WHAT??? Hopitals need a bailout?? give me a break!! has anybody seen the cost of staying in the hospitals lately? and they are non-profit to boot! Hey mercy-I hope you see me playing the worlds smallest violin for you! I'm sick of health care costs--oops I can't be sick,I can't afford it!!

Nice so how to they choose who to treat for free and who to charge. I've never heard of Mercy giving free treatment, at least not without going through the state for badger care first which could take a few months.

One thing is for sure, when a whole lot of former GM workers lose their company health insurance a lot of people will be screaming, “MERCY, MERCY”. I didn’t think Mercy would be screaming, “HOSPIAL BAILOUT” quite yet. They must be thinking if they don’t get in the government bailout line today, the ink might run out on the treasury printing presses by the time they have to file for bankruptcy. I’m surprised the millions of people who are losing their jobs, their homes and their automobiles haven’t descended on Washington en mass to demand their portion of the bailout money. The supports that hold up the health care system are starting to buckle. Welcome to your new, trickle down America comrade.

How will this be reflected on their credit report? These large companies, in financial trouble, will never be held to the same standard as an individule yet their poor reporting has caused many to have poor credit and pay for it with higher interest.

Before you put all the blame on the hospital-Look at the insurance companies-We need to put a freeze on what they charge people. The common people can't afford the premiums anymore. In March alot more people that work at Lear, Gmad and others will also be without health insurance. I am on disability social security and can't afford or qualify for any help so I just don't go to the doctor anymore.
It only took Bush 8 years to put alot of us in the hole.

Here’s an idea from outside the box. Simply abolish the existing concept of health insurance. What our nation needs is affordable healthcare for everyone, not health insurance for everyone. As long as we have insurance companies acting as sugar-daddies, healthcare costs can only continue to skyrocket.

The simple truth is health insurance tends to stifle competition and encourages price inflation. In fact, the primary objective of the original Blue Cross system from the 1930’s was to reduce price competition among Texas hospitals. Today anyone can have an MRI, using the latest equipment along with a complete doctor’s report, for less than $1,000. The kicker is that most insurance companies won’t cover these services directly. However, a hospital can contract for these same services on your behalf, then bill your insurance company some absurd, inflated amount pre-approved by your insurance company.

But we also need to encourage consumer responsibility in the healthcare arena. Too many people today use their health insurance without regard to what the hospitals and clinics bill the insurance companies. And healthcare facilities all too often take advantage of this What-Do-I-Care attitude.

Paperwork also contributes to our high healthcare costs. And the paperwork is a direct result of health insurance. Without insurance companies as the middlemen, the mountain of paper shuffling for a simple office visit would be eliminated.

And stop the advertising! Billboards advertising for local hospitals are explicitly describing symptoms of heart attacks and brain tumors. These scare tactics are generating business where there was none driving up YOUR costs for health insurance, not to mention giving me a massive headache!

Obviously the abolition of health insurance might be a little rough around the edges and needs some tweaking. But as long as employers, government agencies and insurance companies are picking up the tab, we will continue to see skyrocketing healthcare costs and bloated government. To truly solve our dilemma we might need to take ‘Insurance’ and ‘Government’ out of our healthcare.

When hell freezes over! WHich may be sooner than we think. HA, HA!

You mean they can't make enough money by doing things like charging $7.00 for one small box of tissues?!?!?!!!!!

Get your own bailout application here:
http://mtblog.vanityfair.com/online/poli...

Where did the money go ?

I had rabies shots 3 years ago -- $7000

I had a hernia fixed - in the hospital for 8 hours = $30,000

We thought the decimal point was in the wrong place......

I too, would like a bailout. Where are the forms?

In a far away land with balanced budgets, surpluses and an economy holding it's own. Comes tax cuts, out of control spending, inflation, record unemployment, the worst financial crisis in history and now bailouts. I believe the "trickle" we all feel as a nation is yellow, doesn't smell good and is now up to our eyeballs. I've spent the last 8 years just not understanding my fellow citizens blind faith in Dubya. I hoped I was the one not getting it. In the end we all got it and there weren't any kisses to make it better.

Most doctors earn what they make...true, some are overpaid and some just aren't good...it's the administrative department you should look at...they're the overpaid ones...like Javon Bea and the like.

Does anyone/anything NOT want a bailout...just curious.

Hospitals and Doctors can charge whatever they want for a service. No transparency in their practice. When's the last time you went into a doctors office and asked how much an x-ray is going to cost?

Bail out the "not for profit" hospitals because they have serviced our communites for a long time. The "for profit" hospitals that have arisen in the last 20 years do not deserve it. Many should not have been built in the first place. They have taken from the communities and not given back like the "not for profits" who have in most cases picked up the costs for the uninsured etc.

Cutting advertising is not the solution. Hospitals have to advertise because they have to remain competitive in the areas that do reimburse well in order to subsidize the areas with negative contributions. A bad economy only amplifies this need.

Thankfully, it looks like organizations in this area are being proactive. Mercy cut services and St. Mary’s corporate has laid off people in an attempt to help weather the storm. (and I'm guessing the hospital here will be delayed because of the credit markets) Hopefully our local healthcare infrastructure remains stable despite the challenging times our state is facing.

Those links will show how much money is really in the hospital business. You have got to be kidding me.

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:BHh...

Haven`t been in a hospital in three years, but back then an aspirin was $8. The "non-profit" in Janesville had a $7 million dollar "overage" that year. I know a disabled woman whose husband died there, when the bills came she paid what she could($200a month) and they turned her over to a collection agency. Insurance companies only pay what they call an approved fee for services, like $53 for an office call, or a bedside visit. Uninsured are billed $153. They say you can argue down a bill, if that is the case why don`t they bill that amount in the first place?

http://www.ahd.com/freelist.php3?mname=&...

Well IMO they have spent so much on the looks of the hospital rather then the care of the people and I dont see where they should get a bailout! Here the cost to remodel the hospital had to be very costly for all the wasted space in the lobby and else where. When I am sick and need medical attentions how nice the hospital looks is not what Im looking for Im looking for good care and reasonable costs. my medical needs dont need a fancy lobby or TV. The cost to my medical care should not include their remodeling expenses. IMO

I truly wish people would stop blaming everything on illegal immigrants. Yes it is a problem. Yes *something* needs to be done, BUT it is not the ROOT of all of our problems in the United States.

If the government would give the $ to the people them everyone would get a bailout. People would be paying of debt, buying things, cars, homes, even if it is just junk that $ would be going back into the economy, making jobs, putting people back to work.

Most of the hospitals are "non-profit". That means they do not pay taxes like a "business".
The hospitals already get a huge bailout every day and part of the deal is that they are required to take "charity care" cases.
Sorry hospitals...times are tough all over.
Don't ask taxpayers for help, we are already helping...a lot.

I am sorry there is no way we can be bailing out the hospitals, I also heard the car dealerships want a bail out as well.. xxxx NO>

Can I get a bailout????

With all the bailouts, I would like something in exchange. Not much really. Just thousands in a bank account, a free GM vehicle and now free hospital care for the rest of my life.

cjjs35 the problem is not with the "overpaid" doctors. As a matter of fact physician reimbursement from Medicare has decreased over 40% for some specialties since 1992. The average cost of a total joint replacement is around $38,000. Medicare will pay about $12,000. The surgeon will see about $1100 of that, and that will cover your visit before, your surgery, and any post operative visits you have. They plan to cut reimbursement another 40% by 2016. Pretty soon your physician is going to have to pay to do your surgery.

i dont know about anyone else, but, I am so disgusted at any business getting a "bailout." let them go under, it is the basic principle of capitalism at stake here. Small businees people wont get help but the fat wallet people will? It's WRONG! Banks screwed up them them be responsible for their actions. Auto industry can make ends meet. Let them figure it out without government involvement. Hosptals? please! Our whole governement has derailed and needs to find a new track. No, thats not Obama. He is still part of the probem. Partisan run governement IS the problem. I read today that a financial entity who recieved some bailout money is using some of it for bonuses..... What next insurance companies will lobby for financial help?

illegal citizens cost the hospitals millions

OK, I want a bailout too. I am not looking for a huge sum of money, a couple hundred thousand should work. In return, I promise to "stimulate" the local economy like you would not believe! Just wire the money to my bank account and I will take care of the rest. THANKS!

I think they have finally bled the community dry. There is a maximum amount that people can pay for healthcare and maybe they are finally reaching that point. They should stop charging excessive amounts for procedures and doctor visits and then at least patients will be able to pay their bills.

Another note, there are probably 120-140 hospitals in WI. Thats about 5-6 people per day at each hospital. Wow, 5-6 people getting free service can bankrupt a hospital. Amazing.

A friend had a seizure 2 months ago. Laid off, unemployment ran out, no insurance. He was in the hospital 9 days, mostly on I.V. fluids. No major tests, just the routine Xrays, catscans, etc. His bill is over $40,000 - for 9 days in the hospital. This is going to become very commonplace this next year.

Quit offering so many high-priced, duplicated services! Not every single speciality is required at every single hospital or clinic.

The hospitals need to quit spending money on advertising. Why advertise for hospitals?

I don't think this is such a surprise. Look at the numbers. Free services to 700 people a day, and then others don't pay their bills. How could any other business survive on terms like this? Doctors don't make that much, most of their money goes toward malpractice insurance these days because people sue friviously. People will finally wake up when hospitals & doctors go bankrupt.

Tell some of the big egoed overpaid doctors to take a pay cut

this recession hasn't hit the white collar worker to much yet but I'm afraid it's on it's way.. good luck all...

This is bordering on ridiculous.

Let the flood gates open and the money trees grow.

i want a bailout too!