EMRs - Part Of Universal Healthcare Scam

Even though the ruinous Cap & Trade bill has somewhat stalled in the Senate after passing the House 219 to 212 late last month BO has continued the undeterred pushing of the other elements of his overall Socialist program for America - Universal Healthcare, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, & the seating of Sonia Sotomayor on the Supreme Court as an Associate Justice. Of course all of these will be sprinkled with the threat of a second Stimulus, surcharge taxes on the wealthy, & an escalation of the union Card Check bill now that the detestable Arlen Specter has switched positions for a third time back to one of support.

The original Stimulus bill included $20 billion in incentive payments to doctors to digitalize medical records - mostly through Medicare & Medicaid. Below is validating evidence from one of the several doctors in our membership re the destructive nature to our healthcare of forcing Electronic Medical Records on doctors.

---Original Message---

It just occurred to me that it might be interesting for you to see how the current regime's programs can affect a small medical practice. As you know, B.O. wants electronic medical records. In fact, if you are up and running by 2010 and can show Medicare that you have an acceptable, functioning system you will receive a total of 44K in installments starting in 2011. I just got the numbers for my practice.

Interestingly, it will cost a little over 40K for the whole enchilada. So, if everything goes right and the government actually follows through on the money (extremely doubtful since they can't even pay me agreed amounts for services rendered at this point), which is from the Stimulus bill (The thought of dipping my mouth into that trough makes me sick.), it should be a wash financially for me, right? Ah, but now you get the law of unintended consequences. The yearly maintenance fee for this will be about 12K. This will undoubtedly go up with time as well.

So, you have these lofty statements about how computerization will save a tremendous amount of money and, in my case, it will push my overhead ever closer to my gross. Computers will not allow me to save a penny. It is an expensive piece of technology that I am being pushed into and I have to make a very difficult decision that could further jeopardize my business.

Another thing is the article in WSJ on Tuesday written by a doctor. You probably read it. That guy got it pretty much on the money. There was an article written last week by an academic physician that was ridiculous. The academician that doesn't live in a fee for service world, the guy from Tuesday works on the front lines. That's reality versus ivory tower fantasy.