Doctor tells Obama supporters: Go elsewhere for health care...

[posty]

PICTURE

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/...0296,full.story

 

MOUNT DORA — A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care "elsewhere."

 

"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical," Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist and a registered Republican opposed to the health plan, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."

 

The sign reads: "If you voted for Obama … seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years."

 

Estella Chatman, 67, of Eustis, whose daughter snapped a photo of the typewritten sign, sent the picture to U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, the Orlando Democrat who riled Republicans last year when he characterized the GOP's idea of health care as, "If you get sick, America … Die quickly."

 

Chatman said she heard about the sign from a friend referred to Cassell after his physician recently died. She said her friend did not want to speak to a reporter but was dismayed by Cassell's sign.

 

"He's going to find another doctor," she said.

 

Cassell may be walking a thin line between his right to free speech and his professional obligation, said William Allen, professor of bioethics, law and medical professionalism at the University of Florida's College of Medicine.

 

Allen said doctors cannot refuse patients on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability, but political preference is not one of the legally protected categories specified in civil-rights law. By insisting he does not quiz his patients about their politics and has not turned away patients based on their vote, the doctor is "trying to hold onto the nub of his ethical obligation," Allen said.

 

"But this is pushing the limit," he said.

 

Cassell, who has practiced medicine in GOP-dominated Lake County since 1988, said he doesn't quiz his patients about their politics, but he also won't hide his disdain for the bill Obama signed and the lawmakers who passed it.

 

In his waiting room, Cassell also has provided his patients with photocopies of a health-care timeline produced by Republican leaders that outlines "major provisions" in the health-care package. The doctor put a sign above the stack of copies that reads: "This is what the morons in Washington have done to your health care. Take one, read it and vote out anyone who voted for it."

 

Cassell, whose lawyer wife, Leslie Campione, has declared herself a Republican candidate for Lake County commissioner, said three patients have complained, but most have been "overwhelmingly supportive" of his position.

 

"They know it's not good for them," he said.

 

Cassell, who previously served as chief of surgery at Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares, said a patient's politics would not affect his care for them, although he said he would prefer not to treat people who support the president.

 

"I can at least make a point," he said.

 

The notice on Cassell's office door could cause some patients to question his judgment or fret about the care they might receive if they don't share his political views, Allen said. He said doctors are wise to avoid public expressions that can affect the physician-patient relationship.

 

Erin VanSickle, spokeswoman for the Florida Medical Association, would not comment specifically.

 

But she noted in an e-mail to the Sentinel that "physicians are extended the same rights to free speech as every other citizen in the United States."

 

The outspoken Grayson described Cassell's sign as "ridiculous."

 

"I'm disgusted," he said. "Maybe he thinks the Hippocratic Oath says, ‘Do no good.' If this is the face of the right wing in America, it's the face of cruelty. … Why don't they change the name of the Republican Party to the Sore Loser Party?"

[Avernus]

I think it's the fact that Republicans hate the way Democrats do things and Democrats really really dislike the way Republicans do things....

 

Republicans get seriously upset over stuff like this because their whole belief of the way things should be run contradicts the everything about the way a democratic president is currently running things...

 

I personally don't like the healthcare change, but I'm more in between Democrat/Republican....I always find that I agree and disagree with a few things from both sides and I don't think I should follow a side that has more than 3 things I disagree with..

[CowboysDiehard]

Fun stuff. I hope this guy enjoys the Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement audit he just brought on himself.

 

I'm no fan of this administration either, but I'm not about to hang a giant bulls eye on myself to show it. I live in a district with a democratic congressional representative who changed her vote from no to yes on the bill, and will donate money to her opponent. Never done that before. Our government needs balance badly.

[Kid Cid]

Note to self: Dr. Jack Cassell is a complete ass.

 

Got it.

[bushwacked]

"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical,"

 

Compared to putting that note on your door, which is just f'n stupid and unprofessional from a business perspective. My profession is defnitely impacted by govt. regulation, but most of us are smart enough not to mix political hi-jinks with business. Just because this guy is a doctor doesn't necessarily mean he realizes this action will negatively impact his bottom line significantly more than HC reform ever will.

 

 

Fun stuff. I hope this guy enjoys the Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement audit he just brought on himself.

 

Meh, don't know about that, but he almost certainly turned away 50+% of his current and potential client base away from his business, at least for the short term.

Edited April 2, 2010 by bushwacked

[evil_gop_liars]

I think this urologist should see a proctologist and have his head removed from his ass...

[Caveman_Nick]

I think this urologist should see a proctologist and have his head removed from his ass...

 

[tosberg34]

Compared to putting that note on your door, which is just f'n stupid and unprofessional from a business perspective. My profession is defnitely impacted by govt. regulation, but most of us are smart enough not to mix political hi-jinks with business. Just because this guy is a doctor doesn't necessarily mean he realizes this action will negatively impact his bottom line significantly more than HC reform ever will.

 

Meh, don't know about that, but he almost certainly turned away 50+% of his current and potential client base away from his business, at least for the short term.

 

Does it really matter if it happens now or later? Once the gov't starts underpaying him for his Medicare reimbursements he'll have to let his patients go anyways. Looks to me like he's just trying to stay ahead of the curve.

[CaP'N GRuNGe]

Obviously he's pissed his reimbursement rates will be going down and he won't be buying that new Mercedes Benz this summer for his 20 year old girlfriend with the big knockers.

Edited April 2, 2010 by CaP'N GRuNGe

[tosberg34]

Obviously he's pissed his reimbursement rates will be going down and he won't be buying that new Mercedes Benz this summer for his 20 year old girlfriend with the big knockers.

 

(Sigh)...we can only dream...

[bpwallace49]

Does it really matter if it happens now or later? Once the gov't starts underpaying him for his Medicare reimbursements he'll have to let his patients go anyways. Looks to me like he's just trying to stay ahead of the curve.

 

That 10 minute visit will now only be 130 bucks versus 150 . . . poor guy . . . .

[bushwacked]

Does it really matter if it happens now or later? Once the gov't starts underpaying him for his Medicare reimbursements he'll have to let his patients go anyways.

 

Like under-pyaing doctors for Medicare patients is going to be something we care about when we have to stand in front of Obama's Socialist death panels.

[borge007]

Obviously he's pissed his reimbursement rates will be going down and he won't be buying that new Mercedes Benz this summer for his 20 year old girlfriend with the big knockers.

Pictures?

[CaP'N GRuNGe]

[bpwallace49]

 

[cliaz]

That 10 minute visit will now only be 130 bucks versus 150 . . . poor guy . . . .

 

Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements are far worse before the bill was forced through. There are instances in which a patient had a medical procedures that cost around $3200 but the dr only receive $1700. That's a big difference. I wish i could find a link to the story, it was on discovery health a few months ago when they were talking about Drs who refuse to accept the programs and started charging patients based on what they could afford.

 

I can't even imagine the impact this 'reform' will have on internal medicine doctors. We're already going to have the need for 40k general docs over the next 15 years. This reform will make it so no one heading into medical school will want to be a general family doctor. No money in it. Everyone will be specializing.

[wiegie]

This reform will make it so no one heading into medical school will want to be a general family doctor. No money in it. Everyone will be specializing.

And this is different from the status quo because...?

[bpwallace49]

I can't even imagine the impact this 'reform' will have on internal medicine doctors. We're already going to have the need for 40k general docs over the next 15 years. This reform will make it so no one heading into medical school will want to be a general family doctor. No money in it. Everyone will be specializing.

 

Hasnt that exact phenomenon been happening for years? Not a question of "no money in it" but more of "I can make much larger pile of money in this speciality versus this pile of money in general practice"?

 

Lets not pretend that being in general practice is a life of poverty . . .

[cliaz]

And this is different from the status quo because...?

 

Because it will be significantly worse

 

Hasnt that exact phenomenon been happening for years? Not a question of "no money in it" but more of "I can make much larger pile of money in this speciality versus this pile of money in general practice"?

 

Lets not pretend that being in general practice is a life of poverty . . .

 

Who said anything about a life of poverty? It's the difficulties in dealing with various programs, malpractice insurance, reimbursements from MC/MC and other health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, etc, etc. Internal Medicine doctors (family doctors) do not make what you think they make. Specialists like urologist, butt doctors, foot doctors make a good amount but not like you would think. But internal medicine doctors and the practice they create are the ones that have to chase down for monies and eat the cost. They do not have a huge hospital or large medical groups pool of resources to handle outstanding claims, deal with this, file for that ect.

 

It is going to be so much worse with this reform. This phenomenon (as you call it) has been going on for years but no where near the level it is about to be. Just wait until you have to wait 6 weeks to get into a doctors office for a check up or tests.

[driveby]

[CaP'N GRuNGe]

Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements are far worse before the bill was forced through. There are instances in which a patient had a medical procedures that cost around $3200 but the dr only receive $1700. That's a big difference. I wish i could find a link to the story, it was on discovery health a few months ago when they were talking about Drs who refuse to accept the programs and started charging patients based on what they could afford.

 

I can't even imagine the impact this 'reform' will have on internal medicine doctors. We're already going to have the need for 40k general docs over the next 15 years. This reform will make it so no one heading into medical school will want to be a general family doctor. No money in it. Everyone will be specializing.

 

It seems sort of counterintuitive then that the AMA which is made up of general practitioners was for the healthcare reform bill and a group that represents surgeons (i forget their name) was against the bill.

 

On a related note, there is a hugh challenge to all healthcare providers now given the economic troubles facing the states. Here's a note I just received from the CEO of our health system:

From XYZ Company President and CEO, John Doe

 

Dear Colleague:

 

To say that there is a lot happening around health care both locally and nationally is a gross understatement. In my 33 years being in health care, I have never seen a time like this.

 

While we can’t ultimately control decisions that are made by elected officials, we can become involved and shape issues of the day through the act of voting. An important upcoming election will occur on May 18th when Arizona will vote on Proposition 100. A “yes” vote on Proposition 100 will temporarily increase the state sales tax by one cent. A “no” vote will mean that there will not be a one cent sales tax increase.

 

If Proposition 100 passes nearly $1 billion will be raised for our state budget each year over a three-year period to help fund primary and secondary education, health and human services and public safety.

 

If a “no” vote prevails, the state legislature will cut one billion dollars from all areas of the state budget – including $350 million from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) which will result in additional and significant reductions in reimbursements to hospitals.

 

It is rare for me to express a position on a voting matter. However, this is one of those times when a vote – Proposition 100 – will have a major impact on XYZ. As the executive leader of this organization, I am compelled to inform you of how I intend to vote.

 

I will vote “yes” on Proposition 100 because I believe hospitals are already highly vulnerable due to funding cuts of more than $1 billion that occurred as part of the 2011 state budget process. Hospitals can ill-afford to absorb another $350 million in cuts.

 

If you are a registered voter, I urge you to make your voice heard by voting in this special election. If you are not a registered voter, most XYZ facilities in Arizona will be sponsoring voter registration booths during the next two weeks. Please watch for more information at your facility.

 

You can register to vote online, if you prefer. Click this link to enter the voter registration site: https://servicearizona.com/webapp/evoter/

 

Get involved in the democratic process. Vote!

 

John Doe

President & CEO

[tosberg34]

Like under-pyaing doctors for Medicare patients is going to be something we care about when we have to stand in front of Obama's Socialist death panels.

 

Hey brother, you're preachin' to the choir. But I'm glad to see you've come back from The Dark Side.

[cliaz]

It seems sort of counterintuitive ....

 

 

You know dmn well not to use big words with me. I get confused

[CaP'N GRuNGe]

You know dmn well not to use big words with me. I get confused

 

And I worry I'm going to use them wrong when I do. I mean I'm not Az here.

[Perchoutofwater]

It seems sort of counterintuitive then that the AMA which is made up of general practitioners was for the healthcare reform bill and a group that represents surgeons (i forget their name) was against the bill.

 

On a related note, there is a hugh challenge to all healthcare providers now given the economic troubles facing the states. Here's a note I just received from the CEO of our health system:

 

What percentage of doctors belongs to the AMA?