Cataracts Treatment

Question by Aunt Acid: Why are Canadian hospitals cutting down on surguries if Universal healthcare SAVES costs?
The Royal Alexandra Hospital will cancel 15 per cent of elective surgeries after receiving a directive from Alberta Health Services to cut costs.

It’s a move that will increase patient waiting times for surgeries such as knee and hip replacements, plus cataract removal.

Other hospitals in the region could face similar cost-reduction measures.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Health/Operations+cancelled/1590756/story.html
She added: “I don’t think there’s been a whole lot of honesty in terms of what this government is doing or is planning to do when it comes to health services in the province.”

Best answer:

Answer by Hater Police
You presume HMOs aren’t doing much the same and you are wrong.

What do you think? Answer below!

Question by RLP: Soaring costs force Canada to reassess health model – should the USA move forward with Obamacare?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100531/hl_nm/us_health_3

TORONTO (Reuters) – Pressured by an aging population and the need to rein in budget deficits, Canada’s provinces are taking tough measures to curb healthcare costs, a trend that could erode the principles of the popular state-funded system.

*Quebec has a new flat health tax and a proposal for payments on each medical visit — an idea that critics say is an illegal user fee.

*A few provinces are also experimenting with private funding for procedures such as hip, knee and cataract surgery.

*British Columbia is replacing block grants to hospitals with fee-for-procedure payments.

*Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, kicked off a fierce battle with drug companies and pharmacies when it said earlier this year it would halve generic drug prices and eliminate “incentive fees” to generic drug manufacturers.

Best answer:

Answer by Ayin Y
Of course we should. Obviously our current system is busted. It only works for the rich, not the other 99% of us Americans.

If you can afford it anyway, don’t complain when the rest of us who are keeping this great nation running try to fix it.

What do you think? Answer below!

Question by Bulk Vanderhuge: With SOARING costs forcing Canada to re-examine it’s healthcare plan, should the US follow it’s doomed example?
excerpt…
Pressured by an aging population and the need to rein in budget deficits, Canada’s provinces are taking tough measures to curb health care costs, a trend that could erode the principles of the popular state-funded system.

Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, kicked off a fierce battle with drug companies and pharmacies when it said earlier this year it would halve generic drug prices and eliminate “incentive fees” to generic drug manufacturers.

British Columbia is replacing block grants to hospitals with fee-for-procedure payments and Quebec has a new flat health tax and a proposal for payments on each medical visit — an idea that critics say is an illegal user fee.

And a few provinces are also experimenting with private funding for procedures such as hip, knee and cataract surgery.

It’s likely just a start as the provinces, responsible for delivering health care, cope with the demands of a retiring baby-boom generation. Official figures show that senior citizens will make up 25 percent of the population by 2036.

“There’s got to be some change to the status quo whether it happens in three years or 10 years,” said Derek Burleton, senior economist at Toronto-Dominion Bank.

“We can’t continually see health spending growing above and beyond the growth rate in the economy because, at some point, it means crowding out of all the other government services.

“At some stage we’re going to hit a breaking point.”

ALSO…
“Why are we paying more or the same for cataract surgery when it costs substantially less today than it did 10 years ago? There’s going to be a finer look at what we’re paying for and, more importantly, what we’re getting for it,” he said.

Ontario says health care could eat up 70 percent of its budget in 12 years, if all these costs are left unchecked.
But change may come slowly. Universal health care is central to Canada’s national identity, and decisions are made as much on politics as economics.

“It’s an area that Canadians don’t want to see touched,” said TD’s Burleton. “Essentially it boils down the wishes of the population. But I think, from an economist’s standpoint, we point to the fact that sometimes Canadians in the short term may not realize the cost.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100531/hl_nm/us_health_3

Best answer:

Answer by MartinK
No and I’m glad we aren’t.

What do you think? Answer below!

Question by Bob: Any idea on how much it costs to have your dog’s cataracts removed? Are there any other treatments available?

That is why I bought a dog from a breeder who does CERF, and hips. My pup with the cataract is a 5 year old puppy mill rescue, and yes, she will have the surgery. I’m just trying to get an idea of cost. Thanks.

Best answer:

Answer by tom l
Now you know why we have the eyes checked and certified on the dogs we breed.

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