U.S. Hospitals - too expensive?

[mongers]

Hey congratulations to all three of you.

Thanks

How come I missed this news, didn't you have a thread for the new arrival ?

Don't think I had a thread, but I did mention it at some point.

Well you need one anyway, to post child development/amusing incidents/just how dog tired both of you are getting.   

[Barrister]

Having just had a baby in Canada, I can say that I'm pretty happy with that part of the medical system.

The hospital we went to - BC Women's Hospital - has a policy of one nurse per patient during labour, and one nurse for every four post-partum. We had a nice private room with all kinds of ameneties, and we stayed for a few extra days for observation. Our out of pocket costs: $0.

BB may be right that there are perverse incentives somewhere in our system, but whatever they are I'm fine with them if the alternative is to worry about the potential financial impact of the hospital costs when having a baby - or when having any other kind of medical problem.

Another thing that I only recently learned about is a phone number you can call - 24 hours a day - to speak with a registered nurse practitioner about any kind of health issue. There's pretty much no wait time, and it's a really good way to prevent people from wasting clinic time with trivialities. It might just be a local thing for BC, or even Vancouver, though.

Just for a comparison: when our newest baby was born, during labour the nurse was shared.  I had to go find someone to say "look - my wife is ready to have this baby NOW".  Private room for delivery, but not for afterwards (despite me having a health plan that would cover a private room).  Kicked out within 12 hours after having the baby (though honestly with the shared room we wanted out anyways).

Alberta has a toll free number as well.  When I've called it though they are really less than helpful, and are doing more to cover their own butts from malpractice than to give meaningful advice.

For what its worth though having a baby in Whitehorse was completely different experience.

[Jacob]

Well, healthcare is a provincial concern for the last while and Alberta does seem to tend less towards public services, so I guess it's not surprising.

It does sound pretty sucky

[crazy canuck]

Alberta sucks. News at 11

[Eddie Teach]

I've seen studies on this topic...it certainly sounds good...regular health screenings and tests not only promote good health but also save money. Unfortunately the saving money part doesn't seem to be accurate.

Of course not. Poor people who live longer need more services.

[Savonarola]

The Russians have found away to pay for their medical expenses in the US, Mongers.  You can too!

Russian diplomats accused of $1.5M Medicaid fraud

NEW YORK (AP) - Dozens of current or former Russian diplomats and their spouses enjoyed luxury vacations and spent tens of thousands of dollars on concert tickets, fine clothing and helicopter rides as they lied about their incomes to get the U.S. government to pay their health care bills with money meant for the poor, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

The diplomats were among 49 individuals charged in a complaint unsealed in federal court in Manhattan, though no arrests were made and only 11 of the diplomats and their spouses remained in the United States. The complaint said Medicaid, a health care program for the poor, lost about $1.5 million in the scheme since 2004.

"Diplomacy should be about extending hands, not picking pockets in the host country," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara told a Manhattan news conference. He called it "shameful and systemic corruption."

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in remarks carried by the Interfax news agency that "we are bewildered by making the information about accusations of alleged tax and other offenses by Russian embassy personnel available to the media."

"It's not clear why the relevant agencies have considered it possible to make these accusations public before discussing them through diplomatic channels," he said.

"We can't make any comment on that until we receive a clear explanation of the charges against our citizens from the U.S. authorities," Ryabkov added.

Russian officials at the United Nations did not immediately comment.

The defendants include employees of Russia's consulate and its mission to the U.N., as well as trade representative, according to the criminal complaint.

The complaint alleges that the defendants submitted fraudulent applications for medical benefits for pregnancies, births and care for young children. Federal prosecutors said the diplomats qualified for Medicaid benefits by underreporting their income, often by tens of thousands of dollars.

Bharara said it was a case "we would be prosecuting and making arrests in, but for immunity." Still, he added, participation in crimes by diplomats generally leads to expulsion from a country.

"Being a diplomat does not give you the right to commit health care fraud," said George Venizelos, head of the FBI's New York office. He said 25 current and former diplomats and 24 of their spouses joined with dozens of co-conspirators not identified in court papers to carry out the fraud.

"The defendants selfishly took advantage of a health care system designed to help the unfortunate," Venizelos said.

In court papers, FBI agent Jeremy Robertson described an 18-month investigation, saying investigators had discovered a pattern of falsified applications.

He said 58 of the 63 births attributed to Russian diplomats and their spouses in New York City between 2004 and 2013 were funded through Medicaid, which is largely federally funded but includes money from state and local governments.

Robertson wrote that the diplomats and their spouses generally underreported household income to an amount below the applicable Medicaid eligibility level, and some of them lied about the citizenship status of their children to obtain continuing health coverage for them.

Meanwhile, the diplomats and their spouses spent tens of thousands of dollars on vacations, fancy watches, expensive jewelry and designer clothing at luxury retail stores including Bloomingdale's, Tiffany & Co., Jimmy Choo, Swarovski and others, the court papers said.

The complaint said they also spent tens of thousands of dollars on electronic merchandise at Apple Inc. stores and elsewhere. Authorities said they also bought concert tickets, robotic cleaning devices and chartered helicopters.

Court papers noted that prior to June 2011 Russian diplomats including some of the defendants received their salaries in cash. The complaint said diplomats underreported their incomes to qualify for Medicaid but gave more accurate descriptions of salaries to qualify for credit cards.

Charges in the criminal complaint included conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to steal government funds and make false statements relating to health care matters.

[derspiess]

TRUST BUT VERIFY

[Ed Anger]

I'm tired of Russia. And to think we sent them pop tarts when their economy collapsed.

What a waste.

[Malthus]

Both strike me as fundamentally bad ideas, likely to lead to more costs in the future rather than less (to say nothing of worse outcomes). Preventing stuff is cheaper than fixing stuff.

I've seen studies on this topic...it certainly sounds good...regular health screenings and tests not only promote good health but also save money. Unfortunately the saving money part doesn't seem to be accurate.

Screening creates more costs, because it leads to catching significant conditions when they are still treatable. Sad to tell, dying quickly of (say) cancer is a lot "cheaper" to the system than years of therapy.

[Iormlund]

Both strike me as fundamentally bad ideas, likely to lead to more costs in the future rather than less (to say nothing of worse outcomes). Preventing stuff is cheaper than fixing stuff.

I've seen studies on this topic...it certainly sounds good...regular health screenings and tests not only promote good health but also save money. Unfortunately the saving money part doesn't seem to be accurate.

Regular screening is one thing. Avoiding going to the doctor once you know you have a problem because you can't afford it is another altogether.

[katmai]

I don't have a forum stalker except katmai.

[Valmy]

Alberta sucks. News at 11

Impossible.  I hear it is called the 'Texas of Canada'.

[garbon]

Alberta sucks. News at 11

Impossible.  I hear it is called the 'Texas of Canada'.

I'm confused. You acted like you were disagreeing but then affirmed CC's statement.

[MadImmortalMan]

I'm still stunned that Jake just had a baby.

[Siege]

I guess all those Canadians and brits are not gonna come over anymore for service.