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Public Service Announcement

I know there are a lot of Foursquare fans on Tumblr.  I recently saw a story about how some nefarious nincompoops are using Foursquare to target people.  What happens is this: the bad guys track when and where people are “checking in.”  They then look up their address and rob the unsuspecting Foursquare fan’s house. 

I haven’t used Fourquare myself, so perhaps there are some security features that make this practice less probable than it sounds. But it’s worth considering.  Be careful out there….

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Medicare Payment Cuts Coming Soon…lines to follow

Senate doesn’t extend deadline for implementing 21.2 percent Medicare rate cut despite House action.

Although the U.S. House of Representative passed legislation to delay a 21.2 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursement rates, the Senate failed to approve it. The 21.2 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursement is required under the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, and will officially go into effect on March 1, 2010. Senator Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) led the effort to block the measure—which would have delayed the cuts for an additional 30 days—over concerns that it would add to the national debt. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced plans to hold claims for 10 days to give Congress time to act. If Congress does not act to either postpone the cut or to repeal and replace the SGR formula by that time, CMS will begin processing claims under the new rates.

I have been doing an informal survey recently in which I ask friends, family and patients what they think a surgeon makes for a particular procedure.  I use hemiarthroplasty (half of a hip replacement) as an example as I recently performed one for a patient with a femoral neck fracture.  Most people guess that I get reimbursed somewhere in the $5000-10,000 range.  Some say $20K +.  Ha!  Medicare pays me $850.  Typical overhead runs about 40-50%.  So before taxes I am looking at clearing a cool $425.  All that for seeing the patient, documenting my findings, counseling the patient and family, performing the surgery, AND 90 days of post operative care.  Knock 20% off of that and you’ve got about $350 BEFORE taxes.  Do you want your surgeon to get paid less to hold your life and limb in his hands than the guy that fixes the brakes on your car?  It’s happening. 

FYI- cost of the implant for the same case: $2500.

Contrary to some popular economic theory, artificially fixing prices at low levels does not increase the quantity of goods and services supplied, it does the opposite.  Look out for shortages, upset Medicare beneficiaries, more political blame games and parents who encourage their kids to grow up to be mechanics, not doctors. 

 

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“ I did not sign away my right to get the best possible health care for myself when I entered politics. ”

Canadian premier Danny Williams on the controversy over his decision to have heart surgery in the US (via randyhaddock)

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