[Tigers] clunker program

[C. Robert Bernardino, MD FACS]

I so not know the specifc of why a doctor charged $350 to have your  
son wiggle his feet. What I can tell you as a physician is that we do  
not get to charge $350 for simple things like that. Perhaps the  
hospital charged $350 but I can assure you doctors do not get to  
charge 350 for examinations. I don't even get paid that to do many  
surgeries. Plumbers make more unclogging a drain as an emerency then  
me sewing an eyelid back on a persons face. And most of the time I  
bill I do not get paid. How many of you are still paying off you  
student loans and will be for the next 20 years - I would love to put  
that money towards the Tiger but can't  I do agree with a lot of this  
talk about cash for clunckers but if you want to drag medicine into it  
without the facts, I warn you.

I am 5'8" one buck and a half, don't know martial arts nor do not have  
a gun. However after the fight is over I will patch you up whether I  
get paid or not.

Rob in CT

C. Robert Bernardino, MD FACS
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Residency Program Director
Ophthalmic Plastics & Orbital Surgery

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 5, 2009, at 5:19 PM, Thomas Witt <atwittsend at verizon.net> wrote:

> Steven,
> "- since I joined the ranks of the recently unemployed in July."
> I have been there, being unemployed from Jan. to Aug..  I truly hope  
> your new status is short lived.  My sympathies to all who have lost  
> their jobs it being Labor day and all.
>
> I'll try and be concise and bring this around to cars, Tigers etc..  
> In 1985 (age 27) I developed a heart arrhythmia. It was a difficult  
> 5 years until 1990 when a good fortune allowed me to work part time  
> and the arrhythmia subsided significantly.  It required giving up my  
> $50 deductible Blue Cross, Dental and Eye benefits now valued at  
> $12,000 a year.  I've spent well over $100,000 on "don't loose your  
> house in a crisis insurance" the past 18 years.  I won't call it  
> health insurance because after I pay the $7,000 premium and the  
> $5,000 deductible I couldn't afford to live.
>
> Back to Cars (sort of):  About the only people who can qualify for a  
> car loan today have a decent, stable job.  The cars that were deemed  
> "clunkers" didn't look like they came from the poor by any means.  I  
> don't mean to insult anyone who used this program. But, a fair  
> amount of people (not everyone) who complain about assisting with a  
> basic human need (healthcare) seemed to have no problem with the  
> general populace (including the poor-er) helping them out to get a  
> new car.
>  I'll say I am NO fan of the current proposed health system.  So,  
> I'm not pleading that angle. I'll pay my fair share. But why did a  
> doctor who asked my son to wiggle his legs after surgery (spent all  
> of 2 minutes with him - if that) charge $350???  I found some part  
> time work while unemployed. It took me 32 HOURS to earn what that  
> doctor then asked for 2 MINUTES of his work.  That is just not right!
>
> My Tiger of 10 years still sits on jack stands.  Increasing  
> healthcare cost, decreasing CD interest rates (my "second source of  
> safe income") and inflation have me living (existing) on half the  
> equivalent income I had nearly 20 years ago.  So, I was a bit  
> overwhelmed when I saw the "quality" clunkers yesterday.  It was  
> just another  vivid example as I slide out of the dwindling middle  
> class.
>
> I'm glad I bought my $5,000 Tiger "basket case" back in 2000.  Maybe  
> it will always be a garage ornament, but at least I've felt like I  
> was "one of the boys."  The wife already know if times get harder,  
> it will be one of the last things to go.
> Tom _______________________________________________
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