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["Lynda" <lurine AT softcom.net>]

O.K., I'm not James but I'll take on Social Security.  Easy fix and a quick 
fix.  Change the law, change the indexing, remove the cap.  Under the change 
in law, Social Security funds would not be used for plugging holes in the 
budget.  Put it in a closed savings type account.  Change who can get it to 
those who need it.  Those with million dollar pensions would get SS.  Those 
who are disabled would not get spousal support if the spouse was capable of 
earning a living.

Medicare is a tad bit more complicated but not that much.  Get rid of the 
drug plan as it is being run.  Big on wholesale drug prices just like 
companies like Costco does.  Contract with companies such as Costco to 
provide the drugs.

Medicare needs a whole revamp in how it pays.  Now, having worked in the 
medical field, specifically radiology, telemetry and rehab, I can tell you 
that the way things are paid, the whole paperwork thing is burdensome on 
both ends and a lot of it could be revamped in such a way that more service 
could be provided for less money!  Further, it is time that "I want 
attention" medical services stop being provided!  Billing needs to be more 
carefully reviewed.  Complaints from patients should be investigated.  Fraud 
is NOT being investigated and is costing the system MILLIONS each year.

Example:  my mother had COPD.  She ended up in a convo.  She woke up one day 
to some "strange man" holding her foot.  She screamed and ordered him out of 
her room.  Turns out he was a podiatrist.

Here's how the scam works.  Podiatrist "x" goes to convos and goes through 
the charts to see if the patients have a podiatrist listed.  If the patient 
doesn't, then he requests that nursing staff write an order for a consult to 
check for ingrown toe nails.  Yup!  Ingrown toe nails!  He "consults" which 
is one fee and then he determines that the patient has ingrown toe nails and 
*supposedly* takes care of the ingrown toe nails.  Fee #2.

The average town of 100,000 people has about a dozen convos.  The average 
convo has about 70 beds.  On average, only 1/4 to 1/3 of the patients have a 
podiatrist.  The average charge is $65 for a consult.  The average cost of 
taking care of the ingrown toe nails is between $65 and $120.

For this little exercise in money saving we'll go with the lower figure. 
So, 47 patients, two charges $65 and $65 = $6,110.  Not bad for one day's 
work.  So, he does all 12 convos = $73,320/month.

Not bad money for working 12 days a month.  Average overhead is a very small 
office with maybe a receptionist.

Did I mention that he repeats this procedure every 3 months?  $293,280/year.

That is just one segment.  Now, add in board and cares and housebound folks.

Oh, I forgot to mention how I found out what is happening.  My mother got 
her statement and a bill for the portion that Medicare doesn't pay.  Even 
though she ran the guy out of her room he billed Medicare.  She filed a 
complaint.  they said "he appropriated charted the procedure, we have to pay 
him."  Ah, NOT!

So, step one, revamp how complaints are handled and do a better job of 
investigating fraud!

Now, on to the Pentagon.  I'm not sure how you define "handle the Pentagon" 
but I do know one thing I'd do.  Go through and give a whole bunch of folks 
the Golden Handshake!

So what do you mean by "handle the Pentagon"?

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gene GeRue" <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
> In that case we need you to educate us. I don't ask or care for your
> credentials, only your insight.
>
> Please educate us. Tell us how you would renegotiate NAFTA. Tell us
> how you would convince American companies to keep their manufacturing
> companies here. Tell us how you would fix the Medicare mess. Tell us
> how you would fix Social Security. Tell us how you would handle the
> debt. Tell us how you would handle the Pentagon.
>
> That is for a start. After you tell us your clues about the economy we
> will examine and debate them, of course.
>
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