Makes one wonder if Hospitals are the new Churches..
“They want to be more and more attractive to the private payers. That’s why they want marble lobbies. I joke with my students that when you go to Europe, you visit cathedrals. When you come to the United States, you visit hospitals.”
“The whole deal is to keep this going concern going to the extent that it is as beautiful as it is right now,” Ellington said.
Meaning Profits, Profits Profits!!
The real fight against Medicare and Medicaid is again the Private Corporate Greedy Money Makers.
Apparently 'Good Health' only equals Wealth to a few at the top. Exploit the sick and elderly at All Costs!
North Carolina’s urban hospitals pile up the cash
' PILE UP THE CASH!'
Let that thought sink in a bit and then read the whole article.
Some interesting disturbing exerps:
And the hospitals enjoy a perk worth millions each year: They pay no income, property or sales taxes.
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Hospital officials say they are not overcharging. They must mark up prices for those with private insurance, they say, or lose money from treating patients with Medicare, Medicaid or no insurance.
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Revenue exceeds costs
One reason North Carolina’s major hospitals have grown so profitable: Revenue has risen faster than the cost of treating patients – and much faster than inflation.
Duke Hospital, for instance, saw its total patient revenue rise 100 percent from 2000 to 2010. Its costs rose 83 percent. The average revenue from each inpatient there more than doubled over that time, rising at more than three times the rate of inflation.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the state’s largest health insurer, says its cost per hospital admission went up nearly 40 percent from 2007 through 2010 – during the continuing economic downturn.
Hospital executives stress that profits are central to their mission of caring for patients.
UNC Health Care aims for a 4- to 4.5-percent operating margin, according to Chris Ellington, the chief financial officer. The hospital needs reserves to weather a recession, capital to buy equipment and funds to attract the best doctors, he said.
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In the national debate over health reform, soaring costs and insurance premiums have drawn attention. But one trend driving costs – the growing market power of hospitals – has gone largely unnoticed.
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They’ve hiked their fees each year, leaving many patients with crippling debt. Some hospitals have sued thousands of patients, while others have turned to collection agencies to pursue debtors.
Sounds like Credit Card Companies to me. They both encourage people to spend, spend, spend...whether YOU need IT or Not!
And did I mention how many Catholic Hospitals there are? No, but maybe putting two and two together as to why the Vatican Is so Politically involved lately might ring a bell.
I have personally taken control of my medicare healthcare. I refuse repeat tests, bad new drugs and Too many specialty doctors. I know there is no CURE for me so I've stopped looking for that Miracle. I've researched and gotten to know MY body, understand the Side Effects from every little pill I take and only agree to take what actually does work for me. So far that includes a Blood Pressure generic low dose pill and ASPIRIN. This is my way of getting those Greedy Bastards off My Back!
I also have spent and wasted a year of my life going to Duke Hospitals only to be told 'There's Nothing More We Can Do For You.' Not because there isn't a cure for Scleroderma, but because I was not willing to keep on having expensive procedures which I KNEW wouldn't help me.
I am sick of being a For Profit Pawn-Only Preyed upon Patient Consumer!!
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