Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year

Collarspace Discussion Forums

Home Login Search

Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

All Forums >> [Community Discussions] >> Dungeon of Political and Religious Discussion >> Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

Login

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 4:47:21 AM

rulemylife

Posts: 14614
Joined: 8/23/2004
Status: offline

Anyone want to tell me again how we can't afford a health reform bill that the Congressional Budget Office estimates would cost $829 billion over a ten-year period?

Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. healthcare system is just as wasteful as President Barack Obama says it is, and proposed reforms could be paid for by fixing some of the most obvious inefficiencies, preventing mistakes and fighting fraud, according to a Thomson Reuters report released on Monday.

The U.S. healthcare system wastes between $505 billion and $850 billion every year, the report from Robert Kelley, vice president of healthcare analytics at Thomson Reuters, found.

.......One example -- a paper-based system that discourages sharing of medical records accounts for 6 percent of annual overspending.

"It is waste when caregivers duplicate tests because results recorded in a patient's record with one provider are not available to another or when medical staff provides inappropriate treatment because relevant history of previous treatment cannot be accessed," the report reads.

Some other findings in the report from Thomson Reuters, the parent company of Reuters:

* Unnecessary care such as the overuse of antibiotics and lab tests to protect against malpractice exposure makes up 37 percent of healthcare waste or $200 to $300 billion a year.

* Fraud makes up 22 percent of healthcare waste, or up to $200 billion a year in fraudulent Medicare claims, kickbacks for referrals for unnecessary services and other scams.

* Administrative inefficiency and redundant paperwork account for 18 percent of healthcare waste.

* Medical mistakes account for $50 billion to $100 billion in unnecessary spending each year, or 11 percent of the total.

* Preventable conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes cost $30 billion to $50 billion a year.

Post #: 1

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 5:44:13 AM

tazzygirl

Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline

* Preventable conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes cost $30 billion to $50 billion a year.

Preventative medicine... as i have said many, many times... saves money AND lives... and i would bet that amount would be much, much higher

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to rulemylife)

Post #: 2

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 6:00:03 AM

Sanity

Posts: 22039
Joined: 6/14/2006
From: Nampa, Idaho USA
Status: offline

Because the government can't control Medicare fraud, which is breaking us as it is.

quote:

Anyone want to tell me again how we can't afford a health reform bill that the Congressional Budget Office estimates would cost $829 billion over a ten-year period?

_____________________________

Inside Every Liberal Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out

(in reply to rulemylife)

Post #: 3

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 6:05:46 AM

tazzygirl

Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline

And about 80 million more people to join the ranks of Medicare... oh yeah... we need no health care reform

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to Sanity)

Post #: 4

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 6:27:17 AM

Sanity

Posts: 22039
Joined: 6/14/2006
From: Nampa, Idaho USA
Status: offline

Hundreds of millions more if Barack gets his way... prior to all the waste and fraud being properly addressed.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

And about 80 million more people to join the ranks of Medicare... oh yeah... we need no health care reform

_____________________________

Inside Every Liberal Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out

(in reply to tazzygirl)

Post #: 5

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 6:36:14 AM

Louve00

Posts: 1674
Joined: 2/1/2009
Status: offline

Add to that number fraud, renting medical equipment (even if the patient already owns that piece of equipment outright), pharmaceuticals, generics and pharmaceuticals....and the list goes on. These wasteful things have been going on for administration after administration. Tie that in with the anti trust thing for insurance companies and then you decide if this was a train wreck waiting to happen or not. That we have a president determined to change it is a good thing. I just hope he hits all the bases.

*editted to add that I missed fraud in the OP, but I agree....cutting the waste will free up a bunch of money that is going into hands that have no business with the money.

< Message edited by Louve00 -- 10/27/2009 6:40:33 AM >

_____________________________

For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are. - Niccolo Machiavelli

(in reply to Sanity)

Post #: 6

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 7:06:50 AM

tazzygirl

Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity

Hundreds of millions more if Barack gets his way... prior to all the waste and fraud being properly addressed.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

And about 80 million more people to join the ranks of Medicare... oh yeah... we need no health care reform

Again, you want to blame people. Ok... this has been addressed, by many administrations before the current one. Yet no one could do anything about it. We finally get someone into office who isnt afraid of public opinion and is willing to open the flood gates. And boy did they get opened. We have not had this kind of transparency on the health care industry before... and i get the feeling we have only scratched the surface.

When you are ready to finally talk, and not just blame, let me know, Sanity. I have a feeling you know alot more than you let on, yet, through all the blame games you play, i cant be bothered to find out.

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to Sanity)

Post #: 7

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 7:33:10 AM

chiaThePet

Posts: 2694
Joined: 2/4/2007
Status: offline

Can't we all just gel on the couch over a cigarette and piece of pie and discuss this like civilized adults.

chia* (the pet)

_____________________________

Love is a many splendid sting.

You can stick me in the corner, but I'll probably just end up coloring on the walls.

(in reply to rulemylife)

Post #: 8

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 7:53:05 AM

rulemylife

Posts: 14614
Joined: 8/23/2004
Status: offline

From the article:

* Fraud makes up 22 percent of healthcare waste, or up to $200 billion a year in fraudulent Medicare claims, kickbacks for referrals for unnecessary services and other scams.

(in reply to Louve00)

Post #: 9

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 8:20:55 AM

Sanity

Posts: 22039
Joined: 6/14/2006
From: Nampa, Idaho USA
Status: offline

No tazzy, the point isn't "blame" the point is that we need to address the waste and fraud and other abuses in the system prior to expanding it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity

Hundreds of millions more if Barack gets his way... prior to all the waste and fraud being properly addressed.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

And about 80 million more people to join the ranks of Medicare... oh yeah... we need no health care reform

Again, you want to blame people. Ok... this has been addressed, by many administrations before the current one. Yet no one could do anything about it. We finally get someone into office who isnt afraid of public opinion and is willing to open the flood gates. And boy did they get opened. We have not had this kind of transparency on the health care industry before... and i get the feeling we have only scratched the surface.

When you are ready to finally talk, and not just blame, let me know, Sanity. I have a feeling you know alot more than you let on, yet, through all the blame games you play, i cant be bothered to find out.

< Message edited by Sanity -- 10/27/2009 8:21:09 AM >

_____________________________

Inside Every Liberal Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out

(in reply to tazzygirl)

Post #: 10

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 8:40:58 AM

mnottertail

Posts: 60698
Joined: 11/3/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity

No tazzy, the point isn't "blame" the point is that we need to address the waste and fraud and other abuses in the system prior to expanding it.

Why not while expanding it, they call it an overhaul, or reform usually.

Ron

_____________________________

Have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two? Judges 5:30

(in reply to Sanity)

Post #: 11

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 9:13:42 AM

willbeurdaddy

Posts: 11894
Joined: 4/8/2006
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

Anyone want to tell me again how we can't afford a health reform bill that the Congressional Budget Office estimates would cost $829 billion over a ten-year period?

Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. healthcare system is just as wasteful as President Barack Obama says it is, and proposed reforms could be paid for by fixing some of the most obvious inefficiencies, preventing mistakes and fighting fraud, according to a Thomson Reuters report released on Monday.

The U.S. healthcare system wastes between $505 billion and $850 billion every year, the report from Robert Kelley, vice president of healthcare analytics at Thomson Reuters, found.

.......One example -- a paper-based system that discourages sharing of medical records accounts for 6 percent of annual overspending.

If the technology is there why isnt it being used and what makes anyone think the government could implement any better than the private sector?

"It is waste when caregivers duplicate tests because results recorded in a patient's record with one provider are not available to another or when medical staff provides inappropriate treatment because relevant history of previous treatment cannot be accessed," the report reads.

Some other findings in the report from Thomson Reuters, the parent company of Reuters:

* Unnecessary care such as the overuse of antibiotics and lab tests to protect against malpractice exposure makes up 37 percent of healthcare waste or $200 to $300 billion a year.

Gosh and I thought tort reform was "proven" to have negligible costs.

* Fraud makes up 22 percent of healthcare waste, or up to $200 billion a year in fraudulent Medicare claims, kickbacks for referrals for unnecessary services and other scams.

If they cant stop fraud now, they cant stop it when the grow the coverage. Show me some fraud prevention first.

* Administrative inefficiency and redundant paperwork account for 18 percent of healthcare waste.

see technology above

* Medical mistakes account for $50 billion to $100 billion in unnecessary spending each year, or 11 percent of the total.

stress the system by adding 30 million people and mistakes are going to go down?

* Preventable conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes cost $30 billion to $50 billion a year.

And what government miracle is going to prevent preventable conditions that isnt already being done?

Thank you for posting an article that substantiates that getting the government involved in anything but tort reform isnt going to save anything, and will cost money.

(in reply to rulemylife)

Post #: 12

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 9:19:05 AM

slvemike4u

Posts: 17896
Joined: 1/15/2008
From: United States
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity

No tazzy, the point isn't "blame" the point is that we need to address the waste and fraud and other abuses in the system prior to expanding it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity

Hundreds of millions more if Barack gets his way... prior to all the waste and fraud being properly addressed.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

And about 80 million more people to join the ranks of Medicare... oh yeah... we need no health care reform

Again, you want to blame people. Ok... this has been addressed, by many administrations before the current one. Yet no one could do anything about it. We finally get someone into office who isnt afraid of public opinion and is willing to open the flood gates. And boy did they get opened. We have not had this kind of transparency on the health care industry before... and i get the feeling we have only scratched the surface.

When you are ready to finally talk, and not just blame, let me know, Sanity. I have a feeling you know alot more than you let on, yet, through all the blame games you play, i cant be bothered to find out.

So you Sanity would be ready able and willing to get behind a public plan if Medicare fraud was corralled.
This is the one issue you have....or,the much more likelyscenario, you would than move the goal posts to Tort Reform?

_____________________________

If we want things to stay as they are,things will have to change...Tancredi from "the Leopard"

Forget Guns-----Ban the pools

Funny stuff....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNwFf991d-4

(in reply to Sanity)

Post #: 13

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 9:26:05 AM

Kirata

Posts: 15477
Joined: 2/11/2006
From: USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

* Unnecessary care such as the overuse of antibiotics and lab tests to protect against malpractice exposure makes up 37 percent of healthcare waste or $200 to $300 billion a year.

This one is a bit scary. I'll go with the overuse of antibiotics, but not the rest of it. Tests "to protect against malpractice" suggests to me that if they didn't check these things out before sending a patient home, they'd be negligent if something happened. That's not my idea of "waste".

K.

(in reply to rulemylife)

Post #: 14

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 10:23:50 AM

OrionTheWolf

Posts: 7803
Joined: 10/11/2006
Status: offline

This is old news, just a more recent news story. You should include the study on how every dollar spent on preventing fraud saves from between 14-18 dollars.

If you want, you can dig up the old post I made that had the links on the study.

But let us not forget that fraud expense is not overhead, so Medicare still keeps the 4% overhead award.

_____________________________

When speaking of slaves people always tend to ignore this definition "One who is abjectly subservient to a specified person or influence."

(in reply to rulemylife)

Post #: 15

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 10:49:11 AM

BoiJen

Posts: 2608
Joined: 3/7/2007
Status: offline

* Preventable conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes cost $30 billion to $50 billion a year.

Here's the deal, Insurance companies, even an insurance program run by the Fed will not ever cover preventative medicine. Period. Look at how your car insurance works for example, preventative maintenance is not covered despite the need for a brake job that would only cost $400 before the accident totaling a vehicle that would cost the insurance company to issue a check sum of more than $5000 (value of a used vehicle about 10 years old).

Health insurance companies work the same way. Just after that surgery where there will be scar tissue build up and any agitation will only inflame the issue, the insurance company will not cover a specific treatment to reduce scar tissue that only costs $100/month for the next two years. Rather, the insurance company would pay for a secondary surgery to remove the scar tissue 4 years down the line which will cost more than $30,000 to perform. The reason is because they think they are saving potential dollars and increasing their potential profit margin by not paying out preventative measures. It's not about the insured's well being, it's about the gamble in which someone's health is at risk as opposed to someone else's paycheck.

boi

_____________________________

Clips of MsKitty doin' stuff to me. Support the fan club, buy a clip today.

(in reply to OrionTheWolf)

Post #: 16

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 11:03:47 AM

Kirata

Posts: 15477
Joined: 2/11/2006
From: USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: BoiJen

It's not about the insured's well being, it's about the gamble....

And therein lies the major flaw in the whole scheme. But unfortunately, a government-run program is going to have the same shortcomings. Whether it's profit motive calculations or cost-benefit analyses, the end result in the same. Nothing is going to change until we accept the fact that you can't put a dollar value on health and well-being, and that providing the best possible health-care for our citizens is first and foremost a matter of ethics, not economics.

K.

< Message edited by Kirata -- 10/27/2009 11:07:40 AM >

(in reply to BoiJen)

Post #: 17

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 11:12:15 AM

BoiJen

Posts: 2608
Joined: 3/7/2007
Status: offline

I'm going to check the moon charts cuz I agree with Kirata on this.

boi

_____________________________

Clips of MsKitty doin' stuff to me. Support the fan club, buy a clip today.

(in reply to Kirata)

Post #: 18

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 1:23:28 PM

tazzygirl

Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline

The operative word in that is... uncontrolled... diabetes.

http://diabetes.webmd.com/risks-complications-uncontrolled-diabetes

Just a quick read on the complications. Now, understanding that not every single patient will be compliant, the ability of people who currently have no access to seek medical attention and attain treatments would go a long way into reducing costs. Diabetes doesnt just end there, it affects vision, cardiac, renal (kidneys), nerves, skin... the potential list goes on and on.

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to BoiJen)

Post #: 19

RE: Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - 10/27/2009 2:04:32 PM

Louve00

Posts: 1674
Joined: 2/1/2009
Status: offline

Having a sister who died of complications of diabetes, I can say that you are very right in using the word "compliant". When I was a respiratory therapist a Dr once told me the two worst patients he's ever had to deal with are diabetics and smokers. They seem to be the most non-compliant patients around. Despite the medical care they got, they still wound up killing themselves.

There are just so many different, real aspects of this situation. From waste, to insurance games, to patients ignoring their health. I personally feel if patients took more responsibility of themselves, some of the problem would be eased. I also feel with a complete overhaul of how the medical system operates, to eliminate waste would also help the cause. In fact, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you factored all of it in, healthcare wouldn't be as expensive as everyone is figuring its going to be. Of course, I have no proof of it, but take the numbers from irresponsible patients + the amount of waste going on + taking the competition and over inflation from the insurance companies (taking away the anti trust thing will do that), it may be a thing we can do.

Maybe I'm just being naive.

_____________________________

For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are. - Niccolo Machiavelli

(in reply to tazzygirl)

Post #: 20

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

All Forums >> [Community Discussions] >> Dungeon of Political and Religious Discussion >> Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

Jump to:

New Messages	No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages	Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages	Locked w/o New Messages

Post New Thread

Reply to Message

Post New Poll

Submit Vote

Delete My Own Post

Delete My Own Thread

Rate Posts

Collarchat.com © 2025

Terms of Service

0.109