Obamacare: A Second Opinion

" America thank."

" Welcome to New York -- Tonight I brought together a an audience full of real medical doctors. How can you tell. Because they're wearing all those smart white coats look at things as you know visit doctor. I mean that's the only way stupid people can can tell. Who the doctors are. Except these guys confuse me a little they're all wearing tags it's a doctor and I'm not sort -- they're not in the white coat I think that's what the Obama administration. Thinks we think -- this but a lot. If they're handing out the white coats by the way -- you guys can take your coats off -- you don't have to be sitting in the the -- smart enough to know. I want to have a conversation. With you tonight because quite honestly we're dealing with some really. Huge issues and IUI before we went on the year I asked the doctors -- Experts in their own field Gotti Gotti Gotti they went to school and everything else right here and school. Good. But I asked them to just talk to. Each other and you tonight. As people who are just worried about what's going to happen to their country to their patients. If this Obama care goes through. I wanna ask a couple of questions first of all how many. -- support. Obama care what's currently being -- that. Coming to over here. And -- all of medical students always -- got traded. Okay how many will how many will quit. If this goes through. Good for you there was a poll out that shows that 45%. Of doctors would say they'll quit I don't know if they will or not. -- we have seen these other polls Washington seems to want this awfully bad but Americans don't a new Fox News poll finds 54%. Don't want 35% of Americans. Do. Americans oppose the reforms that doesn't mean that we don't have a crisis of health care. Of some sorts of mean have you been -- the hospital lately. So who does want these reforms. I contend that it's government bureaucrats who listen to special interest unions and in pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies everybody but you and the doctor. We're gonna try to. Listen to the doctors tonight. And see where we stand if you follow me over here to the blackboard I just want to talk about a couple of things I wanna talk about. All the doctors that we lose because of insurance with -- BGY and socialized medicine anybody practice medicine outside the United States anybody from outside the United States you were in Poland right. Yes and and patty and is running over with a microphone you you've practiced medicine over -- you were just live there."

" I did I did do my residence in Poland in nineteen Sheehan repeated in the -- how was that bullishness. It's awful. It's awful and they had something removed from that happens here American people put up -- that. We won't be able to see I shouldn't it give me an idea of what -- do what what it was bureaucracy and a tape. -- spent. Half of the times fighting government bureaucrats patients don't get care because they -- the too sick. And it's sad to see you know some people playing god with patients' lives."

" Okay is there anybody here that thinks that that. I mean how many of you are tired of the paperwork with the insurance companies. All right good now how many people think. That government. Will make that better."

" The -- students and what that. What he does he feel the idea -- the -- med student debates that. What what gives you that idea. Well you certainly couldn't be any worse than it Jessica. They'll watch how do you know that quietly say that. Well I mean anything that the government gets its hooks into automatically becomes a bureaucracy filled with justification. For the government being involved that is -- to deal with Medicare or with insurance companies at the moment. Now I'm in -- for practice in 1987. And at that time virtually a 100% of my practice was devoted patient care. And as time has gone -- tell you that. As government's gotten involved more and more depth to our time is devoted to fill out forms -- would denials. Did negotiating and I think yeah. I think -- a good question yes -- question which is harder to deal with the government or. The insurance company Medicare or interest it's. Did that well the government by far. But 'cause. With -- managed care companies you have the option. Of being able to pick and choose the various ones you want to work with some -- good some -- but when you have Medicare and Medicaid. I mean those are huge payers and if you ought not to do it that's 50% of your progress can be going -- you say that. The insurance companies are words you disagree."

" Companies that have fifty different protocols and provide no added value to the service just skim off 30%. That's worse than filling out you know form for Medicare Medicaid. "

" Doctor collapsed. We are about to make that same mistake is that could -- made. Elsewhere in the world it to have journalists hundreds and 45 years to finally realized the system is unsustainable. That was a single Payer system and they started with the spiral bound system and slowly people -- to to a do. Universal health front in right now -- to go bankrupt people revolt against higher taxes. -- out of the wealthy people to charge marginal rates to pay for the services. Still wasn't enough to have to cut services and find people voted -- new government and now they have the same cult could debate we have. -- just going and its opposite -- they trying to bring bring private insurance companies and markets and competition. To -- call also local services and and is this week that that is what to Cuba which Michael Moore said it's so great. Cuba is doing that now. This week."

" the numbers -- for the medical students were pretty -- at this point. They don't realize that -- doctor may get eight dollars ten dollars a visit for seeing a Medicaid patient more than 50% of position don't even take Medicaid anymore. Only the hospitals have been that works for it. The baucus bill is gonna increase the amount of medicate people on the payroll by ten million people the states will turn around and cut the hospitals. People -- Medicaid will have nowhere to go and positions are not about to start kicking -- for eight dollars a visit."

" I have to tell you I've talked to several. Doctors has anybody stopped taking Medicaid -- Medicare. -- and why did you do that. It's that paperwork burden was just too much. The rules and regulations were obscure. And to it was very very difficult to constantly comply with their regulations and would prevent Medicaid patients in general. Tend to be living room attendants and I'm not I'm sure and a lot of people who greeted viewers -- more. That patient population lives and so I stopped on -- talk about this because. Litigation I mean as anybody notice. Nobody seems to -- there's not an attorney that is speaking out against this that makes me say something's gotta be wrong. Because the attorneys are seemingly fine with this. Here's what really concerns me there -- parts of the country where you cannot get an OBG why can't you can't get you get -- you why can't you can't get he'll be part. And because. I have a daughter -- was born with special needs and it. I could've -- a case but I could've sued the at the hospital I could've sued the doctor. But it seems to me everybody's in for a big payday now and nobody has any self restraint. And they can't afford the -- you guys can't afford the insurance rates anymore so what's the solution that."

" Why -- we even paying malpractice insurance you know in nine years of private practice I haven't had one kid so malpractice case against me why am I think 30000 dollars a year. Who is getting paid. When I think I don't --"

" The government is concerned about the cost. -- crosses -- eyes because we have for profit health insurance companies these companies should. Be paying. Attention to patients' needs and paying patients' bills and not worry about paying dividends to investors."

" We'll -- I mean and -- a free market guys so. I don't think you have. Look there's anybody here think that insure that that drug companies are going to spend all this money developing a new drug that they can't make any money -- But -- that what are we have Mother Teresa I in the drug companies now that I. That's -- happen Mother Teresa was full of fluke of nature she was at a freak of nature it was great if we -- all be like that. But they're doing it because they can make money and if we don't do that. Who does that for the rest of the world -- are all feeding off of us are they not."

" They are feeding off of us but you know what I practiced medicine at now -- medicine from the other side of the world where it's actually paid for I've been working -- some of the largest employers for the last ten years. Where the dollar begins in the health care system. We talk about holding the insurance companies accountable well guess what. The employers. Are the ones that should be keeping the insurance companies under control senator baucus and nobody on congress right now is mentioning. What we need to do to help -- account what you drive competition. From where the dollar against -- grocery store you don't have -- go."

" about it here I am in New York I ironic I would accompany your New York I can't pick better insurance for my people I can't fit. I can't get it I only have a small and I. -- I found other better better insurance for people I cover. Absolutely everything for my employees but I can't do it because I can't buy any insurance over state lines that's insane. -- for travel. Yes I do for -- our progressive auto insurance. But can summer is another I can't do it here so I have no power as an employer I think the I -- who would. Who would go with me down the road that. It's not the employer the farther we get. The the responsibility. Away from the individual. The worst city is look how many times have you sent to a patient. How many times how many of you have said to a patient raise your hand if you want to. Are you. As your writing getting ready to write had a prescription. What's your insurance. And then you'll say oh it's that's and you say. Not a right this. Because you know the insurance company doesn't cover that other one will. If if I just have to pay for -- have insurance that just that if we all work together and I am responsible. We're not trying to Jack around the system. You know I mean if the patient says okay is that the best drug -- give me the best drug is that."

" Do I really need that test. The give me the real test is a not a solution. -- also missing the point that seventy to 85%. Of the diseases are lifestyle diseases are not touching that anywhere in this health care. Crisis. Debate that we're talking about that only leaves fifteen to 30% of funds that we have -- jump into this program."

" So let me say something really horrible because as I walked in the room I said this is the time for me to have a heart attack. I am I mean I am overweight. I don't exercise. I had a bag of -- from the twelfth floor down here."

" At hand now I don't smoke but I I know lighten -- the healthiest specimen. But I take responsibility. For that. It's my fault. It shouldn't -- be that that's not. That's not something that we had the government but we're bailing everybody -- we don't we say oh you're too big to fail -- if you're too big to fail. Maybe you should fail I don't mean we you don't. But you are responsible for your life."

" The third the third party system the third party system pavement has destroyed the doctor -- relationship. And if we could go back to the days when patience paid their doctors directly for most things and then build their insurance company. We would restore sanity to the medical system."

" back you go back in time is ten years before managed care. Patients with common."

" Insurance company for the most I would be 80% they -- responsible for 20%. And you can do what you it was necessary for the patient with a recording physical therapy for someone who -- special needs. The special medication. It was covered."

" Now we have managed care and the first question patients have -- equal are beyond my plan out you're not they hang out. Was -- they -- plan to me at 510 dollar co pay they have no responsibility -- they had to say that medications and put me fifty dollars more. It's -- the if you're the best doctor in the world. And you wanna charge -- and I'm. -- sub prime and I -- why they have a choice to -- in his part of my practice because they're what a 20%."

" Put your doctors on a budget. They want to empower the government insurance companies with a single budget that your doctor has to comply with. And in the end the patients not going to be able to trust the doctor. Because -- the doctor -- over the budget. Your doctor will be penalized that's what's coming and we mandate everyone buy health insurance -- coming we have higher priced insurance from the government he can't trust me because I'm not gonna be able to tell you about the best treatment. To save your life for -- suffering 'cause I will get penalized for spending too much on --"

" That is the thing that does stuff now I have two people in Ireland your neurosurgeon. Two people in my life who are currently in. An awful lot of pain. One is just having is making too much spinal fluid and I'm like -- if if that were normal god would have put a little -- Back here obviously something's wrong and I got just come on it will drain it watch what's going on. They've done tests they don't know what it is this has happened I don't know what that is. And -- what I -- in the pockets bill I see. There is a penalty for the number of tests. Well how many of us have gone to a doctor before and had four test and -- like I just want an answer test after test after test. You are you guys going to take the financial hit when you can't find the answer. And unity is say I'll -- when -- have to pay another penalty another penalty because I gotta keep running tests."

" and in your doctor will be looking over their shoulder wondering if what they do now is gonna give him a 5% penalty. But the good news is Americans can stop this -- need to call congress -- go to places like. Doctors for patient freedom dot com they can go to freedom works dot org if hundreds of thousands of people call the senators in their own district this government takeover of medicine will stop."

" Yes. Would we allow that security guard for the receptionist to come in and -- your brain surgery. Why are we allowing the congressmen who have -- expertise around health care whatsoever. To make decisions they have no idea who. About the practice of medicine or the economics of."

" You're not you're not saying that they're making life or death decisions area. I mean you asked that question about doctors. We're currently letting our congress make decisions that the generals can't even make on the ground in war it is insanity back -- just decide."