What is happening to the healthcare industry?

seadoug

seadoug

Well-known Member
Location
Texas
I mentioned in an earlier thread that I have been going to physical therapy for shoulder and neck pain. Yesterday was my fourth time and my therapist said she'd seen an improvement in my movement and posture thanks to the exercises. The therapy is done in a hospital just 10 minutes away.

We were chatting yesterday and she told me that she had been with the hospital for 10 years and it has changed owners 3 times. She said each time new owners come in they cut more and more employees and benefits. I asked her if they had been purchased by a private equity firm but she didn't seem to know. She was a wonderful physical therapist. Today I was floored when I received a call saying they are closing and my future appointments have been canceled.:(

Meanwhile my insurance supplement, UHC, keeps saying they will give me "dollar credits" for every "in-home" doctors consultation I schedule. This is basically a Zoom call. I've been going to my PCP for years and he knows my health, makes recommendations and sits with me to discuss the results of my physicals. My insurance company is basically discouraging me from visiting my doctor in person. I'm not wearing a tinfoil hat. This is the same insurance company that wouldn't allow me to add him as my PCP, even though he is in-network, until I insisted and spoke with two departments.

I know most businesses are all about the almighty dollar but that seems to have taken major precedence lately over actually providing decent healthcare. I've read quite a bit recently about private equity firms taking over hospitals, cutting staff and eventually closing them down so people no longer have healthcare that is close to them. I've said if before... our healthcare system needs a complete overhaul! This is not a political statement because regardless of which party has been in office the problem has just continued to creep along.
 

Years ago, we had a "medical profession", and doctors even made house calls. In recent years that "profession" had turned into our "Health Care Industry", and the primary purpose of any Industry is to make money. Most other nations have some form of Universal health care, and pay about half of what we are paying. Even with our high costs, we rank about number 35 in terms of overall results.

If you track the largest donors to our politicians political campaigns, our Health care industry is one of the most generous.
 
@seadoug You live in a major metropolitan area I believe? The entire hospital is closing?

I don't know what channel I was watching, but just his AM they mentioned medical record profits. It's going to get to the point where there will be nothing but rich and struggling. I don't know who buys these places. I don't know business, but WTF is a private equity firm?

I was watching something on PBS and they had seminars about investing in mobile home parks. The creep giving the seminar stated most parks were started by local mom and pop owners. He said something like "you're not in this to get to know people, never talk to them, it's about making money." I was infuriated and changed the channel. We have this going on in my town.
 

Remy said:
@seadoug You live in a major metropolitan area I believe? The entire hospital is closing?

I don't know what channel I was watching, but just his AM they mentioned medical record profits. It's going to get to the point where there will be nothing but rich and struggling. I don't know who buys these places. I don't know business, but WTF is a private equity firm?

I was watching something on PBS and they had seminars about investing in mobile home parks. The creep giving the seminar stated most parks were started by local mom and pop owners. He said something like "you're not in this to get to know people, never talk to them, it's about making money." I was infuriated and changed the channel. We have this going on in my town.
Click to expand...
No, just the physical therapy unit. Yes, I live in a major metropolitan area so there are hospitals and doctor's offices all over the place. I fell bad for those in smaller cities where there are fewer hospitals and some are closing.

As I understand it, private equity firms are simply those who have capital from investors to invest in a business that will reap monetary rewards. They typically invest, take the profits from lowering costs, and often close the business. This is from The Atlantic:

Across the economy, private-equity firms are known for laying off workers, evading regulations, reducing the quality of services, and bankrupting companies while ensuring that their own partners are paid handsomely.

And these practices are taking place throughout different industries and all over the US.
 
I've been going to the same orthopedic office since the 80s after having injuries & my husband since the early 90s. This office has always been owned the the practicing doctors. The founding doctor had been the one I seen until he retired. So this time I needed the knee doc & everything still had the same logo & people, but when I got my portion of the bill it is under another management that had six more other offices listed. This has happened since the beginning of the year I believe.

I even was charged for being a "new" patient because I went from my pain management doctor to the knee doctor. I called & said I've been a patient for years & that I just seen another doctor this time. I also mentioned that I wasn't billed for going to another within the practice before. The billing lady said the last time I was there is in late 2022 & that made me a new patient which was $400 for just walking in. WTF? She said she would check into the bill, but I've not heard anything back.

Now I have to figure out if they are in-network or not. They have always been in the past & was when I renewed my insurance plan this year. Now, I'm not so sure with the bill copay I received on the second visit. I really like & trust this doctor, but out-of-network bills are outrageous. If he isn't, I'm afraid I'll have to switch doctors. šŸ˜ž
 
Remy said:
I was watching something on PBS and they had seminars about investing in mobile home parks. The creep giving the seminar stated most parks were started by local mom and pop owners. He said something like "you're not in this to get to know people, never talk to them, it's about making money." I was infuriated and changed the channel. We have this going on in my town.
Click to expand...
I saw a news show about that too. It showed this big investment firm taking rich people on tours, in a big fancy motorhome with champagne, etc., taking these potential investors all around an area to look at mobile home parks and, this part really got me, they told these potential investors that the best mobile home parks of all to buy were shabby, run-down, way out of town in industrial areas parks because a lot of sex offenders live in those kind of parks.

I guess sex offenders try to live anyplace else and get run out of there once anyone finds out there's someone on the sex offender list living in their neighborhood and in some places, they're not allowed to live within a certain distance of any residences with children. So about the only places left that the offenders can live in are these run-down old mobile home parks miles away from any other residences at all.

And so, the investment firm advised the potential investors, you buy one of those mobile home parks, it's a real money-maker; you don't have to spend money on upkeep at all but you can keep raising rents since those offenders living there aren't going to complain; they've got nowhere else to go. Which of course makes it hard for anyone else other than those offenders who also live in those kind of places who can't afford to live anywhere else; their park just keeps getting more and more run-down.

What a country, huh?
 
@officerripley Good to see you, I hadn't noted any posts from you in awhile.

But yes, this was infuriating. I didn't see the part about the sex offenders. But right before I changed the channel, the woman interviewing this creep asked him something like "can't you make profit without raising the rents so high?" That's not how she put it but that was about it. His answer was "yes but.." and I changed the channel before I threw the remote. I was so mad. People can make money without greed but they don't want to.
 
Remy said:
@officerripley Good to see you, I hadn't noted any posts from you in awhile.

But yes, this was infuriating. I didn't see the part about the sex offenders. But right before I changed the channel, the woman interviewing this creep asked him something like "can't you make profit without raising the rents so high?" That's not how she put it but that was about it. His answer was "yes but.." and I changed the channel before I threw the remote. I was so mad. People can make money without greed but they don't want to.
Click to expand...
Yes it is just so infuriating and disgusting too. Sometimes the way some people let greed rule everything just amazes me. I mean, the news story I saw, those financial advisors and the potential investors knew there was a newscrew filming them and they were all just letting their greed flags fly so brazenly, disgusting.
 
officerripley said:
Yes it is just so infuriating and disgusting too. Sometimes the way some people let greed rule everything just amazes me. I mean, the news story I saw, those financial advisors and the potential investors knew there was a newscrew filming them and they were all just letting their greed flags fly so brazenly, disgusting.
Click to expand...
I'm really wondering about the conscience of many people. It's like they just. don't. get. it.

I like money. But I only need enough to take care of what I need. If I had some more, perhaps some trips. But money for money's sake. No thanks.
 
Remy said:
I'm really wondering about the conscience of many people. It's like they just. don't. get. it.

I like money. But I only need enough to take care of what I need. If I had some more, perhaps some trips. But money for money's sake. No thanks.
Click to expand...
I know, right? I remember when that movie Wall Street came out in the 80s with Michael Douglas playing Gordon Gecko who said, "Greed is good!" And I remember a lot of people thinking his character was actually cool and everybody going around quoting that all the time, got so tired of hearing it. But you know, I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 50s and 60s and that kind of attitude was really prevalent even then. I think I was about 15 when I first saw a bumper sticker on a car that said, "He who dies with the most toys wins." (Uh, no, actually; he who dies with the most toys is still just dead.)
 
Being old enough to have experienced a time when doctors and dentists genuinely cared about each patient, and would often inconvenience themselves to provide the best care possible, I'm sure we all see a change. Especially those of us who are at the mercy of Medicare.

As all medical services get increasingly worse, and some treatments less effective, I have been suspecting that Americans are being geared up (or rather, down) to accept a national healthcare system.
 
seadoug said:
I mentioned in an earlier thread that I have been going to physical therapy for shoulder and neck pain. Yesterday was my fourth time and my therapist said she'd seen an improvement in my movement and posture thanks to the exercises. The therapy is done in a hospital just 10 minutes away.

We were chatting yesterday and she told me that she had been with the hospital for 10 years and it has changed owners 3 times. She said each time new owners come in they cut more and more employees and benefits. I asked her if they had been purchased by a private equity firm but she didn't seem to know. She was a wonderful physical therapist. Today I was floored when I received a call saying they are closing and my future appointments have been canceled.:(

Meanwhile my insurance supplement, UHC, keeps saying they will give me "dollar credits" for every "in-home" doctors consultation I schedule. This is basically a Zoom call. I've been going to my PCP for years and he knows my health, makes recommendations and sits with me to discuss the results of my physicals. My insurance company is basically discouraging me from visiting my doctor in person. I'm not wearing a tinfoil hat. This is the same insurance company that wouldn't allow me to add him as my PCP, even though he is in-network, until I insisted and spoke with two departments.

I know most businesses are all about the almighty dollar but that seems to have taken major precedence lately over actually providing decent healthcare. I've read quite a bit recently about private equity firms taking over hospitals, cutting staff and eventually closing them down so people no longer have healthcare that is close to them. I've said if before... our healthcare system needs a complete overhaul! This is not a political statement because regardless of which party has been in office the problem has just continued to creep along.
Click to expand...


What a shame .. it seems like the only option anymore, is getting really sick, and going to Emergency services.
 
Don M. said:
Years ago, we had a "medical profession", and doctors even made house calls. In recent years that "profession" had turned into our "Health Care Industry", and the primary purpose of any Industry is to make money. Most other nations have some form of Universal health care, and pay about half of what we are paying. Even with our high costs, we rank about number 35 in terms of overall results.

If you track the largest donors to our politicians political campaigns, our Health care industry is one of the most generous.
Click to expand...
Bingo! It should be a service/profession not an 'Industry' but that's what our form of capitalism fosters profit margins, bottomlines are the primary motivations not the 'general welfare'.

Don't want to cross into politics, but what so many people either don't consider or are too shortsighted and self serving to care about is that the protecting the health of citizens, like educating them has long-term benefits for a nation.
 
feywon said:
Bingo! It should be a service/profession not an 'Industry' but that's what our form of capitalism fosters profit margins, bottomlines are the primary motivations not the 'general welfare'.

Don't want to cross into politics, but what so many people either don't consider or are too shortsighted and self serving to care about is that the protecting the health of citizens, like educating them has long-term benefits for a nation.
Click to expand...
If politician's palms weren't being greased, healthcare would still be a profession.
 
Years ago when we didnā€™t have internet, we had to build up trusting and reliable connections.

We needed trusting employment relationships , car mechanics, hair dressers as well as bankers, dry cleaners etc. It took time , effort and patience to build up these important relationships.

With the introduction of the internet, we no longer need these trusting relationships as much. We can get most things online. We can even make lasting friendships online.

Four short years ago we all went through a worldly pandemic. Suddenly getting close to people became potentially fatal, giving us more reason to use the internet.

The most dangerous places were hospitals and doctors offices. Medical professionals became especially more vulnerable. Hospitals started shutting down, many doctors and medical professionals stopped working or retired.

Our world changed a LOT over the last few years and in the long run, not for the better. We now have a huge shortage of medical healthcare workers.
 
Last edited:
_Apple_ said:
As all medical services get increasingly worse, and some treatments less effective, I have been suspecting that Americans are being geared up (or rather, down) to accept a national healthcare system.
Click to expand...
I don't know; you might be right but sometimes I think that the health insurance industry likes things just fine just as they are.
 
Myra said:
The only issue there is they don't want you using emergency services as a form of treatment. But what else can we do you know?
Click to expand...
same here. They don't want us using A&E as a treatment centre unless it's a dire emergency, but they've cut back on Doctors, so people can't get an appointment with their GP under a month in the vast majority of places .. so A&E is full up every day because people have no other choice , and often the wait to be seen by a doctor is as long as 12 hours..
 
Last edited:
@seadoug, I think it is a combination of Medicare and the Advantage plans available. It seems that many advantage plans only allow you to use Medicare approved doctors and facilities.

I know when my Mom had UHC, she was often sent some distance away depending on the problem. There were doctors and hospital facilities very close to home. There were even more with in a 30 minutes drive.

No, they were sending her via ambulance to Plano. It took us an hour and half to get there just to visit. They said they did not have a neurologist in our area to treat her. Key words "they did not". Our area of DFW is covered with neurologist, neurosurgeons and top notch hospitals. Just none that were Medicare approved, therefore, also not covered by the Advantage Plans.

I very much understand your frustration. I have just got on the merry go round of Medicare. My Advantage plan is through the federal employee health insurance provided because I am a widow of a postal employee. Checking all my doctors, specialists, hospitals, outpatient surgery and imaging centers are available on Medicare and my advantage plans. I am trying to be positive but who knows. I do have the out that I can opt out of my advantage plan and go back to the regular plan available through the federal employee benefits. Yes, it is more expensive but it is an option if the *hit hits the fan.
 
Yes as a species of humanity we do definitely seem to be self-destructing and it is not a pretty sight!! but hang on ? - maybe it has all been prophecied before??
 
seadoug said:
I mentioned in an earlier thread that I have been going to physical therapy for shoulder and neck pain. Yesterday was my fourth time and my therapist said she'd seen an improvement in my movement and posture thanks to the exercises. The therapy is done in a hospital just 10 minutes away.

We were chatting yesterday and she told me that she had been with the hospital for 10 years and it has changed owners 3 times. She said each time new owners come in they cut more and more employees and benefits. I asked her if they had been purchased by a private equity firm but she didn't seem to know. She was a wonderful physical therapist. Today I was floored when I received a call saying they are closing and my future appointments have been canceled.:(

Meanwhile my insurance supplement, UHC, keeps saying they will give me "dollar credits" for every "in-home" doctors consultation I schedule. This is basically a Zoom call. I've been going to my PCP for years and he knows my health, makes recommendations and sits with me to discuss the results of my physicals. My insurance company is basically discouraging me from visiting my doctor in person. I'm not wearing a tinfoil hat. This is the same insurance company that wouldn't allow me to add him as my PCP, even though he is in-network, until I insisted and spoke with two departments.

I know most businesses are all about the almighty dollar but that seems to have taken major precedence lately over actually providing decent healthcare. I've read quite a bit recently about private equity firms taking over hospitals, cutting staff and eventually closing them down so people no longer have healthcare that is close to them. I've said if before... our healthcare system needs a complete overhaul! This is not a political statement because regardless of which party has been in office the problem has just continued to creep along.
Click to expand...
You might want to call Medicare or even call your local Congressperson and ask if there is any agency you can complain to about this. I'm serious.

There has been much news last year about private equity firms buying hospitals and medical groups and it NEVER goes well for anyone but the blankety-blank investors.

If you don't make your Congressional reps aware of it, how will they know what really happens on the ground when these people take over? They won't. Because the hedge funds go to them and LIE, lie like lying dogs, say everything they do is peachy and just makes the hospital more efficient - saves Medicare money!

Yeah, well if they murder us that will save Medicare money too.

You need to tell the people who hold the pursestrings, members of Congress, that this is happening. And keep telling them. Don't think one letter or email is enough.

And remember, you are writing for the 500 other patients who are also losing out now because the PT place has closed, but they don't know they should write, or are far too busy to write, or feel they do not have good enough English skills to write.
 
Free health care for all was once provided b y UK govt way back in the 1940's - the idea was that the govt would pay for it all but this would be subsidized by the tax system that taxed almost everyone. But it got to fancy and expensive and now they are selling it out to private enterprises that will make us pay through the nose! the world isn't getting better just more expensive - this planet is not improving its degrading and killing off the poor
 
Wow Doug! You wrote: "My insurance company is basically discouraging me from visiting my doctor in person." Mine, Aetna Medicare PPO, is doing just the opposite. I just got an email encouraging me to visit my doctor then login to my account and evaluate the visit for them. Then I got another one which was worded slightly different after they realized I had already seen him recently. I wonder if they get to pay doctors less when there's a tele-visit rather than office visit. I notice from my benefits statements that doctors get paid significantly less through Medicare than what their OV charges actually cost.

I think insurance companies are influencing medical care or responsible for the lack thereof in some cases. New mothers used to stay in the hospital 5 days after giving birth. Now they are "kicked out" the next day. If they had C sections it may be a couple of days longer, I'm not sure.
I've read that they pay for 15 minutes of care when visiting a doctor's office so that's all doctors are obligated to give Medicare patients. My doctor spends between 45 minutes and an hour with me each time I go and that's usually every three months.

Years ago when I needed PT, the insurance only paid for 11 visits. So for those who cannot afford to pay out of pocket, their PT time is limited and maybe they need more. Then there are drugs that insurances won't cover. For example, I used to take Aciphex, which managed my GERD excellently. My RX plan stopped paying for it, so did Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the plan a co-worker friend had. Between my gastroenterologist and PCP, they gave me enough samples to last me for a few months.

I found out after my sister had knee replacement surgery that United Health Care is problematic when it comes to admitting someone to a rehab facility. I was in my sister's room when the nurse or social worker came and told her that. As a member of the Patient Advisory Council that met at my doctor's office, I mentioned it. The nurse and secretary both said they also experienced that problem with UHC
 

Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top