Obamacare

[JBKlyde]

alls I know is that my rent went down 22 dollars about 2 weeks before he got reelected

[Ocean's Edge]

these are the same doctors and hospitals that for decades have had a problem with the idea of 'nurse practitioners'?

*shakes*head*

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Ocean's Edge

these are the same doctors and hospitals that for decades have had a problem with the idea of 'nurse practitioners'?

*shakes*head*

Yes, it's the same idea as was the original concept of a "licensed nurse practitioner",
but there the LNP was a graduate RN, so there was/is a great deal more education and experience.
L.P.N.'s now are setting up their own practices, billings, etc. with only
a modicum of physician medically relevant oversight.

The R.N. is something of an endangered species, particularly
those who graduated out of a 2-year post-graduate program.
The Schools of Nursing are in the process of eliminating the 2-yr programs,
and defining the RN as a 4-yr graduate degree and licensure.

The CMA is a financial gimmick to multiply (literally) the $ earnings of physicans.
This is not a result of a government requirement or Obamacare...
it is strictly the workings of capitalism and physicians efforts to
maintain and/or improve their standard of living.

[infinite monkey]

My friend got her LPN then went back for her RN and was told her credits wouldn't transfer so she basically had to start over.

Do you think that's why some stay at LPN and don't go further?

I'll see the NP for a cold or something. Not been real impressed with them. The PAs, I like, and will see them in a pinch. But if it's for my chronic illness I insist on seeing my D.O.

I may be talking out my...I didn't read EVERYTHING.

[Lamplighter]

Sorry, my senior-moment fingers typed on their own again.

In my post above, I was referring to Licensed Nurse Practitioners,
which should be abbreviated as L.N.P.
But then I typed L.P.N, which (to me) means Licensed Practical Nurse.

I'm not sure, but I think the L.P.N programs have been phased out.
They were also 2-year under-graduate programs, while R.N.'s
were 2- or 4-year post-graduate degrees/licensures.

But I do agree with business about non-transfer of credits.
My daughter has a 4-year R.N. + many years of experience + a Master's of Nursing degree.
She too was told by some Schools of Nursing that her Master's degree credits were not transferable.
To get her L.N.P. license she would essentially have to start over as if she were at the RN level.

She is just finishing her 4-semesters of full-time course work and 600 clinical training hours
... next is the State Boards Exam and she'll be a full-fledged L.N.P.

[infinite monkey]

I also meant by NP 'nurse practitioner' which really had nothing to do with my question about LPN vs RN. So my comment about NP, PA, and DO were actually irrelevant.

If they're phasing out LPN what will the proprietary schools do? Those credits don't transfer so certainly they shouldn't also offer RN.

I thought LPNs just did 'lesser' duties (for want of a better word) than an RN, in hospitals and such.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

<snip>
I thought LPNs just did 'lesser' duties (for want of a better word) than an RN, in hospitals and such.

Now, as opposed to years ago, the Licensed Nurse Practitioner, is/can be essentially equal to an M.D.
Legally, I think they still must have some sort of oversight connection to an M.D.,
but beyond that they see patients, make diagnoses, write perscriptions, etc., etc.

[infinite monkey]

Let me try again:

I thought Licensed Practical Nurses (not Nurse Practioners) did 'lesser' duties (for want of a better word) than an RN, in hospitals and such.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

Let me try again:

I thought Licensed Practical Nurses (not Nurse Practioners) did 'lesser' duties (for want of a better word) than an RN, in hospitals and such.

Yes, I agree with this.

Sorry, sometimes I can't read straight.

[ZenGum]

Shit, I hope you two aren't preparing MY medication!

Sometimes you just need to go to the doc to get a medical certificate saying, yep, you've got a cold, take a few days off work. DownUnda, a nurse in the Dr's practice can assess this, and sign the forms. They know to be on the lookout for more serious conditions - such as meningitis - but they bloody well better not be charging Doctors rates for it!

[infinite monkey]

My co-pay is the same no matter who I see. Hmmm...

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

My co-pay is the same no matter who I see. Hmmm...

Probably so, but my rant above was about how much your physician bills
the government (Medicare) or your insurance company when you are seen by a Medical Assistant.

You, yourself, might not see any of this until the billings exceed
the amounts Medicare or your insurance company is willing to pay for that service.

For those of us that are retired and on Medicare, we get a statement
every month from US Social Service showing the dates of medical care,
the amounts billed by the service provider, and the amounts paid by the patient.

Sometimes, the service provider charges are ridiculous
... e.g., $500 for one of our office visits was less than 30 min.
but we had paid only the co-pay of $15.

[Happy Monkey]

Health Care Exchange application forms: (Under Forms/April 30, 2013)

[infinite monkey]

I was thinking it should be cheaper than 25 bucks when I see the nurse and she barely looks at my throat, though I hadn't thought of that until your posts. It's just the cost for an 'office visit' I guess.

I honestly must take insurance for granted, I never thought about if it actually costs less.

And I certainly won't complain about my insurance: I've made good use of it. Then again, about 13 years ago I was paying the same premium for a 'family' plan (just me and my husband) as the guy whose wife was on baby number 10. I guess it all comes out in the wash, usually, eventually.

(Which makes me wonder what my options will be if I am soonly unemployed!) Dammit.

[Nirvana]

Your options would be stay healthy or else