Morgan the Doctor Speaks out on Healthcare Reform

[poodlejabber10]

I think his proposal on Healthcare is the smartest one I have every heard! Which I am not surprised He is one of the most remarkable surgeons! I am terrified of what Obama is going to do with his Healthcare proposal.I wished he would listen to Dr. Lorio's proposal!

[pluto4847]

You know why shoud I?

Why should I pay for your unemployment benefits?

Why should I pay for military aid in Afghanistan?

Why should I pay for police protection?

Why should I pay for the fire department?

Why should I pay for the post office? We don't need it!

Why should I pay for public schools?

And why should I pay your healthcare costs?

I'm a republican and I am only concerned about myself. I want the money money money for me me me. I don't care about you lot! Ha! Help urself!

[feelzthelove]

Government has a solution to the problem, now they will find that the solution is worse than the problem. Get the government out of it. Any plan that is not run by the government is the better plan.

[noformstyle]

Morgan the DOCTOR, Let us hear your brilliant plan??

[noformstyle]

What is your plan for healthcare reform? Let us see it. Thx. God Bless America A Trillion Time!!

[jorgedude888]

public schools have not put private schools out of bussiness

[tophacud]

simply because the economy through the 90's and early 2000's was booming, is it now? God forbid anyone look at the quality of education at a private school vs. a public which is the real debate going on here between public HC and private HC. you want to make things affordable, stop generalizing the masses and trying to make everyone pay for something that few want.

[drjpm64]

Do the math for a small company (actual numbers rounded): Annual premium paid to insurance company = $120,000; Average annual benefit paid by insurance company = $10,000; Profit to insurance company = $110,000 (91.6% return).

[tophacud]

I hardly see how this is an argument for forcing hundreds of millions of Americans to pay for gov HC that few want. Reform the insurance companies not the nation.

[drjpm64]

Competition with a public option will NOT put private insurance companies out of business. Use your common sense: If private companies like FedEx and UPS can compete with the public option: The United States Postal Service, then why cant the insurance companies compete with a Public Option Health Insurance plan? Yes, I know USPS loses money, but last time I checked, public schools, fire departments, and police departments also "failed to turn a profit."

[butterworthpa0405]

Obama recently acknowledged that United States Postal Service (USPS) is failing with 50% increase in postage stamps over the last 9 years. Obama would deeply desire to retract his comparison of the USPS to FedEx and UPS when using it as analogy to the current healthcare debate.

[drjpm64]

Yeah, it's a public works program. The function of government is not to make a profit, but to deliver service--"to ensure domestic tranquility ... promote the general welfare." A private company delivering your mail can say "pay up, or piss off" while the USPS is like a public insurance option.

[tophacud]

The issues arise when you ACTUALLY go about reading the bill. It is too open ended, leaving its interpretations at the hands of the government, section 123 literally lays out a committee which may be wholly appointed by the president, and has the ability to manipulate the essential benefits which are required by ALL HC providers (private/public). If you've read the bill atall, the EB are the strongest base for requiring people to obtain pub HC and taxing those who refuse to comply. READ IT.

[drjpm64]

Would you deny your parents and grandparent access to Medicare? Would you deny the poor access to Medicaid? Would you deny our brave soldiers access to VA benefits? If NO, then why would you deny millions of your fellow Americans access to affordable health insurance? As a Christian, I know I am called to help those who cant help themselves. Protecting the health of each and every human being is an important responsibility for all people of faith.

[butterworthpa0405]

I have denied access to no one. What is your point? - Morgan the Doctor.

[drjpm64]

The point is that, as the system is now, there is no affordable option to cover the unemployed (for example) and there should be. People who don't fit into one of the mentioned categories have no affordable access. We insured all end up paying for them through higher premiums, but that money does not go toward health care--as you point out, you aren't getting the money--it goes to the insurance companies. My example a few posts away IS REAL i.e. NOT MADE UP.

[tophacud]

"no affordable option to cover the unemployed" WE PAY FOR YOU WELFARE AND YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT WHICH IS BEING EXTENDED, WHAT THE HELL ELSE COULD SOMEONE WANT THAT SITS AROUND ALL DAY?! WHEN THE MIDDLE CLASS AND SMALL BUSINESS ARE ATTACKED TO THE POINT OF BANKRUPTCY THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND WELFARE MONEY WILL RUN DRY, BE GRATEFUL YOU GET ANYTHING. Healthcare reform does not mean passing HR 3200.

[IgitProduction]

Well, going with this healthcare system will deny your grandparents. Basically, if a 9 year old needed a heart transplant and a 60 year old needed one too, the 9 year old would get it because, well oh, the 60 year old is gonna die soon anyways. That's the governments reasoning.

[Nageck]

That's already how it works. The transplant always goes to the healthier patient. Would you REALLY deny a 9 year old up to sixty years of life to give a sixty year old ten. You're sick if you would really prefer to send a small child who has never had a chance to really experience life to his death bed.

[joevitxx]

Think about this. I know some one that works at Bristol Hospital. They are cutting staff and the RNs are taking on 8 or more sick people. Might not sound a lot but you by your self try to take care of 8 people or more. The pay there is 17 bucks a hour. If this sick Healthcare Reform happen, we will see the RN's taking on ever more sick, getting paid shit to take care of your moms and dads. I lived in MI. I know the good people of Canada come over to the states for care. I'm moving back soon. W

[ReyesRP]

I think the ad hominem attacks and lack of citations in your "Obama bill" critique weakened your message. It would be better to stick to explaining your ideas (including what you mean by, "defensive medical costs") and present a in depth cost analysis.

There are definitely more costs in the system that could be reduced. For example, private insurance overhead is 3x Medicare's. An inhaler that costs a nickel in Cuba costs $100 in the US. Why?

Healthcare as economic engine is a bit ghoulish.

[butterworthpa0405]

In Bristol TN, the largest employers are the Speedway and the Medical Center. Do you not think that by regulating healthcare (ie limiting what tests, surgeries & medications universally covered citizens get) that more healthcare workers we be out of a job? Or do you feel that these skilled individuals need to be replaced with less trained, inexpensive non-skilled individuals to provide care for you in the future? Enter Wal-Marts Doc in the Box.

[ReyesRP]

We already ration healthcare. We just do it by who can afford it. Universal coverage would increase the customer base and therefore increase demand.

Like I said in another post, in the last 14 years the percentage of small and medium-sized businesses offering health coverage to employees has dropped by almost half. Companies can't afford it. That decreases demand.

Docs in London under the UK single payer still live in million dollar houses. This will not put docs out of business.

[ReyesRP]

From the LA Times, "The firms take billions of dollars out of the U.S. healthcare wallet as profits, while imposing enormous administrative costs on doctors, hospitals, employers and patients. They've introduced complexity into the system at every level. Your doctor has to fight them to get approval for the treatment he or she thinks is best for you. Your hospital has to fight them for approval for every day you're laid up. Then they have to fight them to get their bills paid, and you do too."

[ReyesRP]

LA Times, 8/3/2009, Michael Hiltzik

[farmercist1]

The reason why is that the extra cost in the US goes to cover the discounted nickel inhaler in Cuba, or medicare or VA. Do you understand see-saw. When one end goes down the other end goes up. Because of all of the giva-aways the US is on the up side. I have 39 years running healthcare businesses. Now you know why.

[ReyesRP]

The "why" was meant as, "Why should we continue to allow the drug companies and insurance companies to rip us off?" The 500 character limit can get in the way of being more specific...

[ReyesRP]

First, it's hypocritical to accuse the president of pushing forth an agenda using, rhetoric without substance, right before you launch into an argumentum ad hominem.

Second, if you're going to make the claim that your education, far exceeds Barack's, then the least you could do is show us that you have a grasp of basic high school biology. I mean, seriously, Even a goose has the sense to pick corn from rocks. Really? Ever heard of a gizzard? Go ahead. Google it. I'll wait...

[butterworthpa0405]

Are you really implying that Morgan the Doctor does not know what a gizzard is? Now that is funny.

[zanlpn]

Dr. Lorio is our very own highly talented and respected surgeon. He states the case perfectly. I agree with him 100%. I am a nurse and we all see where the proposed plan is heading and it is frightening. Furthermore, what if it was your Mom or Dad who was seriously ill and the govt said they are over the age limit for whatever treatment/surgery they needed. How would you feel about just watching them die? Read carefully, this IS in the proposed healthcare reform. All will be older one day.

[1morningsun]

obama scares me! bottom line.

[airsoft396]

thats my godfather and my dads best freind

[jdaugherty300]

If Obama's plan is so good why then has he exempt congress from taking the plan? Why does he dodge the question will he and his family take this plan? That should be a red flag to the American people. If its not good enough for them why is it good for us? This health care bill will national medicine and spend over 1 trillion dollars in 6 years. Health care decisions should be made by the patients, family, and physicians. NOT GOVERNMENT

[jmaynard5]

Morgan the Doctor's ideas will never fly -- especially in Washington DC. Far too much common sense, especially for the brilliant minds inside the Beltway. Clearly this was over the head of RNsRule09 who like all liberals without a clue have to resort to ad hominem arguments.

[butterworthpa0405]

For those of you who are skeptical. You might try making a intelligent argument instead of just calling people names! Please get off the floor and stop kicking your feet!

[lwalters99]

+1 Butterworth.

[butterworthpa0405]

Did you know that Medicare only reimburses a physician at 13.6% of what is billed? Lets say you went to a car dealer to buy a car that costs $10,000. Then you told the dealer, "No, I am only paying you $1300 dollars, they would laugh you off the lot! Why is this acceptable from Medicare? If Barack has his way, we will have one giant Medicare organization governing our healthcare. Skilled physicians will not be able to work for such low reimbursements. The people will suffer.

[ReyesRP]

"The ratio of Medicare payment rates to private payment rates in 2006 was 81 percent, slightly lower than the rate in 2005 (83 percent). If Medicare rates were rapidly decreasing in relation to private sector rates, access for Medicare beneficiaries could become a concern. But, in fact, the ratio has been around 80 percent for many years..."

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, March 2008, p. 13

[butterworthpa0405]

Its obvious you do not work providing care to patients. If so, they you would know that Medicare is proposing a 51 percent drop in payment for specialists. That would equal to half of the 13.6 percent of what is billed that they currently pay. Now that is ghoulish

[ReyesRP]

What gets billed is fantasy. When actually gets paid by private insurance is reality. Medicare is 81% of a typical reimbursement.

I have read that MedPAC was considering rebalancing specialist / generalist reimbursement (eg. Google "PMC2518004"). The current system has been undervaluing generalists for years.

Even so, it is hard to shed a tear for folks who spend more money on a vacation than the US median annual household income.

[billyfsu76]

You conservatives are either idiots or completely ignorant. Obama doesn't want to touch the private insurance world; he only wants to create a public option for people who cannot afford the private option. You can keep your own insurance as it is right now, and the govt won't make one decision for you. You conservatives are crazy, and this "doctor" needs to stick to surgery -- his arguments are wholly unsupported and delirious.

[staubug]

We want be able to have any private insurance once Obama puts an employer tax on insurance because then they won't provide it for their employees.

[ReyesRP]

But, we're already losing private insurance. In 1995, 67% of small to medium sized businesses offered health coverage to employees. Today it's 38%.

[LorioRules]

Spoken like a true brainwashed jackass jumping on the Obama bandwagon. Yay for you. Your cool! Hope you get the "Change" your looking for.

[billm109]

Now there's an intelligent comment! If "Obama doesn't want to touch the private insurance world," why does page 16 of the house bill make it illegal for private insurers to write new policies after the bill is signed. Private insurance would become cost-prohibitive and vanish. Obama's plan is just a backdoor move to single payor which Obama has always supported. He has said so! If he really only wanted to take care of the uninsured, Morgan's proposal would be much more effective and thrifty.

[billyfsu76]

This guy must be an actor -- he's not well spoken enough to be a doctor.

He states that Obama's plan "will literally bring this country to its knees." One might throw a dictionary his way and have him look up "literally."

He states that redistribution of wealth is taxation without representation. Throw this guy a political science book, please.

I encourage a healthy debate of health care reform, but such debate is predicated on recitation of facts supporting each position.

[leonardmotors]

Sorry to disappoint you, but he is a real doctor,one of the leading surgeon's in the country,specializing in orthopedic care.

[tbblevins1]

Obviously, you are not currently providing your own healthcare coverage and making your own decisions regarding your healthcare......if so, you would not be so readily willing to give that up or have families whose care will be dictated by government not doctors.

[mhughes71]

"This guy" is the smartest and most respected person I know, and I am sure there are hundreds of people across the country that would agree he is an amazing surgeon. I have all the confidence in him to direct my medical care, but I am terrified of the government deciding what kind of care I can receive.

[staubug]

Apparently you didn't listen very well. He said he was going to speak on your level because his 12 year old daughter wanted this to be on the level even Obama's daughter could understand. If he had been speaking as he normally does you would not get past the first paragraph without "your' dictionary.

[msbrowneyes2007]

You may want to re-think your statements. "This guy" or any other doctor fot that matter might be saving your life one day. This doctor have every right to talk about this issue, his conservatives are not crazy. Maybe you should be the one sticking to football, because you for damn sure could not do what he does.

[airsoft396]

what funny is liberals are againt guns and all sorts of other stuff. they think his opinion is carp till he saves his life samethig wth a gun what if a guy ponted a gun at someones head and theranted to shoot then all of a sudden a civiian wiht a consealed weopons licence shots the oher guy what u think his opionion would be then

[billm109]

No, if he was an actor he would sound much more like Barack Obama reading off a TelePrompTer. I think he spent his 10+ years of higher education learning how to do incredible surgical procedures instead. Surgeons like Morgan will be a historical note under Obamacare!

[RNsRule09]

He's not an actor, but an egotistical doctor who operates on anyone who will lay still long enough. I believe the doctor's are terrified that they won't be able to get rich quick on unnecessary procedures that they've figured out they can get reimbursed for. I, myself, need to find out more about Obama's plan before I can form an opinion. But I want my opinion to be my own, not something someone else has pushed on me!

[tbblevins1]

You do not get where he is without being a little egotistical.When you have someone's life in your hands everyday, you better be very confident. I think that his track record will show that indeed he does NOT operate just anyone. Did someone ask you to read his posting? How is he forcing his opinion on you? He is speaking as anyone else does about something he believes in.

[tbblevins1]

Also RNsRule09, if you do not want to form an opinion on what someone is saying...how are you going to form this opinion that you do not currently have? Maybe from info that is imagined? Obviously all of your opinions are not formed after obtaining all the info. If you need some more on the doctor, let me know.

[ReyesRP]

Yes, he is a real doctor. His practice web page is at the end of the video. Google him.

Yes, he doesn't use flawless English. Yes, he doesn't seem to understand that taxation without representation means, "I get taxed but I don't get to vote", rather than, "I get taxed but my candidate lost", which seems to be the current Republican redefinition.

I agree that the critique of Obama's plan is short on facts and long on fear mongering and rumor.

It's hard to judge his plan without more info.

[butterworthpa0405]

So true!