Comments on: THE STARK REALITY OF HEALTH REFORM http://www.healthcarebs.com/2008/06/06/the-stark-reality-of-health-reform/ Cleaning the Augean Stables of the Health Care Debate Thu, 10 May 2012 21:39:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Nurse K http://www.healthcarebs.com/2008/06/06/the-stark-reality-of-health-reform/#comment-179025 Nurse K Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:49:12 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2008/06/06/the-stark-reality-of-health-reform/#comment-179025 We don't even take anyone's money in the ER if they ask to pay their co-pay. We have no credit card machines nor cash register. *Sigh* We don’t even take anyone’s money in the ER if they ask to pay their co-pay. We have no credit card machines nor cash register. *Sigh*

]]> By: Catron http://www.healthcarebs.com/2008/06/06/the-stark-reality-of-health-reform/#comment-177631 Catron Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:50:59 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2008/06/06/the-stark-reality-of-health-reform/#comment-177631 The good doctor is right. In my state, the Caid co-pay is only $3, but when you make them actually pay it, the frequent flyers suddenly develop an afinity for the ER down the road. The good doctor is right. In my state, the Caid co-pay is only $3, but when you make them actually pay it, the frequent flyers suddenly develop an afinity for the ER down the road.

]]> By: Nurse K http://www.healthcarebs.com/2008/06/06/the-stark-reality-of-health-reform/#comment-177256 Nurse K Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:53:29 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2008/06/06/the-stark-reality-of-health-reform/#comment-177256 I'm too layzee to look it up, but a doctor told me that even an enforced $5 Medicaid co-pay for non-emergency visits significantly reduces ER use based on studies done...Some states have varying co-pays like $3 or $5 or whatever. One thing is that "severe" pain counts as a valid reason for an emergency dept visit. Maybe that's why Medicaid patients always have 15/10 pain. Beggars can't be choosers, and few people need to go to the ER for anything in any given year, let alone monthly or weekly for various non-emergent crap, so a co-pay is very reasonable!!! I think $5 is too little for a non-emergency complaint, but whatever. It should at least be equal to the cost of a month's worth of generic cigarettes. I’m too layzee to look it up, but a doctor told me that even an enforced $5 Medicaid co-pay for non-emergency visits significantly reduces ER use based on studies done…Some states have varying co-pays like $3 or $5 or whatever. One thing is that “severe” pain counts as a valid reason for an emergency dept visit. Maybe that’s why Medicaid patients always have 15/10 pain.

Beggars can’t be choosers, and few people need to go to the ER for anything in any given year, let alone monthly or weekly for various non-emergent crap, so a co-pay is very reasonable!!! I think $5 is too little for a non-emergency complaint, but whatever. It should at least be equal to the cost of a month’s worth of generic cigarettes.

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