Hospitals, Nurses Group Lash Out At Debt Deal

[Horse with no Name]

http://capsules.kaiserhealthnews.org/index.php/2011/08/hospitals-nurses-group-providers-lash-out-at-debt-deal/

>>>snip
We could not be for this legislation, because it as an arbitrary, automatic reduction … that is for fiscal reasons that have nothing to do with health policy. And we can’t support that,” Chip Kahn, president and chief executive officer of the Federation of American Hospitals, said in an interview.

Among its provisions, the deal would protect Medicare from cuts greater than 2 percent if a bipartisan commission created in the legislation fails to produce a $1.5 package of spending cuts or if Congress fails to enact them. In addition, those cuts would have to come from provider reimbursements and not enrollees’ coverage.

Limiting any automatic spending cuts in Medicare to 2 percent won’t help, says Kahn. “From our view, there’s no separation between these kinds of provider cuts and something that will affect beneficiaries. It will affect the way providers operate and at some point this artificial separation between things that affect beneficiaries and provider cuts has got to be identified for what it is – an artificial break. If it affects providers, it affects beneficiaries.”

In a statement, Rich Umbdenstock, the American Hospital Association president and chief executive, said cutting hospitals will mean decreased access for seniors. “That’s why the total Medicare program – including caregivers – should be exempt” from cuts that he said could overload emergency rooms, shut trauma units and reduce patient access to the latest treatments.

[indurancevile]

1. medical workers to get the same treatment teachers did. mark my words.

[dana_b]

4. agree

I think it will get worse after 2014 - when the healthcare law takes effect. The insurance companies will be screaming about the costs and blaming the hospitals/workers even though it was them who have caused the huge increases in health care.

[indurancevile]

8. yeah, i can't wait for the "hospital workers make $100 an hour" articles

like the autoworkers & teachers got.

oh, those spoiled workers.

[w8liftinglady]

11. yeah, because you know we just walk around looking pretty and drinking coffee....

[dana_b]

19. well, we are gorgeous

but that's just an added benefit. ;)

Seriously - we know that it is coming. The hospital that I worked at (and hope to again, someday) was always attempting to make it seem as though we were well staffed, getting our breaks,etc. when there was always some way for them to get around even the staffing ratios (yes, I know that we're lucky to even have state mandated ratios). No body complains about the pay but it is earned. I remember feeling guilty about taking a full lunch because there is always so much more to accomplish.

[w8liftinglady]

7. that is what my partner said,too.

As a teacher, he's already been screwed royally. He said as we see more hospitals try to milk every dime they can,the natural victims will be nurses, ancillary medical workers...and patients.

[Big Blue Marble]

2. It is going to interesting to watch healthcare corporations

fighting to protect our right to viable Medicare coverage.

[Adsos Letter]

3. At least Kaiser is a not-for-profit HMO. All of 'em should be.

[midnight]

5. I have had enough of Nurses being asked to work under

conditions that have been nothing but "cost effective lies" hammered over and over by the Murdoch's news junkets. ALEC legislation is planning for it's health care workers via Minnesota's Rep. Steve Drazkowski, An ALEC member.... to replace health care workers with monitors.. So much for republicans creating jobs.. And close behind them allowing us to be driven off the cliff are our very own Dem's. It's a bipartisan clusterfu*k...

http://www.bluestemprairie.com/bluestemprairie/2011/04/annals-of-budget-numbskullery-drazkowski-touts-replacing-health-care-workers-with-monitors.html

[dana_b]

20. yes, because monitors are so

able to do thorough assessments and implement a whole-person care plan. What a dumb fuck.

[cbayer]

6. The Federation of American Hospitals is a lobbying group representing some of the

biggest for profit healthcare companies in the country. They include HCA, Tenet and UHS. We are not one the same team (at least, I would hope we are not)

[Horse with no Name]

10. At least they are fighting to save Medicare--something that this administration

isn't willing to do, so, I suppose we are in bed with some pretty strange and toxic fellows these days.

With enemies all around...comfort is no doubt going to be from one. I'll take it if it saves lives.

Rest assured, just like the quisling Dem's...these folks won't get my money, but at least being on the right side is enough at this point in time.

No matter what THEIR motive, the outcome is beneficial to our Seniors.

[ProSense]

12. They're fighting to save profits. n/t

[cbayer]

14. Believe me, the only reason they want to "save" Medicare is to protect their bottom

line profits. Sharing an opinion with someone does not necessarily mean you share it for the same reason.

Their motives are never beneficial to our Seniors.

[Horse with no Name]

15. Their motives are no less or no more pure than these idiots in Congress

who are only beholden to their campaign contributors and their trough placeholders. This article was flagged to me through a REPUTABLE organization--National Nurses United who fight very good fights for the members of my profession.

I understand that you either have an issue with me because you lock half of my threads for no reason because my views are different than yours--so I know that you probably have an issue with the majority of what I think. Honestly, I don't give a shit.

That being said--I don't care WHO they are...if they are willing to fight a fight that Washington isn't willing to fight...then I can support the cause even if I don't support the organization.

[jpak]

13. The biggest pigs at the trough

yup

[ProSense]

9. Chip Kahn

Now there is an objective source

[indepat]

16. We seniors can take comfort that while decreased medical access for seniors

will mean many of us will be privileged die for our country, our country will have, in turn, the funding needed for the uber-wealthy to continue their 30+-year sucking frenzy at the public welfare teat. The storehouse of treasures in heaven for those so valiantly giving their lives for their country must be enormous. :patriot:

[Horse with no Name]

17. I'd walk with Satan to preserve the lives and well-being of our seniors. n/t

[indepat]

18. Sadly, not many in Washington seem so inclined

:cry: :patriot: