Comments for Thoughts http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com Just some of my thoughts and ramblings Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:52:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 Comment on United Healthcare Lied to Customers? by Rhiannon http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/05/29/united-healthcare-lied-to-costumers/#comment-398 Rhiannon Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:56:25 +0000 http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/05/29/united-healthcare-lied-to-costumers/#comment-398 I found this article in the comments waiting for moderation. It is very well written and gets to the point of the matter. http://rowseyblog.com/ Posted by Jason Rowsey | Filed Under Ohio Government, Politics, ohio May 31United Healthcare Dictates Health Care Decisions In Ohio Filed Under ohio | 4 Comments A letter to the editor in the Columbus Dispatch details the problems with big healthcare companies dictating the care that their customers will receive. This is an example of when the market does not work to protect patients rights. Who is looking out for the little guy? The recent public skirmish over participation contracts between OhioHealth and UnitedHealthcare serves as a stark reminder of how dysfunctional the priorities are within the current health-care environment (Dispatch article, Wednesday). Disagreements and contract disputes between providers and insurance companies are nothing new and have become part of the process — albeit a process that has gotten out of control. In this instance, a disturbing letter from UnitedHealthcare was sent to all patients of physicians who admit patients to OhioHealth hospitals. This letter informs patients that their doctors “will no longer participate in UnitedHealthcare.” This letter provides no background to the patients about the fact that there is a business dispute between the insurance company and hospitals — which has nothing to do with the patients’ physicians. The letter merely provides instructions about how to find new physicians. The lack of clarity and context by the insurance company is callous, at best, and has caused needless confusion and turmoil to thousands of patients and hundreds of physicians. While tensions heat up over costs and reimbursement rates, UnitedHealthcare has completely and repeatedly pushed patients and their physicians to the bottom. This way of operating clearly underscores that in today’s health-care environment, patients are not even close to being considered customers. Of most serious concern is that the patient-doctor relationship is being threatened by UnitedHealthcare in a cavalier way. Informing thousands of central Ohio patients that their physicians will no longer be in network, without a truthful explanation, is disturbing and threatens good health and good health outcomes. UnitedHealthcare, at a very minimum, should allow for a longer and more efficient transition period as to not cause unneeded stress and anxiety. The patient-doctor relationship has always been a powerful, personal partnership and is the basis for good medicine. However, over the years, that partnership has become repeatedly strained and is attributable to third-party influences within the health-care system. Physicians are being viewed by insurers as commodities, cogs in a huge medical machine, instead of as people practicing the art of medicine. The strategies of managed-care organizations such as UnitedHealthcare often place physicians in the middle between patients and insurance companies, by restricting provider networks, limiting what medical conditions and treatments are covered and pressuring physicians to practice in a sort of industrial, assembly-line way, seeing the “right” number of patients every hour, and for lower reimbursement. Physicians and patients who are subjected to such rules and restrictions understandably feel a lot of pressure. There are real consequences resulting from these bad health-care policies. The communication between physicians and their patients directly affects the diagnoses, treatment plans and adherence to the agreed-upon treatment plans. And, having physicians understand and relate to patients on a deeper level can, in the long run, save time and money. Years of medical history and a strong relationship between doctors and patients really come into play when treating the individual. It cannot be made up by medical testing and a revolving door of physicians. The relationship between patients and doctors is good medicine. The blatant disregard of the patient-doctor relationship by UnitedHealthcare should have everyone questioning the current health-care system. PHILIP H. CASS Chief executive officer Columbus Medical Association I found this article in the comments waiting for moderation. It is very well written and gets to the point of the matter.

http://rowseyblog.com/
Posted by Jason Rowsey | Filed Under Ohio Government, Politics, ohio
May
31United Healthcare Dictates Health Care Decisions In Ohio
Filed Under ohio | 4 Comments

A letter to the editor in the Columbus Dispatch details the problems with big healthcare companies dictating the care that their customers will receive. This is an example of when the market does not work to protect patients rights. Who is looking out for the little guy?

The recent public skirmish over participation contracts between OhioHealth and UnitedHealthcare serves as a stark reminder of how dysfunctional the priorities are within the current health-care environment (Dispatch article, Wednesday). Disagreements and contract disputes between providers and insurance companies are nothing new and have become part of the process — albeit a process that has gotten out of control.

In this instance, a disturbing letter from UnitedHealthcare was sent to all patients of physicians who admit patients to OhioHealth hospitals. This letter informs patients that their doctors “will no longer participate in UnitedHealthcare.” This letter provides no background to the patients about the fact that there is a business dispute between the insurance company and hospitals — which has nothing to do with the patients’ physicians.

The letter merely provides instructions about how to find new physicians. The lack of clarity and context by the insurance company is callous, at best, and has caused needless confusion and turmoil to thousands of patients and hundreds of physicians.

While tensions heat up over costs and reimbursement rates, UnitedHealthcare has completely and repeatedly pushed patients and their physicians to the bottom. This way of operating clearly underscores that in today’s health-care environment, patients are not even close to being considered customers.

Of most serious concern is that the patient-doctor relationship is being threatened by UnitedHealthcare in a cavalier way. Informing thousands of central Ohio patients that their physicians will no longer be in network, without a truthful explanation, is disturbing and threatens good health and good health outcomes. UnitedHealthcare, at a very minimum, should allow for a longer and more efficient transition period as to not cause unneeded stress and anxiety.

The patient-doctor relationship has always been a powerful, personal partnership and is the basis for good medicine. However, over the years, that partnership has become repeatedly strained and is attributable to third-party influences within the health-care system.

Physicians are being viewed by insurers as commodities, cogs in a huge medical machine, instead of as people practicing the art of medicine. The strategies of managed-care organizations such as UnitedHealthcare often place physicians in the middle between patients and insurance companies, by restricting provider networks, limiting what medical conditions and treatments are covered and pressuring physicians to practice in a sort of industrial, assembly-line way, seeing the “right” number of patients every hour, and for lower reimbursement. Physicians and patients who are subjected to such rules and restrictions understandably feel a lot of pressure.

There are real consequences resulting from these bad health-care policies. The communication between physicians and their patients directly affects the diagnoses, treatment plans and adherence to the agreed-upon treatment plans. And, having physicians understand and relate to patients on a deeper level can, in the long run, save time and money.

Years of medical history and a strong relationship between doctors and patients really come into play when treating the individual. It cannot be made up by medical testing and a revolving door of physicians.

The relationship between patients and doctors is good medicine. The blatant disregard of the patient-doctor relationship by UnitedHealthcare should have everyone questioning the current health-care system.

PHILIP H. CASS
Chief executive officer Columbus Medical Association

]]> Comment on Dog killed in the name of art by Rhiannon http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-94 Rhiannon Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:23:19 +0000 http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-94 Niether Snopes or Peta said it was a hoax. There were some unfounded claims concerning Vargas repeating the cruelty to another dog. The WSPA aslo mentioned in their letter to Snopes that the dog was not replaced after it had died. So the deed was real and the dog did die from cruelty Niether Snopes or Peta said it was a hoax. There were some unfounded claims concerning Vargas repeating the cruelty to another dog.
The WSPA aslo mentioned in their letter to Snopes that the dog was not replaced after it had died. So the deed was real and the dog did die from cruelty

]]> Comment on Dog killed in the name of art by freekee http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-93 freekee Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:46:18 +0000 http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-93 PETA also says it was a hoax http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/04/artist_starving.php though they still think he should be arrested for animal cruelty for taking the dog off the street then turning it loose again. I looked at snopes and they say basically the same thing as PETA, it was part hoax (in that the animal was not actually starved nor did it die) but that the exhibit actually happened. Both sites say it is incorrect that the artist is planning to do it again. I'm sorry, I get so upset when things like this get so much attention when there are a million legitimate cases of much worse animal cruelty going on right under our noses, and I'm sure that people who are horribly outraged over this story and circulating this petition have no problem eating at KFC http://www.kfccruelty.com/ PETA also says it was a hoax http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/04/artist_starving.php though they still think he should be arrested for animal cruelty for taking the dog off the street then turning it loose again. I looked at snopes and they say basically the same thing as PETA, it was part hoax (in that the animal was not actually starved nor did it die) but that the exhibit actually happened. Both sites say it is incorrect that the artist is planning to do it again. I’m sorry, I get so upset when things like this get so much attention when there are a million legitimate cases of much worse animal cruelty going on right under our noses, and I’m sure that people who are horribly outraged over this story and circulating this petition have no problem eating at KFC http://www.kfccruelty.com/

]]> Comment on Dog killed in the name of art by Rhiannon http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-92 Rhiannon Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:01:54 +0000 http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-92 Nope not a hoax. Looked at Snopes.com to check it out first. http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/vargas.asp Also Vargas has made up several different stories now to try and get his butt out of the line of fire. Nope not a hoax. Looked at Snopes.com to check it out first.
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/vargas.asp

Also Vargas has made up several different stories now to try and get his butt out of the line of fire.

]]> Comment on Dog killed in the name of art by freekee http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-89 freekee Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:55:21 +0000 http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-89 This was a hoax http://thepetextraordinarium.blogspot.com/2008/03/starving-dog-exhibit-reported-as-hoax.html I can provide a million other links if you want me to. This was a hoax http://thepetextraordinarium.blogspot.com/2008/03/starving-dog-exhibit-reported-as-hoax.html I can provide a million other links if you want me to.

]]> Comment on Dog killed in the name of art by Bubba http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-85 Bubba Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:02:01 +0000 http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-85 I signed this petition through a group on Facebook. I think this "artist" should be tied up and denied food (lets see if he thinks that's art)!! I signed this petition through a group on Facebook.
I think this “artist” should be tied up and denied food (lets see if he thinks that’s art)!!

]]> Comment on Dog killed in the name of art by MajorTal http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-82 MajorTal Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:34:07 +0000 http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/04/25/dog-killed-in-the-name-of-art/#comment-82 TY for posting about this!!! This is beyond wrong and it sickens me to think that not a damned soul there felt the need to be a compasionate human being and stand up for what they should have known to be an unjustifiable cruelty. It's a shame you can't "trace" tickets that easily, because every person that attended that show are guilty by association. Passing the petition along my way, ty you again! TY for posting about this!!! This is beyond wrong and it sickens me to think that not a damned soul there felt the need to be a compasionate human being and stand up for what they should have known to be an unjustifiable cruelty. It’s a shame you can’t “trace” tickets that easily, because every person that attended that show are guilty by association. Passing the petition along my way, ty you again!

]]> Comment on What does the ACN do? Deny Help and Does not follow Their Mission Statements by Rhiannon http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/03/31/what-does-the-acn-do-deny-help-and-does-not-follow-their-mission-statements/#comment-43 Rhiannon Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:12:33 +0000 http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/03/31/what-does-the-acn-do-deny-help-and-does-not-follow-their-mission-statements/#comment-43 Hi Briena No I haven't talked with a lawyer yet. I thought I would give everyone one last chance to come around to doing their jobs proper and as promised. Interestingly enough the ACN doesn't see where they are doing anything wrong or causing harm. They are also not an insurance company but a group of doctors (I use that term loosly here) that approve or deny care as they see fit. So that makes them open to malpractice. They also make these decissions based on very thin paper work and without seeing the patient. I have always wondered how they can play (key word) at being a long distance doctor. I have to go see my doctor most of the time just to get refills for just about all but 2 of the meds I am on. The Percocet and Vicodin are so controled it is required. There are several law suits against the ACN and United Healthcare in several different states. They lost in Wisconsin because the judge there decided it was against the law if the doctor did not have a license in that state. I do have the lawyers at ACA (American Chiropractic Association) looking at my case. I am told it is a clear cut case of wrong doing since I have been to every other option that the ACN has suggested to replace chiropractic care. If 2 Neuro Surgeons won't touch my back for surgery there isn't much open to me. I am going to consult with the Orthopedic surgeon who operated on my hand IF he is in net work. If yo have any suggestions I am listening! Thank you for commenting Hi Briena
No I haven’t talked with a lawyer yet. I thought I would give everyone one last chance to come around to doing their jobs proper and as promised.
Interestingly enough the ACN doesn’t see where they are doing anything wrong or causing harm. They are also not an insurance company but a group of doctors (I use that term loosly here) that approve or deny care as they see fit. So that makes them open to malpractice.
They also make these decissions based on very thin paper work and without seeing the patient. I have always wondered how they can play (key word) at being a long distance doctor. I have to go see my doctor most of the time just to get refills for just about all but 2 of the meds I am on. The Percocet and Vicodin are so controled it is required.

There are several law suits against the ACN and United Healthcare in several different states. They lost in Wisconsin because the judge there decided it was against the law if the doctor did not have a license in that state.
I do have the lawyers at ACA (American Chiropractic Association) looking at my case. I am told it is a clear cut case of wrong doing since I have been to every other option that the ACN has suggested to replace chiropractic care. If 2 Neuro Surgeons won’t touch my back for surgery there isn’t much open to me. I am going to consult with the Orthopedic surgeon who operated on my hand IF he is in net work.

If yo have any suggestions I am listening!
Thank you for commenting

]]> Comment on What does the ACN do? Deny Help and Does not follow Their Mission Statements by Briena http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/03/31/what-does-the-acn-do-deny-help-and-does-not-follow-their-mission-statements/#comment-42 Briena Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:57:52 +0000 http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/03/31/what-does-the-acn-do-deny-help-and-does-not-follow-their-mission-statements/#comment-42 Have you talked to a lawyer about any of this? I am just wondering if so what did they tell you? Have you talked to a lawyer about any of this? I am just wondering if so what did they tell you?

]]> Comment on Vista Operating System Should be Banned! by Rhiannon http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/03/24/vista-operating-system-should-be-banned/#comment-41 Rhiannon Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:00:43 +0000 http://rhiannon.blogs.pagannation.com/2008/03/24/vista-operating-system-should-be-banned/#comment-41 I removed all of the crap and am down to bare bones vista. I have found out that the CEO of MS and many businesses do not lik vista. I am going to try wiping vista aand instahl XP since vista will not let me use my email. I removed all of the crap and am down to bare bones vista. I have found out that the CEO of MS and many businesses do not lik vista.

I am going to try wiping vista aand instahl XP since vista will not let me use my email.

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