The Sorry State of Our Health Care

This is not about the problems our government has had with its healthcare web site.  It is not at all political.  It is about the shabby treatment we all get by the medical industry.  Doctors aside, (who may be excellent, in some cases) from the moment we enter a facility until we encounter the billing, our experience may be, shall we say, … less than excellent.

Here’s an example. See if you can relate to it. (note: actual names of providers have been altered to prevent them from suing me for defamation, a common tyrannical corporate practice when a person is actually telling the truth.)   Recently, I had the unfortunate need to visit a hospital in the “Aberdeen” Health Network.  That in itself was a horror, but I’ll skip details and just say I left on my own because after hours of waiting, they could not complete a routine discharge.

But I digress.  The billing part was, … well, here’s the story:  My insurance carrier, let’s call it “Unicorn” Health Care, had enhanced its web site by teaming up with “Insta-debit” providing me the ability to pay my portion directly to the provider, on-line, from my bank account.  Great!!  No statements, stamps, writing checks, save time, paper, the planet and payment is super prompt.  And I saw the debit at my bank account within one day.  Technology is wonderful! (when it works.)

Then, about two weeks later, I got a statement from the payee, asking for the balance, which they said was outstanding.  But I did pay it.  The money was taken from my account and I have an on-line version of a receipt as further proof.  So what happened?  A process that was supposed to simplify things, had turned into an unexpected burden.

The statement said, “For billing questions, call …”, and the phone number.  So I called.  And got a recording.  “If this is a true emergency, hang up and call 911.”  After listening to five prompts, I finally got, “for billing questions, press 5.”  Finally!  So I thought.  Until I got another recording.  “Please leave your name, date of birth, …”, etc., etc.  Well, maybe it’s really busy.  I’ll try again later.

After five attempts and getting the same result, I realized that the provider is not set up to actually talk to patients about billing.  I left a less-than-pleasant message giving my account number and a stern directive to fix the problem, not send any more outstanding balance notices as they would be ignored.

I learned (or confirmed) two things from this experience:

1. When big companies collaborate to bring us high tech “services”, it is likely to be a technological nightmare;
2. Health Care providers don’t really care about their clients, us patients.

I should expound upon the 2nd point.  It does not take a genius to figure out how to treat people with dignity and respect.  It takes a desire to strive for excellence.  What we see is the exact opposite: a deliberate effort to provide minimal and uncaring levels of service.

Together, these two observations lead to one unmistakable conclusion:  When it comes to health care, we are in a very, very sorry state.

There are many underlying causes, the profit motive for one, and I don’t know how we compare to other nations who have different systems, but so long as we are strapped with the status quo, we are doomed to mediocrity – or worse.

An Uninvited Guest (on Nov. 25th)

I didn’t know foxes inhabited this town/urban area, but I looked out my window, and there it was.  Like a true urbanite, I grabbed my camera and started shooting (from behind the safety of a glass window, inside the house, of course).

Then, being concerned for safety, I called the Police (my taxes help to pay their salaries anyway, and I was scared!).  He told me a few things I didn’t know:

1. There are a lot of them in this area;
2. They are not nocturnal, so seeing them in daylight is not alarming;
3. Leave it alone and it will just go away;
4. No need to call Animal Control or shoot it.

If it doesn’t leave by Thanksgiving, I may have to invoke more drastic measures.

Get To Know The Candidate

A central message in my campaign has been,  “vote for the person, not the party label”.  Naturally, you would want to know more about me, so I will try to provide you with useful information.

I worked for AT&T from 1967 to 2002.  I was a Communications Tech for 8.5 years and then moved up to their Headquarters, where I worked in various administrative positions, being in computer and database support, during the last several years.  I became retired as part of a downsizing layoff that claimed my job.  Thanks to my Union contract and tenure, I was fully pension eligible.  (I know first hand, the value of Unions!)

I settled in Ambler in late 2007 with my wife Randi, after living 4.5 years in Asheville NC and before that, 25 years in Tinicum, upper Bucks county, PA.  We returned to this region to be closer to our family.  Since then, life events happened.  My parents passed away, and two of our married sons have had 3 children (a 4th is due in May!)

We really enjoy life in Ambler and like most folks, spending time with our family (especially the grandchildren!).  But as much as I love Ambler, I also notice things that have happened.  Things that stir me from my tranquility and make me ask questions.

One outstanding example of this is the Ambler Borough Tax rate.  Our first property tax bill arrived in January, 2008.

As in my work experience, I analyze, scrutinize and ask questions about what I see.  And what I saw, year after year, was quite remarkable.  The Ambler component of our taxes has risen over 92% in the 5 past years, while County and School rates have risen 17% and 1%, respectively.

Raising these issues and asking questions has some value.  But the real value would be to have someone on the Borough Council who injects himself into the decision making process before it becomes a reality.

As a Ward 3 Council member, my voice would become more than just one vote on a 9 member Council.  My voice would add to the debate that helps shape the votes of the entire Council.

I realize that at times people will just not agree with my point of view.  But isn’t it better to have a counterpoint in a discussion than not have any opposition to “group think”?

If you want an inquiring mind and an active voice on the Council, then look for me on the ballot.  And if you live in Wards 1 or 2, please encourage your Ward 3 friends and neighbors to look for my name on the ballot.

I will be found on the Green party candidate line.  Please look for me there.  Because sometimes, when you want something really better, you have to think outside of the two party mentality box.

I’m Tom Alba and I want to be on the Ambler Borough Council.