United Health Care--When will we docs stand up together and get out??? Was-- Anybody impacted by this?

[Guest guest]

United is into the acquiring all available insurance resources (ie Pacificare and the like), and they are going to continue to suck any remaining life out of the hosts (which happens to be physicians and patients) and then they will diversify into cookies (ie Nabisco) or start preying on third world countries, like our good friends in big tobacco did when they read the writing on the wall that showed them their market share in the USofA was going to decrease. United is not in the game for anything but acquiring more money for stockholders, and then getting out of the game. Check back in with me in 20 years and tell me I was wrong. They will be quite opposed to any innovative thinking that threatens their stranglehold on the lives of physicians and their " insureds. " And they will do it under the legalese and mantra of " what's best for their insureds. "

When are we as physicians going to recognize the fact that insurance needs us, not the other way around? Health care in general is not very expensive. It is the way we pay for health care in this country that is exceptionally expensive and unsustainable.

I will no longer play the game of " how long can I afford to play the insurance game under the guise of taking insurance in order to help my patients. " That is why I signed up with insurance. I had some how bought in to the idea that somehow I needed to do this for my patients. I do not have 20 years to weather the storm while society figures out the nature of the health insurance industry and becomes outraged.

I agree with what Gordon mentioned at IMP camp 1. He, at that time, felt strongly that if we take on the insurance industry we will loose.

What I am wondering is what would happen if we do not fight them, we just stop playing their game? I do not want to fight them, as they have no incentive to change. I also do not want to participate in their money making efforts on behalf of their shareholders either.

Someone help me understand why we feel we need insurance, as opposed to them needing we the physicians? What has cowed us so and why are we going to continue to tolerate this?

I will not take any responses personally, but really guys, when do we stand up for what is right?

Sincerely,

Durango, CO

UnitedHealthcare is dropping some physicians with retainer practices from its network, saying the annual fee they charge to patients pays for services included under United's standard physician contract.

The fee covers customized care such as a comprehensive physical, 24-hour access, house calls, and extended appointments - services that physicians in retainer practices say traditional practices typically would not provide, reported American Medical News. United said that many retainer practice services already are covered, causing its members to pay more than the physician's contracted reimbursement rate, and the insurer has recently dropped six doctors associated with Boca Raton, Fla.-based MDVIP, a national network of about 220 physicians in retainer practices, AMNews added.

American Medical News, April 21, 2008 Read on...

[Guest guest]

: The day is comming when the majority of physicians will be forced to do the right thing. But they have the pulse of this dying system. They know how to give just enough to keep it alive. It may take the next twenty years. wrote: United is into the acquiring all available insurance resources (ie Pacificare and the like), and they are going to continue to suck any remaining life out of the hosts

(which happens to be physicians and patients) and then they will diversify into cookies (ie Nabisco) or start preying on third world countries, like our good friends in big tobacco did when they read the writing on the wall that showed them their market share in the USofA was going to decrease. United is not in the game for anything but acquiring more money for stockholders, and then getting out of the game. Check back in with me in 20 years and tell me I was wrong. They will be quite opposed to any innovative thinking that threatens their stranglehold on the lives of physicians and their "insureds." And they will do it under the legalese and mantra of "what's best for their insureds." When are we as physicians going to recognize the fact that insurance needs us, not the other way around? Health care in general is not very expensive. It is the way we pay for health care in this country that is

exceptionally expensive and unsustainable. I will no longer play the game of "how long can I afford to play the insurance game under the guise of taking insurance in order to help my patients." That is why I signed up with insurance. I had some how bought in to the idea that somehow I needed to do this for my patients. I do not have 20 years to weather the storm while society figures out the nature of the health insurance industry and becomes outraged. I agree with what Gordon mentioned at IMP camp 1. He, at that time, felt strongly that if we take on the insurance industry we will loose. What I am wondering is what would happen if we do not fight them, we just stop playing their game? I do not want to fight them, as they have no incentive to change. I also do not want to participate in

their money making efforts on behalf of their shareholders either. Someone help me understand why we feel we need insurance, as opposed to them needing we the physicians? What has cowed us so and why are we going to continue to tolerate this? I will not take any responses personally, but really guys, when do we stand up for what is right? Sincerely, Durango, CO On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 8:06 PM, Annie Skaggs <askaggsfayettefamilymed> wrote: UnitedHealthcare is dropping some physicians with

retainer practices from its network, saying the annual fee they charge to patients pays for services included under United's standard physician contract. The fee covers customized care such as a comprehensive physical, 24-hour access, house calls, and extended appointments - services that physicians in retainer practices say traditional practices typically would not provide, reported American Medical News. United said that many retainer practice services already are covered, causing its members to pay more than the physician's contracted reimbursement rate, and the insurer has recently dropped six doctors associated with Boca Raton, Fla.-based MDVIP, a national network of about 220 physicians in retainer practices, AMNews added. American Medical News, April 21, 2008 Read on...

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

And remember that United Health care is the child of " Dollar

Bill " McGuire MD, the guy who only got to hold onto half of the $1.2

billion in stock options after the Security & Exchange Commission

nailed him on maneuvers with those options.

www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS252961+06-Dec-2007+PRN20071206

Gordon

At 11:15 PM 4/22/2008, you wrote:

United is into the acquiring all

available insurance resources (ie Pacificare and the like), and they are

going to continue to suck any remaining life out of the hosts (which

happens to be physicians and patients) and then they will diversify into

cookies (ie Nabisco) or start preying on third world countries, like our

good friends in big tobacco did when they read the writing on the wall

that showed them their market share in the USofA was going to

decrease. United is not in the game for anything but acquiring more

money for stockholders, and then getting out of the game. Check

back in with me in 20 years and tell me I was wrong. They will be

quite opposed to any innovative thinking that threatens their

stranglehold on the lives of physicians and their

" insureds. " And they will do it under the legalese and

mantra of " what's best for their insureds. "

When are we as physicians going to recognize the fact that insurance

needs us, not the other way around? Health care in general is not

very expensive. It is the way we pay for health care in this

country that is exceptionally expensive and unsustainable.

I will no longer play the game of " how long can I afford to play the

insurance game under the guise of taking insurance in order to help my

patients. " That is why I signed up with insurance. I had

some how bought in to the idea that somehow I needed to do this for my

patients. I do not have 20 years to weather the storm while society

figures out the nature of the health insurance industry and becomes

outraged.

I agree with what Gordon mentioned at IMP camp 1. He, at that time,

felt strongly that if we take on the insurance industry we will

loose.

What I am wondering is what would happen if we do not fight them, we just

stop playing their game? I do not want to fight them, as they have

no incentive to change. I also do not want to participate in their

money making efforts on behalf of their shareholders either.

Someone help me understand why we feel we need insurance, as opposed to

them needing we the physicians? What has cowed us so and why are we

going to continue to tolerate this?

I will not take any responses personally, but really guys, when do we

stand up for what is right?

Sincerely,

Durango, CO

On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 8:06 PM, Annie Skaggs

<

askaggs@...> wrote:

UnitedHealthcare is dropping some physicians with retainer

practices from its network, saying the annual fee they charge to patients

pays for services included under United's standard physician contract.

The fee covers customized care such as a comprehensive physical,

24-hour access, house calls, and extended appointments - services that

physicians in retainer practices say traditional practices typically

would not provide, reported American Medical News. United said that

many retainer practice services already are covered, causing its members

to pay more than the physician's contracted reimbursement rate, and the

insurer has recently dropped six doctors associated with Boca Raton,

Fla.-based MDVIP, a national network of about 220 physicians in retainer

practices, AMNews added.

American Medical News, April 21, 2008

Read on...

[Guest guest]

well said you guysit is very difficult for docs to drop insurances but it is dead on right that aligning oursleves with patietns, for care,working directly with employers and pateitns to offer access to care not access to insurance as some are doing is a start

lou reminds us we are the pioneers-- the ones with the arrows in our backs- will you marry me?jean

And remember that United Health care is the child of " Dollar

Bill " McGuire MD, the guy who only got to hold onto half of the $1.2

billion in stock options after the Security & Exchange Commission

nailed him on maneuvers with those options.

www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS252961+06-Dec-2007+PRN20071206

Gordon

At 11:15 PM 4/22/2008, you wrote:

United is into the acquiring all

available insurance resources (ie Pacificare and the like), and they are

going to continue to suck any remaining life out of the hosts (which

happens to be physicians and patients) and then they will diversify into

cookies (ie Nabisco) or start preying on third world countries, like our

good friends in big tobacco did when they read the writing on the wall

that showed them their market share in the USofA was going to

decrease. United is not in the game for anything but acquiring more

money for stockholders, and then getting out of the game. Check

back in with me in 20 years and tell me I was wrong. They will be

quite opposed to any innovative thinking that threatens their

stranglehold on the lives of physicians and their

" insureds. " And they will do it under the legalese and

mantra of " what's best for their insureds. "

When are we as physicians going to recognize the fact that insurance

needs us, not the other way around? Health care in general is not

very expensive. It is the way we pay for health care in this

country that is exceptionally expensive and unsustainable.

I will no longer play the game of " how long can I afford to play the

insurance game under the guise of taking insurance in order to help my

patients. " That is why I signed up with insurance. I had

some how bought in to the idea that somehow I needed to do this for my

patients. I do not have 20 years to weather the storm while society

figures out the nature of the health insurance industry and becomes

outraged.

I agree with what Gordon mentioned at IMP camp 1. He, at that time,

felt strongly that if we take on the insurance industry we will

loose.

What I am wondering is what would happen if we do not fight them, we just

stop playing their game? I do not want to fight them, as they have

no incentive to change. I also do not want to participate in their

money making efforts on behalf of their shareholders either.

Someone help me understand why we feel we need insurance, as opposed to

them needing we the physicians? What has cowed us so and why are we

going to continue to tolerate this?

I will not take any responses personally, but really guys, when do we

stand up for what is right?

Sincerely,

Durango, CO

On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 8:06 PM, Annie Skaggs

<

askaggs@...> wrote:

UnitedHealthcare is dropping some physicians with retainer

practices from its network, saying the annual fee they charge to patients

pays for services included under United's standard physician contract.

The fee covers customized care such as a comprehensive physical,

24-hour access, house calls, and extended appointments - services that

physicians in retainer practices say traditional practices typically

would not provide, reported American Medical News. United said that

many retainer practice services already are covered, causing its members

to pay more than the physician's contracted reimbursement rate, and the

insurer has recently dropped six doctors associated with Boca Raton,

Fla.-based MDVIP, a national network of about 220 physicians in retainer

practices, AMNews added.

American Medical News, April 21, 2008

Read on...

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 4-8 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address/e mail may not be entirely secure/ MD

ph fax

[Guest guest]

Dear group: I debated about going cash only versus joining insuarnce networks before staring my IMP. Many folks in Nj rediculed my thought of cash only because they said i could not survive. I have to partly agree with that. I was afraid patients won;t come to me if I don;t participate in their insurance however discounted my fees are. Atleast in central NJ where there a ton of doctors, if I drop out of plan X, the doctor next door will easily attract my panel and that's how insurance companies thrive. I am hoping that my patients will see the value of my service and stay with me later when I plan to drop the bad plans. So, for now I put a big sign that says ACCEPTING ALL MAJOR INSURANCES. maha wrote: well said you guysit is very difficult for docs to drop insurances but it is dead on right that aligning oursleves with patietns, for care,working directly with employers and pateitns to offer access to care not access to insurance as some are doing is a start lou reminds us we are the pioneers-- the ones with the arrows in our backs- will you marry me?jean On Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 7:20 AM, L. Gordon <gmooreidealhealthnetwork> wrote: And remember that United Health care is the child of "Dollar Bill" McGuire MD, the guy who only got to hold onto half of the $1.2 billion in stock options after the Security & Exchange Commission nailed him on maneuvers with those options. www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS252961+06-Dec-2007+PRN20071206Gordon At 11:15 PM 4/22/2008, you wrote: United is into the acquiring all available insurance resources (ie Pacificare and the like), and they are going to continue to suck any remaining life out of the hosts (which happens to be physicians and patients) and then they will diversify into cookies (ie Nabisco) or start preying on third world

countries, like our good friends in big tobacco did when they read the writing on the wall that showed them their market share in the USofA was going to decrease. United is not in the game for anything but acquiring more money for stockholders, and then getting out of the game. Check back in with me in 20 years and tell me I was wrong. They will be quite opposed to any innovative thinking that threatens their stranglehold on the lives of physicians and their "insureds." And they will do it under the legalese and mantra of "what's best for their insureds." When are we as physicians going to recognize the fact that insurance needs us, not the other way around? Health care in general is not very expensive. It is the way we pay for health care in this country that is exceptionally expensive and unsustainable. I will no longer play the game of "how long can I afford to play the insurance game under the guise

of taking insurance in order to help my patients." That is why I signed up with insurance. I had some how bought in to the idea that somehow I needed to do this for my patients. I do not have 20 years to weather the storm while society figures out the nature of the health insurance industry and becomes outraged. I agree with what Gordon mentioned at IMP camp 1. He, at that time, felt strongly that if we take on the insurance industry we will loose. What I am wondering is what would happen if we do not fight them, we just stop playing their game? I do not want to fight them, as they have no incentive to change. I also do not want to participate in their money making efforts on behalf of their shareholders either. Someone help me understand why we feel we need insurance, as opposed to them needing we the physicians? What has cowed us so and why are we going to continue to

tolerate this? I will not take any responses personally, but really guys, when do we stand up for what is right? Sincerely, Durango, CO On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 8:06 PM, Annie Skaggs < askaggsfayettefamilymed> wrote: UnitedHealthcare is dropping some physicians with retainer practices from its network, saying the annual fee they charge to patients pays for services included under United's standard physician contract. The fee covers customized care such as a comprehensive physical, 24-hour access, house calls, and extended appointments - services that physicians in retainer practices say traditional practices typically would not provide, reported American Medical News. United said that many retainer practice services already are covered, causing its members to pay more than the

physician's contracted reimbursement rate, and the insurer has recently dropped six doctors associated with Boca Raton, Fla.-based MDVIP, a national network of about 220 physicians in retainer practices, AMNews added. American Medical News, April 21, 2008 Read on...-- If you are a patient please allow up to 4-8 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address/e mail may not be entirely secure/ MD ph fax

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.