My personal issue with the current health care plan is twofold. First it the excessive cost and next is the fact that when I have taken my children to the ER or a doctor's office I get not one but 3 or 4 different bills from companies that I never heard of such as radiologist and pathologist and the like. To top that off, they run test that are completely useless to increased the bill even more. As an example, once my wife was spotting during pregnancy, it increased to a more heavy flow. We went in to see the doctor and he checked her and said that she would probably have a miscarriage. He then wrote orders for about three different test. I asked him what the test where for and what would they tell him that could help prevent the miscarriage. He told me that she could go on bed rest, but that there was nothing that could be done to prevent a miscarriage and it isn't know if bedrest would actually help. I told him that if there was no practical reason to have the test I don't want them. He looked at me as if I has slapped him across his face. I said "Well, based on your own response there is no practical reason to take these test, I'm not interested in helping to pay for your lexus and sending your kids to college when you can't tell me a single benefit to taking these test"
I doubt very seriously that these health care providers and insurance companies are breaking off a piece to the government. I am sure the price increase is in anticipation of increased cost they are expecting once the health care plan takes effect. It is sort of like gasoline. Something happen in world news and in anticipation of some event they increase the cost to the end user....speculators. The actual expenses may go down rather than up, but they USE the uncertainty as an excuse to increase their profits.
I doubt very seriously that these health care providers and insurance companies are breaking off a piece to the government
What is there to doubt? the facts are there
Total Health sector expenditures from 1998 to 2010 was $3,980,184,031
Health expenditures increased $97,579,000 or 22% from 2007 to 2009
Sub Sectors
Pharmaceuticals/Health Production sector – 18% increase since 2007 as the determined pharmaceutical and health services industry increased lobbying to fight against the democrat lead health care bill. The big spenders in 2009 were:
Pharmaceutical Research & Mfrs of America (PhRMA), is an exceptionally powerful and influential lobbying organization that represents 48 of the largest pharmaceutical companies. In 2009 alone it spent $26 million defending pharmaceutical intellectual property rights, fighting against price controls, creating favorable regulation, and a broad attack against healthcare reform. PhRMA also uses numerous other organizations to advocate on its behalf.
Pharmaceutical / Health Product companies –
Lobbying amongst all pharmaceutical companies was concentrated on overturning healthcare reform. Other lobbying interests included those lobbied for by PhRMA as well as specific industry related tax breaks. Largest individual lobbying expenditures included:
C Pfizer Inc spent $24,619,268 in 2009 as compared to $12,180,000 in 2008
Amgen Inc $12,440,000 in 2009 as compared to $10,800,000 in 2008
Eli Lilly $11,215,000 spent less than 2008 amount of $12,485,000
The next 10 largest pharmaceutical companies all spent between $5,000,000 and $9,000,000.
Health Services/HMOs sector – increased spending almost $23,000,000 a 45% increase over 2008. This sector represents large health care insurance companies like United Health Group ($4,770,000), Blue Cross / Blue Shield ($4,700,000), and Humana ($3,180,000).
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