Andy Rooney Weighs In On Health Care

Mr. Rooney Weighs In One Of The Most Controversial Issues Of The Moment

(CBS)  Written by Andy Rooney

I'm not much interested in hearing anymore talk about health care.

President Obama wants to overhaul what they call the "health care industry." Well good, but I hate that phrase the "heath care Industry." I just don't like to think of my health as an industry.

The fact is though being sick is often the least of our health problem. Even if you're insured, what hospitals charge now is ridiculous. I had what they call "an outpatient procedure" recently and it cost my insurance company $9,361. I say it cost my insurance company but let's face it. In the end, I'm the one who pays.

The U.S. spends more than any other country on Earth on its health: $2.5 trillion. And what do we get for $2.5 trillion? Well, we're 50th in the world for life expectancy, below the Polynesian French Island Territory of Wallis and Futuna, wherever Wallis and Futuna are.

As Steve Kroft reported earlier on 60 Minutes, we are losing billions of dollars on health care fraud. Not on health care - on health care fraud.

Everyone cheats - companies, hospitals, patients, doctors, drug companies, and government agencies. Cheating goes on everywhere in the get well business.

During my recent outpatient procedure a doctor came into my room, asked how I was doing and said "By the way I love your work on television." He left without touching me and a couple of weeks later when the bill came, it turned out his visit cost my insurance company $250.00.

I mean who knows what he would have charged if he didn't like my work.

There's just no doubt we need health care reform because the way it is now, makes me sick.

[108henchel]

November 10, 2009

Dear American,

Do you realize that we already have government run health care. It provides care to thousands of people daily. It provides medical surgical services, eye care, foot care, dental care, medications, and psychological services, just to name a few, to people of all ages with varying social and economic back rounds. These services are carried out seven days a week , twenty four hours a day with rarely any complication, scandal or big drama. They even offer home care as well as long term care facilities. In some cases they provide transportation to and from their facilities. What could this dream system be??

The government run health care system is call the Veteran Health Administration. They have medical centers all across the United States including community based centers. They use a state of the art computerized medical records system. Do you know that if a patient from the New York VA system is vacationing in Arizona and is in sudden need of medical attention with one phone call all their medical information is available to health care providers in a computer generated format including the latest lab results, EKG, X-ray, doctors notes , daily medications and or allergies. The VA remains on top of emerging technologies.

I suggest ?The White House? stops spending time and money re-inventing the wheel. We should clone the VA system for people who are uninsured or in the Medicaid system. The facilities, protocols, administration and personnel are already in place. We would be better to spend our money branching off the VA system to include non-military uninsured clients and charge them a small but mandatory monthly fee.

Leave Medicaid alone, that system seems to be evolving into something that works for seniors. For the rest of us, President Obama needs to step up and regulate the insurance industry , do not let the insurance trade regulate our health care. That would be very brave and new politics.

Christina Robin
PO Box 125
Matamoras PA, 18336
[phone]

[Hillcrestdavid]

I am somewhat tardy with this request but I waited until after Congress voted on Saturday to formulate my proposal.
Would you consider relocating to the 4th Congressional District of Pennsylvania and run against out charlatan Congressman Jason Altmire.
Altmire ran as a Democrat, received my support and chose to vote against the wishes of the administration and with the likes of Joe Wilson and Michelle Bachmann when it came to health care.
We need someone of your stature and wisdom to demonstrate our resolve. Altmire has no chance of being reelected regardless of how many insurance dollars are pumped into the coffers of his campaign.
I would welcome you as our Congressman and what a wonderful next step it would be for your illustrious career.
I have enjoyed your commentary for many years and will not charge you anything for communicating with you. Thank you; David

[didyousaythis]

Is this email I received true or false?
Keep this going around the globe . Read it and forward every time you receive it. We can't give up on this issue.
Andy Rooney and Prayer

Andy Rooney says:
I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin , but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution.
Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.
But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.
Yes, and this is the United States of America , a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna?
If I went to a football game in Jerusalem , I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer...

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad , I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.
If I went to a ping pong match in China , I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome .....
But what about the atheists? Is another argument.
What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!
Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.
God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!
God bless us one and all ... Especially those who denounce Him , God bless America , despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

Let's make 2009 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions . And our military forces come home from all the wars.
Keep looking up.

If you agree with this, please pass it on.
If not delete it.

[John_272]

Great research and you put it just right! Fraud is in many segments of government and many things that government touches. My research shows the low income housing tax credit program since 1989 (LIHTCP) is also full of fraud. This is the program where millions of federal, state, and local dollars go to construct "affordable income" apartments and private investors get in return millions of dollars in tax credits. Of course HUD and the IRS are involved because the housing owners are supposed to be in compliance with government regulations under HUD 4350 and 24 CFR 5.609(a). Congress knows that properties and companies like Urban Futures, Rittenhouse Square Los Angeles, and Thomas Safran Associates, as a pattern and practice, disregard federal regulations and there is no government oversight or any agency that takes complaints from applicants. There is no equal protection for citizens. Sources: http://www.hudincomeexclusions.wordpress.com; http://www.not-hud-compliant.spaces.live.com.

[BlueButterfly49]

Andy, as an ex 40 year healthcare employee, I can tell you I fully understand your concern. Patients end up paying for staff to have free golf games, free meals, free cars, bonuses, free trips to the Cayman Islands with spouses, T.V. & Billboard Advertisements, etc., and if there is too much profit, they donate to charity to make themselves look good....all along, patients are overcharged and insurance companies are making us pay for it. Just ask any ex-employee what really goes on behind those closed doors. The waste and abuse is unbelievable, while the top dogs cover up and collect exorbitant salaries and bonuses. If hospitals would eliminate all the gravy-paid staff positions and bonuses, maybe the cost of health care could be reduced and we all could afford health coverage !!! I love you....keep up the good work !!!

PS ~ The biggest waste is the tax exempt status that not-for-profit hospitals enjoy, representing a permanent bailout for them. It allows them to amass large sums of cash and reward their executive management teams (who keep their mouths shut) with exorbitant salaries. Executive management at the top are raping hospitals !!

[tomcatbarron]

I find it interesting that my previous comment, is not displayed

[bubbadubba]

<<<Nothing is 'free'. Healthcare over in Europe isn't 'free'. These countries tax their citizens at twice the rate (sometimes more than twice) what we in the US are taxed.>>>

Even if my taxes doubled I would be paying less than I pay for my health care insurance while the companies report their profits are up 1000% in three years (thanks to Bush). Air is free so something is free.

[jerrymbwin]

Yes, and the taxes the citizens pay in those countries covers a lot more than health care.

[DoggieMom]

When my father, a pediatrician, died 40 years ago this month we received the following letter from one of his patients: "I don't think I can convey to you what David [my father] meant to us....we know he saved Gordon's [their son] life when he had [unreadable] at the age of 4. Dr. was on duty that month at [the hospital] and reassured and comforted us when the residents there told us they had no hope of saving him. And did you know he would not accept any payment for the visits he made for 16 days? Said he 'had to be there anyway.'"

Things have sure changed!

[publichealthnurse]

Mr Rooney, as the many health care workers have pointed out the costs you never think about including all the defensive medicine required of physicians due to lack of torte reform. Billions are wasted yearly but yet it is the people as yourself that demonize those that are having to jump the restrictions and hoops. If people only knew what you get paid for the few minutes on the air vs the time spent preparing your topics it may make us think again about the cost of the products and services that spend the money to advertise 60 minutes.

[mittalm77]

Mr. Rooney, Your assessment is true but partly. As a patient, all you saw was what your doctor did not do and how his bill was astronomical. Yet, what you did not see is him poring over your labs, your surgery results, your vital signs, your medications, and him talking with your nurses and family in the time prior to actually seeing you in person. I don't know what your doctor's visit was for but doctors spend a lot of time and thought in managing your health (something that as a patient you do not get to see or appreciate).