Nobody’s Happy

Not patients, not doctors. So, exactly how was obama re-elected?

From Newsbusters:

[typography font="Ubuntu Condensed" size="24" size_format="px"]Doctor’s Column: Nagging, Intrusive ObamaCare ‘Intentionally’ Makes Access and Care Difficult[/typography]

In a Saturday PJ Media column (“A Physician’s New Reality: Patients Ask Me to Break the Law”), Dr. Peter Weiss, relays several important and ugly realities of what life will be like under the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare, which could easily have been reported any time during the past couple of years by members of the establishment press.

Most of what Dr. Weiss discusses has to do with ObamaCare’s free annual exam. As will be seen, the administration and the press have made it seem far more valuable than what patients will see in the real world. If any of what the doctor describes below has been previously addressed in the press, I sure haven’t seen it (italics are in original; bolds are mine):

[box style="rounded"]I have now posted a notice in my office and each exam room stating exactly what Obamacare will cover for those yearly visits. Remember Obama promised this as a free exam — no co-pay, no deductible, no charge. That’s fine and dandy if you are healthy and have no complaints. However, we are obligated by law to code specifically for the reason of the visit. An annual exam is one specific code; you can not mix this with another code, say, for rectal bleeding. This annual visit covers the exam and “discussion about the status of previously diagnosed stable conditions.” That’s the exact wording under that code — insurance will not cover any new ailment under that code.

If you are here for that annual exam, you will not be covered if you want to discuss any new ailment or unstable condition. I cannot bait and switch to another code — that’s illegal. We, the physicians, are audited all the time and can lose our license for insurance fraud.

You, the patient, will then have to make a decision.

Do you want your “free” yearly exam, or do you want to pay for a visit which is coded for a particular, new problem? You can have my “free” exam if you only discuss what Obamacare wants me to discuss.

… It is the law. If you are complaining of a new problem, then you have to reschedule, since Obamacare is very clear as to what is covered and what is not. Obamacare — intentionally — makes it as difficult to be seen and taken care of as possible.

… I have had patients make an “annual” exam, only to want to discuss and be treated for another ailment. I can’t do it.

… On top of all of that, doctors will be obligated — that’s right, obligated — to talk to you about things you may have no interest or need to talk about.

You may just want to have a pap smear or check your cholesterol. However, I am now mandated by the government to talk to you about your weight, exercise, family life, smoking, sexual abuse(!), and even to ask if you wear seat belts. And I am mandated to record your answers.

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Sounds like a gulag scenario…

8 thoughts on “Nobody’s Happy

    1. Pam Post author

      I know; you saw this coming and tried to warn everyone… but you can’t fight Santa Claus, even if he is wielding a club instead of a bag of goodies…

      http://pamibe.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/no.gif

  1. Da Goddess

    The ironic thing about an annual checkup is that it’s supposed to help doctors determine if there are any new health concerns that need to be treated. Blood pressure up from last year? Let’s note it and schedule another appointment to monitor it. In fact, let’s have you come in a couple times just to see the nurse or medical assistant for that very reason.

    As for this stupid ass fucking law, it pisses me off — as a nurse and as a patient. It makes NO SENSE! But then again, we’re talking about “freebies” here. People don’t care if it the free stuff doesn’t actually DO anything for them. They just like the price tag

    1. Pam Post author

      Pisses me off too; we still pay for our ‘insurance’. Okay, it’s gone to catastrophic, but it’s still insurance. If we need it, God forbid, will the doctor be asking about my guns and wearing seat belts? Or is that just the ‘free’ yearly visit?

  2. Peter

    My Neuro Doc is retiring before Obamacare gets fully implemented. He is in his fifties, has enough squirreled away to retire to a nice life. He won’t be a slave.

    I really thought we had dealt with that slave shit during the unpleasantness of the 1860s but now folks have to go two four years of college, three-four years of Med School, an internship and a residency to become a slave of the government. The Party of Slavery is still doing business at the same location.

    1. Pam Post author

      “The Party of Slavery is still doing business at the same location.”

      You’re frequently eloquent and always right on the money. http://pamibe.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_yes.gif

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