Comments on: A Big Day For Health Care Reform http://wakemedvoices.org/2009/10/a-big-day-for-health-care-reform/ Discussing health care issues in our nation and community Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:52:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Anthony Swartz http://wakemedvoices.org/2009/10/a-big-day-for-health-care-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-151 Anthony Swartz Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:15:47 +0000 http://wakemedvoices.org/?p=274#comment-151 What I would like to see is the leadership of physician and hospital organizations speak out to correct the inaccurate descriptions of WHY healthcare costs (that is, how much is spent on healthcare annually) in the United States are going up. It's not because we healthcare providers (physicians and hospitals) are jacking up how much we are charging or how much we are reimbursed by insurance and government payors. It is because more and more patients are seeking care. Yet, I never hear anyone speaking to this matter. We just let the politicians mischaracterize the rising "costs of healthcare". Sure, insurance premiums are going up, but it's not because they are paying us any more money/procedure or hospital day, etc. Perception is important and we need to ensure that as this debate moves forward, we try to control the incorrect perception that is being created. aes What I would like to see is the leadership of physician and hospital organizations speak out to correct the inaccurate descriptions of WHY healthcare costs (that is, how much is spent on healthcare annually) in the United States are going up. It’s not because we healthcare providers (physicians and hospitals) are jacking up how much we are charging or how much we are reimbursed by insurance and government payors. It is because more and more patients are seeking care. Yet, I never hear anyone speaking to this matter. We just let the politicians mischaracterize the rising “costs of healthcare”. Sure, insurance premiums are going up, but it’s not because they are paying us any more money/procedure or hospital day, etc.

Perception is important and we need to ensure that as this debate moves forward, we try to control the incorrect perception that is being created.

aes

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