Want to know why the cost of health care is so high, look at the actions of the SEIU. In this Star story the SEIU claims the five day shut down of several hospitals has "nothing" to do with money. That, despite the fact they want a 17.5% raise, over three years. So, why not take that out of the negotiations and just discuss "staffing". What a joke.
If the SEIU gets it way, the cost of health insurance goes up and the number that can afford insurance will go down.
The good news is that if the SEIU gets its way, no private hospital will be able to stay open. Then we will all be able to get government health care--and you know how :good" that is. Want to destroy an industry, service or product? Just go UNION. Ask those who worked in the auto and steel industry. Note the major newspapers firing thousands, like the LA and NY Times, the SF Chronicle, the Sac Bee. Thanks to unions, the cost of government is at a premium and taxes are going up.
When you are waiting in a crowded emergency room trying to get treatment, remember the SEIU. When you have to wait for months for needed surgery--like they do in Canada and Britain--remember the SEIU. You can thank them, now for your troubles later.
Wrong as usual Steve. Today it is health insurers who set the amount of money that a service will cost, not doctors or hospitals. If hospitals refuse their demands health insurers threaten to not designate that hospital as an allowable provider, something the hospitals have no choice but to accept. Disbursements to hospitals and doctors have actaully gone down the last 2 years. Yet insurers continue to jack up the price of health insurance.
Oh...Stephen....if only the world were as simple as you are simple minded!
First its the "scary" Freikorps...now its bogeyman Unions...is this some sort of prelude to the Halloween season?
You have SO oversimplified the issues of Health Care costs, the troubles of the auto industry, newspapers and the world in general.
I concede that simple, and simple minded answers appeal to much of the base you pander too, but this is way over the top.
Nursing pay has very little to do with any of the major financial issues that hospitals face. Yes, employee salaries are a part of the mix but so are technology costs, legal defense, drug costs etc. The pressure to lower reimbursement rates by both the private and federally funded programs puts far more of a pinch on hospitals than any other single factor.
The auto industry? Sure, unions could be more proactive but the real problem now is that auto companies weren't and aren't building cars that appeal when gas hovers around $3.50+ per gallon. Any fool can see that.
Newpapers? Good Grief...this whole discussion is on the Internet..which is the main reason that newspapers are in decline, and I think, will either morph into something else or die. Like duh...don't you get that?
I wondered how you'd out-do that ridiculous "Obama Freikorps" byline, but by golly Stephen you got right back on the horse and outdid yourself here!!
Check out www.capoliticalnews.com to be entertained by more of Steves "ideas".
Actually, as CFO for a CA hospital, I know exactly what SEIU costs as well as C.N.A. =to my hospital. The cost of labor is the number one driver of healthcare cost, period. No other cost has escalated year to year than labor. We have nurses making 13% a year increases including step increases. With Medi-Cal cutting their already inadequate reimbursement, and Medicare only giving 2-3% increases, its easy to see how the financial picture gets ugly real quick.
There are hospitals that make profits in CA, but only about 30% the rest lose money. And let me repeat, the number one cost in total expenses and escalations per year is labor. Simple as it is, this issue must be delt with if we are to see true healthcare reform in our country. I do not see any proposal that addresses this issue due to the power structure in our country. That is why the current healthcare reform proposals will not succeed.