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Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsured

Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

Oh, I was not saying anything against the doctors and nursing proving care at the hospitals, but the hospital administrators in many hospitals will discourage their doctors and nurses from doing expensive tests than screanings for someone who has no insurance and will encourage these tests and screanings for people who do. Because every states provides for the uninsured differently gives, IMHO, more reason why health care should be managed nationally. The states are not providing equal care over all. Some states do a better job than others. I have lived in many states over the years and have seen personally how people are treated in the ER. Currently, I live in a state that provides very well for the uninsured. However, there are still cracks that people fall through that the AHA fixes. My husband often fell in those cracks and now we have hopes that his over all care will be managed better in the future.
Again...I am in several hospitals and ERs every Saturday night and Sunday day. I see just the opposite. The ONLY instance where I have seen ER docs refuse to order labs is with some of the frequent flyers...people that make it a hobby of going to the ER because they need attention. We see plenty of them and the only medical care they require is a few cups of diet coke and some peanut butter and crackers. Many are just fine hanging out in the waiting area watching TV and drinking coffee.

Im not opposed to health care reforms...even programs for those that cant afford them. Pass those programs at a state level. Fund them. Oh...and you might do a little digging into how much your state is already providing and who is draining those resources.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

Then why is 0bama married to Lovie ?
Beyond weak. And it was spelled L-O-V-E-Y.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

normal doctors are way cheaper than emergency medicine. And it might cost lives, if an uninsured person is sitting in the waiting room of an ER it takes away the care and attention the doctors can maximally utilize for the really bad cases. They might even miss something they might have picked up on if they weren't so busy doing regular medical practices for the uninsured that regular doctors could and should be doing.
What do you think ERs are like....those TV shows you see where you have 24/7 instances of 22 beds filled with hemorrhaging head wounds, gunshot victims, etc? The vast majority of ER visits are for headaches, cramps, stomach aches, minor cuts, family members bringing in the elderly for chest pains, sprains, breaks, anxiety and depression.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

We see plenty of them and the only medical care they require is a few cups of diet coke and some peanut butter and crackers. Many are just fine hanging out in the waiting area watching TV and drinking coffee.
Even these services could be provided more cheaply and efficiently at a clinic.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

The vast majority of ER visits are for headaches, cramps, stomach aches, minor cuts, family members bringing in the elderly for chest pains, sprains, breaks, anxiety and depression.
These people belong in clinics and doctor's offices, not emergency rooms.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

I don't believe in god.

Then call it "inherent in humanity" if makes you feel better. Why is the right to bear arms inherent in humanity, but the right to be healthy isn't?
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

Even these services could be provided more cheaply and efficiently at a clinic.
Many communities have them. Most have community care centers and contracted behavioral health providers. If your community doesnt you should petition your representatives and provide them. And pay for them. you might want to look up your available services. 211.org is a county by county provider service reference. Might be shocked and amazed at what your states already provide.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

If you go back to some of the statements of the founding fathers there is a belief in providing for those truly incapable. That should be the model. The Great Depression is a bit of an anomaly you would have to agree and an unfortunate bi-product of all those 'safety nets' is they have this nasty habit of entrapping those they pretend to be there to save. As Roosevelt cautioned...continued reliance on government for self care runs the risk of creating dependence. Thats far more likely when politicians CREATE programs which are designed to do just that.

Want health care? Have your state vote for it and pay for it. Want to provide a sanctuary state? Pay for it. Want to provide 'free' social services across the board? Pay for it. Im all for states executing their rights. They should do just that. And they should pay for it. Not pass it on to the other states...and damn sure not pass it on to future generations.

When our insurance industry is managed at the national level, it takes a Federal solution to fix a part of the health care issues. Now that we have a national health care law, insurance companies can no longer deny payment for care of patients with pre-existing conditions. I don't know if you saw the DNC, but there was an interesting story about a little girl names Zoe. She was born with half of a heart. He is not yet three years old and when she gets her next opperation she will, most likely, reach her life time cap set by the insurance industry. Her parents have always done the responsible thing and provided health care coverage for their family. If the AHA had not passed, they would be facing medical bills they would have to pay out of pocket for the rest of their daughters childhood. When she became an adult, should wouldn't have been able to get health care coverage because of her pre-existing condition. There are a lot of people out there like Zoe and her family who try to be responsible, but the system is rigged against them and they would get no help until they had lost everything to medical bills. The Insurance industy paid lobbiests to be allowed to set these rules in place so they could make more profits.
So, you see, this isn't exactly a states rights issue. It is a national issue.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

I liked what Romney had to say on 60 minutes regarding health care. He was spot on when he addressed that the US is borrowing almost 40c of every dollar. Just taxing the 1% will not cover the 40c spent.

What has changed where we have become a Nation of give me, govt provide for me, don't take my income take someone elses?

We made it this far without universal hc., why all of a sudden we just got to have it? Seem many want us to be like europe.

Do we need HC reform, yes. Obamacare just isnt it.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

I didn't see the interview on 60 Minutes, so I don't know whether there's some context that would soften Romney's remarks. That said, I think it's dazzlingly shortsighted to deny preventive and sexual health care to young people.

Who are we going to tax if poor, working poor and middle class kids are so injured and/or disease-ridden in their childhoods that they can't hold down a job?

Health care is a not an all-or-nothing proposition. Why can't we provide some baseline support for Americans while allowing those who can afford more or want more to buy insurance or to buy the care on a cash basis?


We can. But it should be at the State or Individual level rather than at the Federal level.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

Then call it "inherent in humanity" if makes you feel better. Why is the right to bear arms inherent in humanity, but the right to be healthy isn't?

Because the second amendment does not require anyone else to pay for your guns. A personal right to the individual is not a requirement that someone else provide it to you.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

When our insurance industry is managed at the national level, it takes a Federal solution to fix a part of the health care issues. Now that we have a national health care law, insurance companies can no longer deny payment for care of patients with pre-existing conditions. I don't know if you saw the DNC, but there was an interesting story about a little girl names Zoe. She was born with half of a heart. He is not yet three years old and when she gets her next opperation she will, most likely, reach her life time cap set by the insurance industry. Her parents have always done the responsible thing and provided health care coverage for their family. If the AHA had not passed, they would be facing medical bills they would have to pay out of pocket for the rest of their daughters childhood. When she became an adult, should wouldn't have been able to get health care coverage because of her pre-existing condition. There are a lot of people out there like Zoe and her family who try to be responsible, but the system is rigged against them and they would get no help until they had lost everything to medical bills. The Insurance industy paid lobbiests to be allowed to set these rules in place so they could make more profits.
So, you see, this isn't exactly a states rights issue. It is a national issue.
When your country is 16 trillion in debt and your federal government has proven it cant so much as pass an operating budget you have to big the worlds biggest fool to think turning to them is the answer for ANYTHING. As has been pointed out...Massachusetts proved you CAN create and provide health care for your citizens. Other states provide care resources for their citizens. It is where the responsibility SHOULD be. Creating a state run program for unfunded citizens has nothing whatsoever to do with insurance companies.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

Many communities have them. Most have community care centers and contracted behavioral health providers. If your community doesnt you should petition your representatives and provide them. And pay for them. you might want to look up your available services. 211.org is a county by county provider service reference. Might be shocked and amazed at what your states already provide.
211.org tends to be a back up the dump truck operation. In any case, I'm aware of the facilities that exist in my area, but included in that area as well are a lot of uninsured people who clog up emergency rooms when they have no actual business being there. The only emergency they bring to the ER is that they don't have either insurance or enough income to pay for health care, so they go where they know it will be free. They either need more income, more insurance, or more places to go where health care is free.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

What do you think ERs are like....those TV shows you see where you have 24/7 instances of 22 beds filled with hemorrhaging head wounds, gunshot victims, etc? The vast majority of ER visits are for headaches, cramps, stomach aches, minor cuts, family members bringing in the elderly for chest pains, sprains, breaks, anxiety and depression.

I am not talking about scripted TV shows or reality TV shows, but there are times when ER's are very busy with people, some who could have just as easily been helped by their normal doctors.

An ER doctor/nurse has better uses than regular doctor work for the uninsured.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

Then call it "inherent in humanity" if makes you feel better. Why is the right to bear arms inherent in humanity, but the right to be healthy isn't?

The right to bear arms is, in effect, the right to CHOOSE to bear arms. The government doesn't require one to bear arms and the government doesn't pay for the arms one chooses to bear.

You "right to be healthy" is not a right...it's a mandate imposed upon everyone.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

I am not talking about scripted TV shows or reality TV shows, but there are times when ER's are very busy with people, some who could have just as easily been helped by their normal doctors.

An ER doctor/nurse has better uses than regular doctor work for the uninsured.
Frankly...no...they dont. Thats not what they exist for, but thats what a good portion of their time is spent on and if they werent doing that they would be sleeping in the doctors lounge.

Of course, IDEALLY...people would provide for their own care and the care of their families. And hey...if your state doesnt already HAVE free clinics then you should by all means approach your representatives...they arent hard to find and communicate with. Lobby for passage of a health care reform act and then commit to FUNDING it.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

I was uninsured for a while - took 2 kids to the ER - it wasn't that expensive, honestly . . . but now they will help you apply or government assistance of some type (state or fed) to help you out - in your best healthcare interest, really. Is it not?

So is Romney saying to end that 'enroll in the office' approach? No - he's not.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

Welcome to the real world.
The US-version of the health care "real world" is a disaster area. That's why it needs to be fixed. Too much goes on that's inappropriate and inefficient. This includes triaging headaches in a hospital emergency room.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

The US-version of the health care "real world" is a disaster area. That's why it needs to be fixed. Too much goes on that's inappropriate and inefficient. This includes triaging headaches in a hospital emergency room.
Petition your state representative and do just that. Then fund it through taxes. Ready? Set? GO!!!
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

I DO so love 'anecdotal stories. Working with several hospitals I see something very different and on a DAILY basis. Ive never seen ANYONE turned away for everything from open wounds to headaches. Private hospitals that dont receive state funding...different story. But...its always good to have a friend that had a friend that had a housekeeper that had a cousin that said something different to make a case. Sort of a 'Fluke' thing.

Well that is humorous -- denigrating anecdoatal evidence and then attacking it with ... anecdotal evidence. :lol:

But the FACT remains that ER's are not required by law to provide non-emergency care to anyone.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

I was uninsured for a while - took 2 kids to the ER - it wasn't that expensive, honestly . . . but now they will help you apply or government assistance of some type (state or fed) to help you out - in your best healthcare interest, really. Is it not?

So is Romney saying to end that 'enroll in the office' approach? No - he's not.
Typically for most unfunded patients they work out a cash payment that is pretty reasonable. Less than the cost of carrying insurance for some which is why they dont.

I actually cant wait till Obamacare kicks in and all those folks currently NOT insured are forced into buying insurance or paying their tax equivalent. It will be kinda fun seeing who is suddenly less than enchanted.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

Mitt Romney on Sunday suggested that emergency room care suffices as a substitute for the uninsured. "Well, we do provide care for people who don't have insurance," he said in an interview with Scott Pelley of CBS's "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday night. "If someone has a heart attack, they don't sit in their apartment and die. We pick them up in an ambulance, and take them to the hospital, and give them care. And different states have different ways of providing for that care."
Where's the text where he "suggested emergency room care suffices as a substitute for the uninsured"? All you've posted here is Romney stating the fact that we provide care for people who don't have insurance. Surely you don't deny that.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

You have to realize that the self centered, be they truly affluent or just wannabes, have a vast plethora of excuses that they trot out to attempt to conceal that their true motivation is greed. One of their favorites is the whine "It's not in the Constitution". Many things we consider basic rights today, like women's suffrage, weren't contained in the original Constitution. Slavery was permissible and therefore tacitly approved of in the original document. The fact that "health care", as we use the term today, didn't really exist in 1787 seems to escape those who care only for themselves. At that time health care, aside from the application of a few leeches, consisted of you either got better or you died. In fact, for about the first 100 years of American history much of what was classified as medicine probably did more harm than good in many cases. The motivation of those desiring we join the rest of enlightened society and provide universal coverage is obvious. They would like not to die prematurely or live their lives in chronic, preventable pain or illness. It would be nice if those opposed to such a humane concept would just admit that in their twisted value system another's pain or death is secondary to their pursuit of avarice.

One problem with your argument is that anti slavery (13th amendment) and women's suffrage (19th) are in the Constitution, They got there by revising the Constitution.
 
Re: Mitt Romney, On 60 Minutes, Cites Emergency Room As Health Care Option For Uninsu

Frankly...no...they dont. Thats not what they exist for, but thats what a good portion of their time is spent on and if they werent doing that they would be sleeping in the doctors lounge.
Misallocation of resources. Sleepers belong in a clinic right along with the patients.
 
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