No more government - boo hoo!

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

It comes from government regulation on any hospital that receives Federal money. It is written off as a tax deduction by the hospitals, and the remaining cost is transferred to the richer patients. So, as I said to start with,

How many hospitals get that money? So they actually don't receive Tax Payer dollars, as I stated earlier. Right. Thanks for agreeing with my point.

[Happy Monkey]

Almost all hospitals get Federal money, and are thus subject to the requirement (see the link). Under the requirement, all of those hospitals can write off nonpaying ER patients on their taxes, which makes up some of the cost at taxpayer expense. The rest of the cost is transferred, by government mandate though not through the tax system, to the paying patients.

[TheMercenary]

They do not however receive Taxpayer dollars, as you stated.

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Emergency rooms take other people's money (in taxes and/or higher prices for richer people) to provide medical care to poor people..

I get write offs as well. I do not however receive taxpayer dollars. See how that works.

Dude you are a fool if you think that the cost is transferred, by government mandate to paying patients. Please cite... thanks.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

They do not however receive Taxpayer dollars, as you stated.

Federal money is taxpayer dollars. If they don't receive taxpayer dollars, they don't have to follow the mandate. Most hospitals feel that the benefits of the taxpayer dollars they receive outweigh the burden of the mandate, so they do it.

What they don't get is direct funding for poor ER patients, for that they get the tax writeoff.

I get write offs as well. I do not however receive taxpayer dollars. See how that works.

It works rhetorically, but effectively the only difference between a tax writeoff and a check for the equivalent amount from the government is bookkeeping. I would have thought that a flat tax proponent would be especially likely to understand that.

Dude you are a fool if you think that the cost is transferred, by government mandate to paying patients. Please cite... thanks.

I'll cite you:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

The rest suck it up, and charge the rest of us the balance.

They are mandated to pay these costs, and they charge the rest of us the balance.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Federal money is taxpayer dollars. If they don't receive taxpayer dollars, they don't have to follow the mandate. Most hospitals feel that the benefits of the taxpayer dollars they receive outweigh the burden of the mandate, so they do it.

Yea, very few hospitals do not accept medicare, unfortunately.

What they don't get is direct funding for poor ER patients, for that they get the tax writeoff.It works rhetorically, but effectively the only difference between a tax writeoff and a check for the equivalent amount from the government is bookkeeping.

Well I will try to think about it like that when I write off my business expenses. I still do not receive taxpayer dollars because I write off my expense.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

I'll cite you:They are mandated to pay these costs, and they charge the rest of us the balance.

But they are not mandated to charge us, as you stated....

[TheMercenary]

Well one thing is for sure! We will never have rationing!

The case for rationing healthcare
Americans will have to decide what we can and cannot afford.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/...,6247911.story

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

But they are not mandated to charge us, as you stated....

A distinction without a difference.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

A distinction without a difference.

Bullshit. Taxpayers don't give me a break on my ability to deduct.

[TheMercenary]

On hospital mark ups... today's news.

http://www.ajc.com/business/huge-hos...en-917750.html

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Bullshit. Taxpayers don't give me a break on my ability to deduct.

Once again, your response has no relation to the quoted text.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Once again, your response has no relation to the quoted text.

Analogy to your failed assumption that hospitals get paid in tax dollars vs deductions.

[Happy Monkey]

But completely irrelevant to the text you quoted.

[TheMercenary]

Not how I understood it. So be it. Not really important.

[TheMercenary]

Numbers behind the numbers and the boondoggle over the supposed recent deficit reduction agreement.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/...on-budget-deal