For the record, my husband is a pathologist and his practice charges the same prices, no matter who is paying, be it Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance. I don't know if this is common, but it may vary by specialty.

Posted at August 9, 2007 10:36 AM in response to Universal Access To Affordable Health Care: Step Three - A Single Risk Pool

Congressman Kagen,

Hello from Green Bay! We are loving you here!

My main stink about health care right now is that it's so inefficient. I wish the Congress members would emphasize just how inefficient our system is. My latest story is a prime example: I have a lump on my neck. I went to my primary to check it out. She has recommended I see a surgeon to have it removed. However, before I can make my appointment, my insurance company has to approve that visit. But, this company, Destiny Health, does not do the actual approval. They contract out that job to another company called Active Health Management. When AHM approves the office visit, assuming they do, Destiny Health, my insurance company has to approve that approval. All the while, I'm stuck with a lump on my neck, which my pathologist hubby thinks is probably benign but cannot know for sure. How much worse could it get? I have insurance and it's still not helping me.

We need to emphasize to these universal health care phobes that the system is not only broken because of the uninsured. These companies have proven that privatizing health care is inefficient.

Thank you for working hard for the 8th Congressional District and, for all you TPMers, Congressman Kagen is going to have a heck of a battle keeping his seat next year. Donate money and time if you can to keep our part of Wisconsin from a possible Congressman Gard. Think Tom DeLay in Wisconsin; that's John Gard.

Posted at August 6, 2007 4:15 PM in response to Universal Access to Affordable Care: A Declaration of Health