Guest guest Posted October 21, 1999 Report Share Posted October 21, 1999 That was very funny. Thanks for the laugh. I needed it. (Michigan) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Q. What does HMO stand for?A. This is actually a variation of the phrase, "HEY MOE." Its roots go back to a concept pioneered by Moe of the Three Stooges, who discovered that a patient could be made to forget about the pain in his foot if he was poked hard enough in the eyes.Q. I just joined an HMO. How difficult will it be to choose the doctor I want?A. Just slightly more difficult than choosing your parents. Your insurer will provide you with a book listing all the doctors in the plan. These doctors basically fall into two categories - those who are no longer accepting new patients, and those who will see you but are no longer participating in the plan. But don't worry; the remaining doctor who is still in the plan and accepting new patients has an office just a half day's drive away, and a diploma from a Third World country.Q. Do all diagnostic procedures require pre-certification?A. No. Only those you need.Q. Can I get coverage for my preexisting conditions?A. Certainly, as long as they don't require any treatment.Q. What happens if I want to try alternative forms of medicine?A. You'll need to find alternative forms of payment.Q. My pharmacy plan only covers generic drugs, but I need the name brand. I tried the Generic Medication, but it gave me a stomach ache. What should I do? A. Poke yourself in the eye. Q. What if I'm away from home and I get sick?A. You really shouldn't do that.Q. I think I need to see a specialist, but my doctor insists he can handle my problem. Can a general practitioner really perform a heart transplant right in his office?A. Hard to say, but considering that all you're risking is the $20 co-payment, there's no harm in giving him a shot at it.Q. Will health care be different in the next century?A. No. But if you call right now, you might get an appointment by then. Hugs, Jacy ~Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission. (Eleanor Roosevelt) jacymail@...IM: jacygal - ICQ: 96949087www.geocities.com/mtn_rose Want a signature like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 In a message dated 5/20/05 7:33:11 AM Mountain Daylight Time, SSRI medications writes: > Managed care came about because Dr's abused their power and were > billing for things they didn't do or weren't necessary. They are > partly to blame for the system they now work within. > > This is only partly true. There were a handful of doctors who abused the system, and there are still some who do this, despite the hoops they have to jump through. The downfall of healthcare in this country began when they turned healthcare into a HUGE BUINESS, a huge profit-based business, I might add, where the bottomline is far more important than the health of the patient. Aren't HMOs traded on the stock exchange? Then they are madated by law to make a profit, to hell with the patient. " Blind Reason " a novel of pharmaceutical intrigue Think your antidepressant is safe? Think again. It's Unsafe At Any Dose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 In a message dated 5/20/05 7:33:11 AM Mountain Daylight Time, SSRI medications writes: > Managed care came about because Dr's abused their power and were > billing for things they didn't do or weren't necessary. They are > partly to blame for the system they now work within. > > This is only partly true. There were a handful of doctors who abused the system, and there are still some who do this, despite the hoops they have to jump through. The downfall of healthcare in this country began when they turned healthcare into a HUGE BUINESS, a huge profit-based business, I might add, where the bottomline is far more important than the health of the patient. Aren't HMOs traded on the stock exchange? Then they are madated by law to make a profit, to hell with the patient. " Blind Reason " a novel of pharmaceutical intrigue Think your antidepressant is safe? Think again. It's Unsafe At Any Dose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 In a message dated 5/20/05 7:33:11 AM Mountain Daylight Time, SSRI medications writes: > Managed care came about because Dr's abused their power and were > billing for things they didn't do or weren't necessary. They are > partly to blame for the system they now work within. > > This is only partly true. There were a handful of doctors who abused the system, and there are still some who do this, despite the hoops they have to jump through. The downfall of healthcare in this country began when they turned healthcare into a HUGE BUINESS, a huge profit-based business, I might add, where the bottomline is far more important than the health of the patient. Aren't HMOs traded on the stock exchange? Then they are madated by law to make a profit, to hell with the patient. " Blind Reason " a novel of pharmaceutical intrigue Think your antidepressant is safe? Think again. It's Unsafe At Any Dose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 In a message dated 5/20/05 7:33:11 AM Mountain Daylight Time, SSRI medications writes: > Managed care came about because Dr's abused their power and were > billing for things they didn't do or weren't necessary. They are > partly to blame for the system they now work within. > > This is only partly true. There were a handful of doctors who abused the system, and there are still some who do this, despite the hoops they have to jump through. The downfall of healthcare in this country began when they turned healthcare into a HUGE BUINESS, a huge profit-based business, I might add, where the bottomline is far more important than the health of the patient. Aren't HMOs traded on the stock exchange? Then they are madated by law to make a profit, to hell with the patient. " Blind Reason " a novel of pharmaceutical intrigue Think your antidepressant is safe? Think again. It's Unsafe At Any Dose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2005 Report Share Posted August 15, 2005 From a bottom line perspective, being so resource intensive, it really is not cost effective for stage IV patients to live more than five years. It is frightening to think that even if not deliberate, that with the status quo, insurance companies profit at ones demise. It is hard for me to comprehend that they will pay out $7000 per treatment that destroys but would not pay $700 for a week of intense nutrition to actually heal. I have shared before that working in health care from the administrative side that it is almost routine that complications of chemo resulting in the final hospitalization is quite often pneumonia which for DRG based payouts like with Medicare is one of the higher paying reimbursements. Health care providers generating big bucks while they can as the insurance companies would go bankrupt if " treatment " were to continue for any length of time. Whether it is just the accepted same ole, same ole or a deliberate profit incentive in not having a long term survival is tragic reflection of our modern society although still to me quite reminiscent of the Holocaust. Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2005 Report Share Posted August 15, 2005 I quit chemo the second time around, before " I was supposed to " and have refused all of their other drugs they wanted to put me on, the only thing I do is get an MRI every 4 months to see if there are any new tumors, so actually I am a stage IV patient that is no longer costing the insurance co very much! C donnadbd777@... wrote: From a bottom line perspective, being so resource intensive, it really is not cost effective for stage IV patients to live more than five years. It is frightening to think that even if not deliberate, that with the status quo, insurance companies profit at ones demise. It is hard for me to comprehend that they will pay out $7000 per treatment that destroys but would not pay $700 for a week of intense nutrition to actually heal. I have shared before that working in health care from the administrative side that it is almost routine that complications of chemo resulting in the final hospitalization is quite often pneumonia which for DRG based payouts like with Medicare is one of the higher paying reimbursements. Health care providers generating big bucks while they can as the insurance companies would go bankrupt if " treatment " were to continue for any length of time. Whether it is just the accepted same ole, same ole or a deliberate profit incentive in not having a long term survival is tragic reflection of our modern society although still to me quite reminiscent of the Holocaust. Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Lida, It's a type of health insurance plan. It stands for Health Maintenance Organization. Typically, it is cheaper to purchase an HMO plan than a different plan offered (tho not always), but an HMO plan also typically covers office visits and procedures at or near 100%. The problem is that you are restricted with an HMO. Only certain doctors participate with the plan, so a highly specialized surgeon (like a flatback surgeon) might not be part of the plan, or considered " in-network " - in other words, that doctor doesn't participate in the HMO plan and so they might not be covered if you choose to see them. Also, every single specialist, and every test and procedure must be approved by the insurance company before you have it done. Otherwise the plan will not pay for it. Some HMO plans have huge networks, so a person has many, many choices with who they go see for medical attention. Other HMO plans may be very small, and so a person has very few choices on who they can go to. So an HMO can be a great thing for some people, but can make it awfully hard for others - especially those people who need very specialized care. If you google it, you'd probably find a clearer explanation than what I tried to give > > Could someone tell this Brit what an HMO is. > > Lida in London > > > Re: It Must be TIme > > > > > C > I read 's letter and rather than answering him separately (since it > is late and I am about to nod off), I want to add that many of us US-based > people, if not most of us, are in HMOs these days! Some of us in this group > particularly may tend to have supplemental Medicare as well In my case the > Medicare is my secondary payer, so the HMO gets billed first and I have to > follow its rules for referrals. I did need to switch to a PPO temporarily to > get my initial revisions done in Boston, but I am fortunate to have found > topnotch surgical care and pain management closer to home now, and all my > current docs are on the HMO's approved list. I've been through five more > spinal revision procedures and a number of pain-pump-related surgeries with > the HMO. > > Best, > > > > Recent Activity > > Visit > <;_ylc=X3oDMTJlbjZxcGdm > BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE5ODYzODIEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDk0NzA5BHNlYwN2dGwEc2xr > A3ZnaHAEc3RpbWUDMTI1NDk4MDI2NA--> Your Group > Give Back > > > <http://us.lrd./_ylc=X3oDMTJtZTR0ZmhrBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ3JwSW > QDMTk4NjM4MgRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwOTQ3MDkEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawNicmFuZARzdGltZQMxMj > U0OTgwMjY0;_ylg=1/SIG=11314uv3k/**http%3A//brand./forgood> for Good > > Get inspired > > by a good cause. > > Y! Toolbar > > Get > <http://us.lrd./_ylc=X3oDMTJvaG1iMmQwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ3JwSW > QDMTk4NjM4MgRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwOTQ3MDkEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawN0b29sYmFyBHN0aW1lAz > EyNTQ5ODAyNjQ-;_ylg=1/SIG=11c6dvmk9/**http%3A//toolbar./%3F.cpdl=yg > rps> it Free! > > easy 1-click access > > to your groups. > > > > Start > <start;_ylc=X3oDMTJvc2phOHQwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzME > Z3JwSWQDMTk4NjM4MgRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwOTQ3MDkEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawNncm91cHMyBHN0 > aW1lAzEyNTQ5ODAyNjQ-> a group > > in 3 easy steps. > > Connect with others. > > . > > <http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=1986382/grpspId=1705094709/msgId > =16064/stime=1254980264/nc1=1/nc2=2/nc3=3> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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