What does the healthcare system in this country represent:

By Daniel at 8 July, 2009, 9:16 pm

1) obviously, health care

2) JOBS!

….the two go hand in hand.

Part of this deal includes this : Of the $155 billion in projected savings from hospitals, about $40 billion to $50 billion would come from reducing federal payments hospitals receive for providing care to uninsured and low-income patients, according to lobbyists. Those payments are now made through the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The Medicaid cuts would be apportioned by state, as 10 percent annual reductions beginning around 2015.

Officials of public hospitals say they have concerns such reductions could also squeeze funding for trauma centers and burn units, which receive Medicare and Medicaid money. …..

Do you realize where the burden lies in regards to “providing care to uninsured and low-income patients”? If it is an institution that receives any Federal money, at the local level……i.e. Hospitals.

For example: Grady, metro Atlanta’s safety net care center and its only Level 1 trauma facility for life-threatening injuries, employs about 5,000 workers. It delivers more than $250 million in free care per year.

Grady has already had to cut jobs this year. This trend is being followed by hospitals all over the U.S. The Fed reducing payments “to treat more people” will in fact lead to a reduced number of jobs and more folks who qualify as ” uninsured and low-income patients”……

We don’t want a watered down system. “Life expectancy and infant mortality” be damned, when you show up at a level 1 trauma center you don’t want to be treated in regards to you life expectancy.

The more they reduce payments the more jobs are reduced and the more the cycle continues. Cutting waste is never a bad idea. Hospitals need to project 5, 10, 15, 20 years out to plan for their livelihood. Indigent care is already eating away at their ability to treat paying and insured customers. There is only so much cutting back that can be sustained. All this leads to is stale-mate healthcare.