Yes, Republicans are Right: Massive Medicare Fraud is Real, but not by Patients
Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart
I am going to use my own story to offer you the truth about
Medicare fraud. Although Republicans
would like you to believe that there is massive fraud within the Medicare
system, committed by patients, this is untrue. The feud is real, and committed
by doctors and most importantly, by “for profit” hospitals.
MY STORY
In the latter hours of Friday, August 9, 2024, I was taken
to the emergency room of one of Reno’s hospitals. After remaining in the ER for
a couple of hours, and a preliminary examination, I was admitted to the
hospital in the very early morning of August 10.
After receiving multiple tests, including an MRI and drawing
amounts of blood, I was allowed to rest for a few hours. Around 9 or 10 a.m. on
that Saturday morning, a doctor came into my room. She sat and talked to me for
about 10 minutes, never asking me what brought me to the ER, or any other
questions about my past or current health, she informed me that blood tests
revealed E-Coli bacteria in my blood. I would remain bedridden and given
injections of an antibiotic until I was released. I would continue to take the antibiotics
in pill form for about 10 days. I never saw a single doctor after that few
minutes until I was released on Manday, August 12th. However,
although I had been diagnosed and treatment assigned, I was subjected to
additional, expensive tests, including a CT scan and electrocardiograms.
My time in the hospital was embarrassing and extremely
uncomfortable. As I stated, I was bedridden and was forced to call for a bedpan
whenever I had to urinate or evacuate by bowels. Not once did anyone come into
my room and ask me if I needed a glass of water, or anything else. The only
time I saw a nurse was when tests were required, or a bedpan was placed under
my buttocks.
At least twice, I called for a bedpan but no one came for at
least 45 minutes.
The room assigned to me was away from the others on the 3rd
floor, and looked nothing like any other hospital room I have seen in my 80
years.
The most painful of all my experiences over those few days
was much worse when the bills began to arrive.
LIES AND FRAUD
The first thing I
noticed was a charge for four full days in a room. I was charged for use of the
Emergency Room and a Hospital Room on Friday, August 9. Fraud. I was also
charged for a full day on Monday, August 12, although a doctor discharged me
before 9 a.m. in the morning. I was forced to get out of the bed, while someone
changed the sheets etc., and then sat on top of the covers for about three
hours before I was released.
The second item on my bill which stood out was a charge for “physical
therapy.” Never happened.
Then I noticed charges by five additional physicians,
although my only experience with a doctor was for less than 15 minutes on
Saturday morning. There were other fallacious charges, but these were the most
egregious.
Some of the unnecessary tests cost between three and five
thousand dollars. I was charged for four full days, although I was only an
admitted patient for two. The charge on my bill was for nights at more than $2,000.00
per day.
FACTS ABOUT HEALTCARE IN THE UNITED STATES
Healthcare in the United States is the most expensive and
least effective in the world. Although my total bill was for about $26,000,
when the best doctors are available, that bill would have been two or three
times as expensive.
One last item. I was taken to the hospital in a RFD
ambulance. My bill for the eight-minute ride, with no medical care other than a
cardiac monitor, was more than $1,600.
FRAUD IS REAL
Corporations are enemies of the people. Their greed removes
any doubt that profits are far more important than the welfare of their
customers and patients.
Allow me to offer you another fact, not related to medical
care.
The heads of corporations all support Trump. Why? Because
Trump continues to reduce their taxes. After his first huge cut in 2017, during
his first year as your illegitimate president, in 2018, two of the largest
corporations in our country, Walmart and Amazon, paid zero dollars in taxes.
How much did you pay that year?
Op-ed by James Turnage
Follow my blog and be informed
My 10 novels are available on Amazon’s free Kindle App
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