California board votes to drop healthcare coverage for 60,000 children

[Bill-SOCAL]

I have a question, what happens if one of these 60,000 children walks into a emergency room with a ear infection?

In California, as in most states, it is illegal to refuse care in an emergency room. As a consequence many of the under and non insured end up using the emergency room as their default medical care facility.

This causes increased costs that must be borne by the hospital or the taxpayers and it also impacts care by causing over crowding and so on.

It hardly seems to me to be an acceptable alternative.

[domwilson]

I know, It Wikipedia...But it does explain it.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergen...tive_Labor_Act

[Steven Vaccaro]

In California, as in most states, it is illegal to refuse care in an emergency room. As a consequence many of the under and non insured end up using the emergency room as their default medical care facility.

This causes increased costs that must be borne by the hospital or the taxpayers and it also impacts care by causing over crowding and so on.

It hardly seems to me to be an acceptable alternative.

Everyone is saying that the children will be without care. From reading these posts it would seem that children will be left in the cold. Since we have now cleared up that they wont, it seems like a dead topic. Is it the best way? No. But they will still receive care.

[domwilson]

Looks good huh? I've seen news reports of here in San Diego and Los Angeles where hospitals got people "stabilized" then called a cab and had them transferred to free clinics, parks, etc.

[Bill-SOCAL]

Yep, now all those lazy drug addled kids and the illegal's anchor children can just go to the emergency room, drive up costs and overwhelm critical care resources.

Perfect.

You really need to go spend some time in an ER. My wife works at our local medical center (Non-profit - Catholic run). Right now they do around 55,000 patients per year, but since last October they are on track for around 70,000.

Now imagine your wife/husband/child is in an accident and needs trauma care NOW. Off she goes to the hospital, but wait, they are on diversion because the law requires once they have a given patient load they cannot accept any more, so now your wife/husband/child has to go to the next nearest trauma center, 50 miles away. Maybe they make it, maybe not. Maybe the outcome is not as good as if they got immediate care.

Don't think it happens? Then you don't know what you are talking about.

Yep, glad we got that sorted out.

[domwilson]

Not quite understanding your response. But yes, It does happen. I wasn't referring to any particular group.

[Steven Vaccaro]

Yep, now all those lazy drug addled kids and the illegal's anchor children can just go to the emergency room, drive up costs and overwhelm critical care resources.

Perfect.

You really need to go spend some time in an ER. My wife works at our local medical center (Non-profit - Catholic run). Right now they do around 55,000 patients per year, but since last October they are on track for around 70,000.

Now imagine your wife/husband/child is in an accident and needs trauma care NOW. Off she goes to the hospital, but wait, they are on diversion because the law requires once they have a given patient load they cannot accept any more, so now your wife/husband/child has to go to the next nearest trauma center, 50 miles away. Maybe they make it, maybe not. Maybe the outcome is not as good as if they got immediate care.

Don't think it happens? Then you don't know what you are talking about.

Yep, glad we got that sorted out.

Bill, I've been there, done that. That's why a few posts back I said we need more clinics and more doctors. Giving everyone health care wont make the system better, just shift the sick to another overwhelmed doctor. Try finding a reputable Primary care doctor these days, it ain't easy.

[Bill-SOCAL]

My wife's hospital runs a clinic a few miles away. Caters to low income people who are generally uninsured. Over the last year they have seen a sharp up tick in nice white folks with good addresses coming in. People pay what the can at the clinic and nobody is turned away.

[sjslhill]

Free health care for all! 70% taxes for those that work. That's the way 10 years down the road. The spolied brat Baby-boomers are sucking us dry and the USA will be gone and done with.