Quote:Your earlier post referred to 'uncompensated' emergency room
visits, which to the best of my understanding has nothing to do with FICA or Medicaid. And from what I understand, Medicaid costs us about $300 billion, which, while not as trivial as EMTALA expenditures is nowhere near to being the main source of our healthcare woes. Having said that, I would have absolutely no problem with getting rid of Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and all other programs in favor of a reasonable universal coverage system.

Ah here is the problem, its not just uncompensated ER visits, its uncompensated admissions, this paper puts it at 6%, the hospitals I have worked at have always told me its 10-20% (so maybe in the middle?). Either way not insignificant.

 

"uncompensated care – free or reduced cost care for patients who need financial assistance or shortfalls from patients unable to pay for care – amounts to 6% of total hospital expenses." http://www.aha.org/content/11/11costtren...report.pdf

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