Category: healthcare

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Why we can’t have essential things

Mark Cathcart

The meme But this is much less funny. The drug companies have been conspiring to raise the prices for generic drugs. albuterol, sold by generic manufacturers Mylan and Sun, jumped more than 3,400 percent, from 13 cents a tablet to more than $4.70. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/investigation-of-generic-cartel-expands-to-300-drugs/2018/12/09/fb900e80-f708-11e8-863c-9e2f864d47e7_story.html?utm_term=.4ec5cbabdebd Continue reading Why we can’t have essential things

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Amazon’s $15 Minimum Wage Won’t Change How Americans See Work – Bloomberg

Mark Cathcart

n 2017, the real median household income in the U.S. was $61,372, which is roughly what two earners with full-time jobs making $15 an hour would make. I remain totally confused about class as a term to classify people in America. This article is a prime example. While overall this is good news, if $15-per hour helps the middle class, how little do you have to earn to be working class? And why is that term never used? As far as I’m aware the amazon deal doesn’t include health insurance, which effectively means before taxes, you’ll have to work for … Continue reading Amazon’s $15 Minimum Wage Won’t Change How Americans See Work – Bloomberg

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Data Interchange and Interoperability in Healthcare

Mark Cathcart

I recently had to go for x-rays on my hip. The imaging company called saying they’d received the “order” from my chiropractor for a knee arthrogram without contrast. Apparently, this was both wrong and confusing. It’s wrong, because the “order” said hip, but they couldn’t read it; also it’s confusing because, well something to do with x-ray and contrast. After a short discussion, it turned out the imaging company received the order by fax. Yes, real actual paper fax. The US medical profession still seems to run on faxes. My prior cardiology hospital sent my medical records to my new cardiology … Continue reading Data Interchange and Interoperability in Healthcare

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Maternity medical crisis

Mark Cathcart

As we approach this year’s open enrollment period for health insurance, I continue to be shocked and disappointed about almost everything I learn about the US Healthcare system. Before I return to notes about my own experiences and my own health, maternity care is another healthcare topic that doesn’t often get discussed, as the average American prepares to pay more than $10,348, per person, per year on healthcare. While many argue about the definition of single payer, and if it would lead to socialism (and what that is?), the inefficiency, mistakes, cost and just outright expense of what should be … Continue reading Maternity medical crisis

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“Profiteering” in prescription drugs

Mark Cathcart

The New York Times has an interesting piece on the price of drugs, of which Pharmacy Benefit Managers are only part of the story. Add to this the general secrecracy over prices and Pharmacy benefits and drug list (aka the formulary) which are their negotiated discount drugs, brand or generic. This has been my experience, even without insurance, it’s almost impossible to find out how much specific drugs are going to cost in advance; if there are cheaper generics; and if there is a better price. I took an alternative route and did a deal with the devil for my … Continue reading “Profiteering” in prescription drugs

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Medical Billing update

Mark Cathcart

After spending another hour yesterday making calls to try to come to a conclusion over the 2x appointments and treatment I had for my leg wound back in August and early September. I’ve been applying the lessons learned, experience I’ve had resolving my billing for my heart attack, which i close to, but not yet finally resolved. Here are some tweets I sent after getting off the phone yesterday. Still battling the medical billing systems. Hint, don’t get diverted to applying for financial assistance when you have no insurance, until you’ve negotiated everything down to minimum for self pay, and … Continue reading Medical Billing update

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@potus isn’t the only one projecting

Mark Cathcart

I’ve always understood the term “projecting” but it has been fascinating to see the press and media trying to make sense of the Presidents sometimes incoherent and unrelated public tweets and statements. The best explanation is he is “Projecting”. That is he’s told something, or concerned about something and immediately make some form of statement about it. In many cases these things become apparent days, weeks or months later. There are write-ups on this here, here, and here. I got a surprise on July 30th, I had a heart attack. My left anterior descending artery was completely blocked. I’ll deal … Continue reading @potus isn’t the only one projecting

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Government US style

Mark Cathcart

It’s clear that many Americans view “Big government” as a bad thing, it seems though that they are OK with lots of branches of small government, that is ineffective, costly and open to misuse, and often technology challenged. Given the size of the USA, any government is going to be a big government. With over nearly 320-million people, and almost the largest country in geography in the world, most people clearly are clueless about the scale and the challenges of delivering services in what was the worlds most advanced country. Listen to this 10-second clip from NPR’s Morning Edition today, a … Continue reading Government US style