December 1, 2020 Recent News

Healthcare

Hospitals

Physicians

Healthcare

Medicare is doing some things better.  They have decreased their fee for service improper payments by $15 Billion since 2016.  It is amazing what updating computer information will do.  

An article has come out from CNN stating that 78,000 trans people are using hormones not prescribed due to lack of insurance coverage.  

Amazon has finally done it.  They are now in the pharmaceutical business.  They are opening a pharmacy and will deliver to you free if a Prime member.  They will accept most insurance and may offer savings to people without insurance.  They will not deliver scheduled meds.         Top

Hospitals

Beaumont Hospitals in Michigan are again in the news and again for not wonderful reasons.  Recently the system attempted to merge with Adventist and that was rebuffed by the hospital staff and the state legislators.  Now a long time cardiologist has written a letter to the Board to get rid of all the executive staff.  He charges them with fiscal malfeasance for making staff use inferior equipment and using the lower bidder for medical services.  The hospital has lost prominent cardiac surgeons and cardiologist due to the CEO being accused of profits over patient care.  Beaumont alszo received over $320 million in Covid taxpayer funds even though it increased its reserve by about $1 Billion over a year prior.  Beaumont paid huge bonuses to the execs and then the CEO said the bonuses were to comply with IRS rules even though that was not true.  Beaumont lost over 70 physicians who were ousted when an anesthesiology contract was awarded to a Texas group who are looking to hire physicians who were not qualified for the post earlier.  The complaining physician also accuses the corporate leadership of a culture of fear and intimidation.  Sounds like a wonderful hospital to train and work at.  

In a story related to the one above, Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital in Yakima is withdrawing from Virginia Mason Medical System.  The reason is their physicians led an attack on the proposed merger between Virginia Mason and Common Spirit Health, a Catholic organization.  The physicians put ads in the local paper telling the community about the problems since the hospital joined the Virginia Mason group and how this would only make things worse.  They had lost many of their specialists during the take over forcing patients to travel to Seattle for specialized care.  

There is dumb and then there is stupid.  The 24 year CEO of Sanford Health was infected with the virus so he decided to not wear a mask any longer and sent an email to the staff detailing why he will no longer wear a mask.  He has now been fired.

What happened to the freedom of speech?  Ashley Grames, an oncology nurse at Salem Health in Oregon, has been placed on administrative leave.  She had the audacity to put on social medial that she does not wear masks in public, she continues to travel and OMG she allows her children to play with others..  I understand the county where she works is high with Covid but so what.  Covid did not get rid of the Constitution.      Top

Physicians

In another uplifting story, it appears that thousands of small and medium size medical practices are closing throughout the country due to the virus.  This is due to the fear for their own health as well as the burnout from treating virus patients.  These physicians are retiring early, quitting or transitioning to non patient care medicine.

The law of unintended circumstances again rises.  California's Medical Board several years ago instituted the Death Certificate Project which looked at these to see which physicians should be punished.  This caused physicians to stop issuing as many narcotics to patients so the patients went to the streets and died.  The Board is changing the name of the program and promising to do more investigation prior to charges.  But, the program goes on, as will the deaths.        Top

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 DISCLAIMER: Although this article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented.