MED-99
HMO Satisfaction Rating
HMOs have been very successful in reducing health care costs. This has happened primarily by intimidating doctors to provide less care and reduced hospital charges. The HMOs tell patients when they sign them up that they can get all the consultations and care they’ve been accustomed to. When the doctor puts the breaks on the […]
Hospital Homicide
Hospitals are doing what we call PEER REVIEW, where doctors reviews each other records to make sure everyone is giving appropriate care. PEER REVIEW works fine much of the time. But in recent years, it has been subject to considerable abuse. Some have estimated that in some hospitals up to 70 percent of the reviews […]
The Dirty Work of Managed Care
Dr Linda Peeno, a former medical reviewer and medical director for three managed care organizations, testified before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health. She stated: “I will begin by making a public confession: In the spring of 1987, as a physician, I caused the death of a man. No one held me accountable for […]
Loss of Hospital Privileges
Last month we told you about two doctors who were targeted for loss of privileges. In each case they eventually won. However, all had fallen out of favor with Hospital A in the past. The attorney fees in one case were well over $50,000. In one case, the loss of income was so great that […]
The Health Department Raids
Headlines in the WSJ indicate that the state made a surprise series of raids. No these were not drug dealers, smugglers, rapists, murderers or other felons. These raids were on non-profit and university hospitals. Were they selling organs or body parts? No, they were checking on the hours that the house staff was working. These […]
RESIGN or be FIRED from a Managed Care Organization
Dr Brittain was a general surgeon in the Mountain Physician Med Group, a managed care organization. He developed a large clientele of referring physicians. After about two years, Mountain Physician’s gave Dr Brittain an ultimatum–either resign or you will be fired. If we fire you, we will be obligated to report you to the Physician […]
How Medicare Special Agents are Going After Doctors
Medicare has hired 400 ex-FBI agents. What could Medicare do with 400 ex-FBI agents, you’re probably wondering. Stage an agent Olympics? Make a James Bond epic? No–Have them chase after doctors! Medicare has placed these agents in all major cities in the United States, has given them $400 million dollars, badges and guns, and given […]