to put a sign on their door. As doctors, our chief concern should always be what's best for the patient" ...

Mount Dora Dr. Jack Cassell's anti-Obama stance sparks firestorm nationwide
Urologist stands firm, appears on national news as blogosphere erupts over sign telling Obama voters to go elsewhere
By Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel
April 3, 2010
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-florida-doctor-shuns-obama-supporters-20100403,0,2153100.story

[barbiegeek]

276. Dr. Cassell only Services Republican Dicks

Someone should have a counter protest sign with that.

[RBInMaine]

277. This is a typical Repulican asshat, and he can go piss up a tree.

[RBInMaine]

278. Oh yay. A TeaHATER with a medical degree. How swell.

[Roland99]

280. Saw that on the local news the other day

would LOVE to drive up there one evening and slather that place with "Yes We Did" stickers!

[Paladin]

281. Has This Jerk Been Reported To The Applicable Medical Boards?

I sure as hell hope so.....

[blue sky at night]

283. guess he took the.....

hypocritical oath...fucking asshole, I would say throw a brick through the window, but then again that would reduce us to his (and their) level. I say right now we all put pictures of OBAMA in our cars, on our businesses and on our front doors!

[704wipes]

288. Spread the word for him and have new dem patients boycott him

Doesn't sound from his educational background and ratings that he is worth PISS anyway.

[eagertolearn]

290. As an after thought. Some people have decided to not go to my husband who is a doctor

because of my political beliefs and things I have fought for in our town (clean air and Steve Martins play that got thrown out of our high school). But some still came in because they knew that he is a good doctor.

[mvd]

291. I wouldn't even WANT to go to this guy..

for any kind of care.