1237a692bc77
tech



Hello Robert - 

RS>> Many doctors do not make 250K here, and many DO take less
RS>> when their patients can not afford to pay more, or their
RS>> insurance refuses to pay more. 

CA>> To be objective about this, when you charge $450 per hour
CA>> or more you can _afford_ to 'take less'. Maybe only charge
CA>> $225 for the poor patients. ;-) 

RS> We are a "not for profit" hospital, so maybe that is why I
RS> see a higher precentage of doctors who make less. 

That would make a difference, yes. 

RS> Just as one example of many, I see what the charge was and
RS> what my insurance pays. This bill was for $118.75 for two
RS> lab tests done at his office, and the insurance only paid
RS> $11.71. The last line says: 

RS> "The discounted amount is not the member's responsibility
RS> to pay. Claim is paid in full according to contract" 

RS> So. Two lab tests and they get paid $11.71 plus a $10
RS> co-pay, instead of $118.75. Yeah, they're rolling in dough. 

I'm in the awkward situation here where any attempt I make to
justify my opinion is going to sound either insulting or
sarcastic and I don't really want that to happen. 

My oldest daughter worked in a pseudo law firm that was
actually a travel agency for doctors. It made certain that
their trips met the criteria for a tax deduction to places like
Las Vegas, Hawaii, Acapulco, etc. They were a busy 'law-firm'
year round. 

--8<--cut 

RS> My wife went to the doctor yesterday. Her appointment was
RS> for 4:45. She was not seen until 7:00, but we had been told
RS> that he was running late when the appointment was made. We
RS> didn't leave his office until 7:45. He was there all day,
RS> and took all patients willing to wait. He puts in long
RS> hours every day. I don't know how he can have a family life. 

CA>> Ever find a doctor with a car less expensive than your own
CA>> or in a smaller house let me know. My _dentist's_ wife's
CA>> allowance was $2500 per week and that was 15 years ago.
CA>> Yes, he told me and no I didn't ask he volunteered so he
CA>> could complain about 

CA> > it. 

RS> I have no idea what he drives; but, I see many doctors at
RS> our hospital that drive older cars than I. The doctors'
RS> parking is in the front part of the parking garage, so its
RS> easy to see what most drive. 

RS>>> Doctors are people. Some are more generous than others,
RS>>> just like the rest of us. 

CA>> True. I've known some that might fit your description. But
CA>> they are the exceptions. 

If you write your own examples onto a piece of paper as
one-liners and then look at it for awhile you will see that the
amounts of money you are aware of and other circumstances don't
quite fit. No one can run an office on that amount of money let
alone have a family and as you say if those hours were worked
every day ... 

Doctors typically work 30 hours per week or less with Wednesday
being the favorite day off for some reason?

There are probably gov subsidies and even contributions from a
few wealthy people who prefer to remain anonymous (there are a
few who don't brag) that supplements the dollar amounts you are
seeing. 

RS>>> And, doctors take some pretty big risks. I wouldn't want
RS>>> to take many of those risks on. 

CA>> With the proper training I would do it in a heartbeat for
CA>> $450 per hour and people kissing my *ss. Why not? 

RS> A mistake might be too hard for me to live with. 

It might be too terrible if I had been a doctor and was afraid
to try? 

I would've been a good doctor with that 40/20 vision etc. and I
could've made a difference. I guess those 'talents' should've
found their way to a wealthier family than my own? 

>
>        ,                          ,
>      o/      Charles.Angelich      \o       ,
>       __o/
>     / >          USA, MI           < \   __\__
 

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