dailykos does not like anesthesiologists

[pjm]

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As I understand it, the recently-pregnant wife of the guy who runs DailyKos.org was told by BCBS that while her hospital and ob/gyn were in-network, the epidural was out-of-network and thus she had to settle with the anesthesiologist on her own.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/20/134412/87

Eventually someone explained to the Kos's that MDs are independent contractors and that anesthesiologists can be out-of-network even when other providers are in-network.

So, now Kos & co are blaming greedy anesthesiologists for not joining the BCBS network like everyone else:

Initially, I was livid with BCBS for screwing over not only us, but the doctor, too. After reading this, my sympathy for the doctor who administered the epidural and the hospital staff completely diminished. These people aren’t working in the best interest of their patients. They are there to make money.

To how many networks (on average) does an anesthesiologist belong?

 

[coprolalia]

A labor epidural is an elective procedure. Next time the guy's wife can suffer, or do her homework and make sure in advance that she goes to a hospital where an in-network anesthesiologist practices.

-copro

 

[Gas]

Exactly. Women have been giving birth for thousands of years without epidurals.

She should be thankful that she did not have any complications from it - people think epidurals are just a quick shot in the back and have no idea what the procedure entails.

On a side note, I would like to vent what Medicaid reimburses for an epidural - it is about as much as the epidural kit costs.

 

[climbingdocs]

Exactly. Women have been giving birth for thousands of years without epidurals.

yes, and humans died from preventable diseases for thousands of years

 

[coprolalia]

yes, and humans died from preventable diseases for thousands of years

Are you suggesting that laboring women might die without a labor epidural? Hmmm.

Plenty of women I evaluate elect not to have an epidural, and baby and mom do just fine. In fact, in some patients labor epidurals are seen as "cheating" and not getting the full E-ticket ride of pregnancy. It's an elective procedure in every sense of the word.

-copro

 

[jwk]

yes, and humans died from preventable diseases for thousands of years

Your implication is that anesthesiology groups should accept whatever networks the hospitals take, regardless of the terms. That's truly a dangerous road to follow.