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The Big File All issues not easily categorized in the above forums are here. Comments on general health, diet, "getting comfortable," and more are here. |
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I read two interesting articles yesterday, I wish I could post them!
The one on artificial discs is comprehensive and worth reading. The one tidbit that I liked reading is about the first European Charite patient � is still playing tennis after 20 years! An Alternative to Spinal Fusion By BARNABY J. FEDER (NYT) December 24, 2004 The other one from the WSJ is entitled, �California Hospitals Open Books, Showing Huge Price Differences.� It�s a very telling article that keenly scrutinizes the systemic causes of health care problems. It�s so incisive; I�ll excerpt a few of the author�s words (Lucette Lagnado, Dec 27 WSJ): 1. Hospital pricing strategies fluctuate wildly 2. List prices are usually charged only to uninsured patients 3. Patients have no idea what the charges are until they get the bill 4. Decade-old pricing formulas are based on �multipliers� 5. In the 60s and 70s, hospital markups were more logical, then Medicare reform complicated reimbursement procedures 6. In the 90s, HMOs demanded deep discounts from hospitals 7. In response to the Medicare and HMO squeeze, hospitals crafted their own survival strategies � without knowing what other hospitals were doing (they were prohibited due to anti-trust laws) 8. Regional factors also effect pricing, e.g. labor unions, real estate, capital improvement, etc.
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"Harrison" - info (at) adrsupport.org Fell on my ***winter 2003, Canceled fusion April 6 2004 Reborn June 25th, 2004, L5-S1 ADR Charite in Boston Founder & moderator of ADRSupport - 2004 Founder Arthroplasty Patient Foundation a 501(c)(3) - 2006 Creator & producer, Why Am I Still Sick? - 2012 Donate www.arthropatient.org/about/donate |
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