THE RUMOR IS THAT WE DON'T NEED HEALTHCARE REFORM IN THE USA

NOTE: If you're a right-wing conservative Republican you probably won't like this post. Just an FYI.

THE COST OF A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES:

From the hospital:
Room - Two beds or more: $3695.34
Drugs: $3465.78
Drugs: $2563.25
Drugs: $157.68
Drugs: $83.97
Medical/Surgical Supplies: $871.20
Medical/Surgical Supplies: $20,745.63
Lab Services: $1459.32
Lab Services: $966.40
Lab Services: $626.88
X-Ray Services: $520.77
X-Ray Services: $376.41
Operating Room: $20,755.78
Anesthesia Supplies: $4894.06
Blood Processing: $1075.70
Blood Administration: $808.89
Physio/Mech Therapy: $1013.41
Physio/Mech Therapy: $225.97
Therapy: $709.38
Therapy: $184.83
Recovery Room: $4211.30

TOTAL: $69,411.56

From the surgeon:
Surgery: $3400.00
Surgery: $936.00
Surgery: $600.00
X-Ray Service: $50.00

TOTAL: $4936.00

From the Anesthesiologist:
Anesthesia: $2660.00
Anesthesia: $2660.00
Anesthesia: $1680.00

TOTAL: $7000.00

From the rehab hospital following my knee replacement:

Room - Two beds or more:  $26,568.00
Drugs: $3033.76
Drugs: $1956.16
Drugs: $1900.06
Lab Services: $1681.05
Lab Services: $364.68
Lab Services: $1134.02
Lab Services: $202.32
Physio/Mech Therapy: $5441.09
Physio/Mech Therapy: $514.29
Therapy: $2346.38
Therapy: $539.64

TOTAL: $45,681.99

GRAND TOTAL: $127,029.93

Okay, so we have $13,160.66 just for drugs alone. Note, these are my day-to-day prescriptions that I take every day and pay about $150/month for. The only additional meds I had was the Dilaudid for pain and several over-the-counter supplements such as iron, potassium, and vitamin C. This is truly unbelievable! I mean, I am shocked. $13,160.66 is about what I paid for my car.

I am so effin' grateful for our health insurance. But to say that our country doesn't need immediate and drastic health insurance reform is INSANE. In my opinion, all doctors should be held to the same standard of excellence and the costs of health care should be regulated. Pharmaceutical companies should not be allowed to financially devestate consumers who may have no choice between taking certain medications and serious illness or death, while our legislators reap the financial benefits of campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical companies. It's morally wrong.

And you know what? Jesus Christ would not have charged money to heal the sick. Why can we not look out for our fellow man? My husband's Canadian step-mother had the exact same surgery as I did in Saskatchewan, and her cost was $0.00.

These opinions are mine and mine alone. Your mileage may vary.