Reader comments
Surgery centers want slice of Medicaid pie

Mr. Smith | 1:43 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

This story should mention that Senator Christen received a $5000 donation from the surgery center folks right before he filed a bill for them. Sounds like a bribe to me.

David | 5:31 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

They say that there is a flip side because costs could go up.......they are the ones that decide the cost. It is medicaid that decides how much to pay the doctors... if you don't want the cost to go up just don't raise the cost......seems pretty simple.

Just so you are aware. I am in school in a different state right now to become a health care provider..... and I am SHOCKED how around the nation Utah is the laughing stock of the country when it comes to health insurance. No good doctors want to go to Utah becuase of the MANAGED CARE that the insurance has here in Utah.... they pretty much pay the doctors peanuts and make millions off of them. So all the quality doctors do elsewhere.

Steve | 5:35 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Isn't it kind of sad that Utah has the Walmart outlook on health care..... that whatever is the cheapest is what they go with.... regardless of quality. This whole article was about costs. Thats fine when I'm looking for some cheap christmas lights or something.....but when we are talking about health care, shouldn't we be a little more worried about the quality over quantity? Just like the student said...we are just going to have the worst doctors here if all we care about is having the cheapest care.

Comments continue below

Debbie | 7:06 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

It is very sad that the immediate discharge is the most important factor in the care of the patient. I recently underwent a surgery that used to come with a hospital stay of at least five days for recovery. I got "drive-through" instead and suffered immensely at home when a nurse was what I needed. The surgery is no less complicated, painful or needful of post-op care but the insurance dictates a discharge as soon as he/she can sit in a wheelchair. The only requirement for postop care is a driver of legal age to get you home. If we are afraid of universal health care because we have "the best health care in the world" then why are we doing this to patients?

Even more painfully illustrated - my son injured his hand in a serious accident. It required a hand surgeon to put it back together. He was released as soon as he was awake and had a dose of antibiotic. He was discharged to home with oral pain meds and antibiotics. He was not evaluated for pain control first. As a result he was in excruciating pain for 24 hours, nauseated and unable to get relief.

James | 7:58 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Well Debbie, it sounds like it is a lot worse in Utah. I agree with the above bloggers, it is horrible that Utah has this managed care which is nothing more then managing peoples medical problems.

Why is it legal that insurance companies that have no medical background can tell the doctors how to treat their patients? Isn't that why the doctors go to al lthat school? is to know how long someone should stay in the hospital? Horrible

lifer | 8:49 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

We are afraid that costs will go up because of increased utilization?

But . . . don't we want increased utilization? You know -- kids with chronic ear aches getting some relief?!?!?!

What ever happened to the promised systemic reforms Huntsman and others were talking about all summer and autumn long?

This system is worse than broke.

Anonymous | 10:16 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

To those who think the managed care system in Utah is bad... You really DON'T want universal health care proposed by some. It would make the government the "manager" of your health care.

SLC gal | 2:11 p.m. Feb. 11, 2008

And some people think the socialist system Sen. Clinton is promoting for Medical care in the event she's elected is such a good idea......

Concerned | 7:52 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

It is better to have some insurance rather than none as some 40 million Americans can attest.

Anonymous | 9:24 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

I have had no insurance for 3+years straight. I have lived in Canada with their National Health care. I will take being uninsured over socialized medicine any day!

Government Managed Health Care... When, in the last 2 decades, has our government managed anything well?

Concerned MD | 11:54 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

IHC stands for "I Hate Competition" the real trouble here is that there are other quality options then just the huge hospitals. Hospitals are making large profits with Medicaid dollars. And to think they say "we will reduce your discounts we give Medicaid in other areas of services if you do not keep the network exclusive". This is not just IHC but also HCA (Hate Competition Also). We will soon only have two providers in this State IHC and HCA. This will be really "Healthy" for the stae of Health Care PUN intended.

ryan bacher | 10:55 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

I love how the doctors suddenly want to treat Medicaid patients when it means feeding business to their adjacent surgery clinics.

Kelly | 10:38 a.m. Feb. 13, 2008

I don't think people in Utah understand how good they have it. Utah is know internationally for the highest quality health care at the lowest cost. Healthcare Leaders come from all over the world to see what they can do to follow Utah's lead. Almost every confernce I attend someone mentions Utah as a model in healtcare. We need to be more informed about what we have.

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