Could this fix the healthcare mess? Oops, NY State is trying to shut him down!
By ladyluna
@ladyluna (7004)
United States
March 6, 2009 5:03pm CST
Hello All,
Giving credit where credit is due, I was introduced to this Doctor's "Do Good Plan" on the Glen Beck Show. I was so outraged by what I heard that I decided to do a little digging.
[i]"STATE SLAPS DR. DO-GOOD
INSURANCE BUREAUCRATS REJECT $79 HEALTH PLAN
"The state is trying to shut down a New York City doctor's ambitious plan to treat uninsured patients for around $1,000 a year. Dr. John Muney offers his patients everything from mammograms to mole removal at his AMG Medical Group clinics....
His patients agree to pay $79 a month for a year in return for unlimited office visits with a $10 co-pay.
Muney insists it is not insurance because it doesn't cover anything that he can't do in his offices, like complicated surgery. He points out his offices do not operate 24/7 so they can't function like emergency rooms.
"He says he can afford to charge such a small amount because he doesn't have to process mountains of paperwork and spend hours on billing...."[/i]
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042009/news/regionalnews/state_slaps_dr__do_good_157907.htm
It is a very interesting article, please do indulge yourself by reading it.
If you're interested, this issue is further discussed and disected at the forum below:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2198902/posts
So, here's a licensed, certified medical doctor exploring viable options to the healthcare mess that plagues our nation. And, what do the moronic little beurocrats do, they threaten to shut him down.
I guess we're not supposed to explore serious 'capitalist' remedies to our healthcare woes. I guess we're only supposed to explore 'Universal Health Care'- Socialist non-viable options. Here's a 'free-market' guy who's betting on being able to balance his cost service ratio, yet BIG BROTHER has decided to SQUASH him like a bug, instead of observing his new model, and presenting honest, fair, constructive criticism after the 'test phase' of the model is complete.
Here is the response from the NYS Insurance division:
"The state believes his plan runs afoul of the law because it promises to cover unplanned procedures - like treating a sudden ear infection - under a fixed rate. That's something only a licensed insurance company can do..."
[b]What say you?
Should someone send a clipping of this news story to the new Health and Human Services Secretary of the Obama administration?
Should New Yorkers publicly protest the lame-brained regulators who wish to strip them of the opportunity for reasonably priced, non-emergency based, legal & certified health care?
What are your thoughts about this issue?
Thanks, I look forward to learning each of your perspectives on this mess. [/b]
2 people like this
8 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
7 Mar 09
What a bunch of malarkey. The plan promises to cover "unplanned procedures" under a fixed rate, so it's illegal?? It's "illegal" only because they don't get a piece of the pie. We have a crisis, all right, but it isn't a health care crisis. It's a moral crisis.
Yes, I think New Yorkers should protest, publicly and loudly. I wish there were many, many more doctors like John Muney.
I am getting so sick of this money/power grab that I can hardly get mad about it any more, just sad. What a pitiful way to operate.
2 people like this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
7 Mar 09
Thank you Peavey.
It's nice to know that I'm not the only one outraged by the moral depravity demonstrated by these state regulators protecting the turf of existing insurance companies at the expense of risking life, as well as the gamut of principles of our Founders and Framers.
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
7 Mar 09
What really needs to happen is somebody slap the *%#$ out of the insurance companies. The only reason they're protesting is because he could put them out of business.
1 person likes this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
8 Mar 09
Hello Beaddoodler,
Thanks for the humorous visual.
'Course, I suspect that the logical outcome to slapping the "*#1&*" out of an insurance company would likely end up with the individual slapping the insurance company's building. Of course, I expect the guys in little white jackets from Belleview would show up shortly thereafter.
Hmmm, there's just gotta' be a better way, eh?
@ClassyCat (1214)
• United States
7 Mar 09
What a shame that so many are like the frog in the pan of water on the stove, with the fire "gently" warming the water!
People better wake up. The washington group love the control they have over the people, and the media schmoozes with them trying to convince the folks that all is well.
What a crock!
I say thank God for guys like Glenn Beck - Bill O'rielly & Rush. they may be attacked almost every week, but when a statement that they make is attacked so viciously - people need to at leaast ask themselves if these guys aren't speaking the truth.
Even if only part of what they say is truth (and I have no reason to not believe their reports) - fair minded folks should at least "think about it."
If their were no watchmen on the wall out there, control and government ownership would take EVERYTHING over!!
We're living in a new age where power and so called prestige are looked at as being so important - - never mind if there's no character involved.
'nuff said
Classy Cat
2 people like this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
17 Mar 09
Any thing government has any thing to do with is so over regulated that it stops people from being innovative as the good Dr. John Muney was doing. He just might be stepping on some ones toes like the insurance companies. I just read on Glenn Beck's site that he now has to charge a fee of $33 per visit for all but preventive care. Some one comes up with a good plan and it's the government's job to knock them down because it doesn't follow their plan.
1 person likes this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
7 Mar 09
This stuff ticks me off.
What is likely going on is merely that insurance companies and medical providers got the politicians to go after this doctor. There is no way the state would go after this doctor without being encouraged to do so. Others in competition with this innovative doctor were threatened by his efficiency and competantance. Therefore, they sic'd the law on him. Happens all the time in all fields of endeavor.
1 person likes this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
7 Mar 09
You're probably right Red. (Glancing to the left and then to the right) So, who was that big tattle-tail who got this Doc into hot water???
All joking aside -- it's maddening isn't it? Here's somebody who is willing to put their own butt on the line toward the end of real solutions, and he's squashed but a bunch of little beaurocrats! Grrrrr!!!
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
7 Mar 09
I don't see how this can be classified as insurance.
If anything, it looks to be a prepaid medical care plan... kind of like the prepaid legal plans floating around... except this guy is a real doctor instead of a legal clerk filing papers.
HHS wouldn't be interested... those people favor government run healthcare.
Yes, New York should protest this opposition to the doctor's plan. This demonstrates that all of the talk about universal health care is just talk. What they really want is government run healthcare.
I think the government needs to butt out in all things healthcare related.
Actually, they need to butt out of all things that they are not Constitutional authorized to do, and stick to the actually running of this country... which would save the taxpayers a great deal of money.
Here's a little tidbit for anyone who thinks government healthcare is a good thing.
Before I became disabled, I worked for 30 years, which meant I paid my taxes.. including SS taxes.
When I became disabled, I qualified for Medicaid. Because I paid so much in for taxes during my working years, my Medicaid copay was set at $400 a month, which was $300 a month more than my full family health insurance package from work while I was employed.
Since I am covered under VA, my meds only come to about $21 a month.
Needless to say... I don't use the Medicaid. Now they want me to sign up for Medicare as well, for another fee. That is not going to happen either.
When they passed SCHIPS a while back, they made a big deal about this guy who was making $50000 a year who could now afford to take his little girl to the doctor for an ear infection.
I made about half of that and had full coverage on my entire family. That man was irresponsible, and these government programs promote irresponsibility.
On top of that, there are clinics, and the ER that are mandated to provide care regardless of income... except for Michele 0bama's employer in Chicago, which practices patient dumping.
Anyone who thinks that government universal healthcare is a good thing is uninformed and extremely foolish.
Not only will the quality of care go down, but also rationing is inevitable.
1 person likes this
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
6 Mar 09
I just saw that on Glen's show as well. It sounds like the best idea I've heard regarding healthcare issues. But, of course, the one and I believe only reason the beaurocrats and insurance companies are against it is because it prevents them from raking in millions of dollars and strips them of all that power. You know, this has got to stop. All this powermongering by those in government has got to stop. A lot of the people like the sound of nationalized healthcare because they think it will solve all the woes in the health care system when the very ones who are pitching the nationalized health care plan are the same ones who are...I believe...purposely screwing up the system we currently have. There has got to be something that we the people of this country can do. We have got to finally decide to rise up and stop this, somehow. I know I sound desperate here, but I believe these are quickly becoming very desperate times and it's obvious the federal government can't do anything to fix the economic mess we are in. And I know the economic mess won't go away over night but all we've heard from the president for the last two months at least is doom and gloom. It's no wonder that no one has confidence in the economy right now. It's like Reagan said, the government isn't the solution to the problem, the government IS the problem.
1 person likes this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
6 Mar 09
Hello Dogsnme,
I agree; Dr. Muney's proposal sounds very promising. And, you're right; there is no question that NYs regulators are simply looking out for the insurance companies.
Please no apologies for supposedly sounding desperate. These are desperate times. Many Americans have never lived through a serious economic recession, let alone a depression. I have been warning people for over nine years to begin acting more like the ant, as opposed to the grasshopper. I believe that my Husband and I are fairly well prepared -- yet, I'm scared as hell too! That is why I appreciate stories about people like Dr. Muney. He's part of the solution, as opposed to part of the problem! Now if NYState would just get their heads out of their bums ...
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
24 May 10
Thanks for the comment, beaniefanatic13. I do, however, believe that all this goes far deeper than just power and more money. This is a concerted effort by those in governemnt and possibly by more secretive people in power who may really be pulling the strings to weaken America and bring all the people under the control of a totalitarian regime. There are those who would argue that the idea of Socialism is a scare tactic used by the GOP or conservatives to turn more people against the Obama administration, or that Socialism isn't real, or whatever the argument may be. But, in all seriousness it doesn't really matter if you call it Socialism, Communism, Fascism, or some other kind of Ism. In the end it all translates to complete and total control of the people. And an individual doesn't have to have a PH.D to see that that is exactly what is transpiring in America today. To not see it requires only denial.
@Savvynlady (3684)
• United States
8 Mar 09
From what I read, sorry I am not reading too much by the Post these days so I had to let it go, the doctor is doing a good thing there and they shouldn't do that. The thing is it's messing up the insurance folks. But then again, it's too much like right.
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
8 Mar 09
Thank you for the follow up, Savvynlady. If I may ask: do you see Dr. Muney's plan as more like insurance or more like "Pre-Paid Legal" or "Pre-Paid Dental?
Also, if you know of other doctors who are providing alternative options like this, please do share. I'm sure that people would love to know about more 'good guys' like Dr. Muney.
Thanks again for the clarification.
@Savvynlady (3684)
• United States
8 Mar 09
No problem. I got to read the article and from what I can gather, the insurance folks want to shut him down because he is basically duplicating what they do and they don't want that to happen, which is where the State comes in. But I feel the program is good because people need adequate health care in this country. There are many like this doctor who are going against the grain and doing great things for the people in the U.S. but they are not loved by the big medical business like HMOs and insurance companies so they are asked to shut it down.
What I meant by the Post as well is once I saw that the Post had the article, I really didn't want to read it due to the fact that I don't deal with the Post. that is all.
1 person likes this
@elmiko (6630)
• United States
7 Mar 09
oh the news does a good job at getting people outraged. thats exactly the kind of mindset they want as they blow things out of proportion as much as they can. glen beck is good at doing that as hes negative at just about everything. society can solve problems little by little over time such as getting things that pay for themselves and don't require extra spending like solar powered products,wind power, the future electric car. Stuff like that can save so much money on energy and spill over in other areas such as the healthcare mess and make medical treatments more affordable so what i'm saying that its just not about fixing healthcare it self but also fixing other things that can be acheived. Everything can fall into the right place over time by just picking the right areas. Everybody can take a stand and start these changes at least in a small way than people who profit will have to change their tune sooner or later.
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
7 Mar 09
Hello Elmiko,
Rest assured, most Americans don't need anyone, neither the print media, nor the cable news media to foment our very reasoned outrage at the oppressive kinds of Big Brother idiocy that is outlined in this discussion. We only need the media to do their jobs and report it. Trust me, we're quite capable of deciding which profiteers should have to change their tune.
Though, thank you for your concerned warning.
