HEALTH CARE

Doctors Within Borders

What the massive turnout for a free medical and dental clinic in southwest Virginia reveals about the widening gap between health-care haves and have-nots in the United States.

By Susanna Schrobsdorff | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Aug 5, 2008 | Updated: 7:56  a.m. ET Aug 5, 2008

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: timmxot@hotmail.com @ 08/05/2008 2:03:46 PM

    so true...it's the cost of care that prevents those with the ability to vote for politicians willing to fix this problem, to vote for those politicians. Bring it up with a conservative and you get the rant about communism, and socialism, and how the government shouldn't be involved in business. It's pretty barbaric to consider health care a business, but the people that don't want government involved in business also support politicians that take millions from lobbyists. Sounds like they enjoy a marriage of government and business just fine when they think it serves their needs. Once we get past the archaic use of 20th century terms like Commy, and socialist, and people see what government paid medical services do to the profits of all major companies in this country, they will change their minds. Big business would win because they wouldn't have to pay insurance premiums or mess with the paperwork. Entreprenerialism and self-emplyment would sky rocket, and owning a home, driving a car, and buying food would once again become affordable. Go figure...3 bucks for a tooth filling? I think that that indicates we have a broken society.

    • Posted By: timmxot@hotmail.com @ 06/16/2009 10:21:04 PM

      I chose an inappropriate form of discourse in attacking the man/ ad mominim that I am slightly ashamed of. the concept of a capitalist growth market in human suffering is still abhorant to me, but it was inappropriate to directly "attack -literally, The Man" in the presentation of my argument. All this did was devalue the valid points I had intended to communicate because the language was inflamatory and vulger. I apologize for the result of my passion on the issue and hope to bring people together on this issue in the future. Mea Culpa.

  • Posted By: sallietoo @ 03/30/2009 8:41:21 PM

    WAKE UP AMERICA!!! National Health Care is the least of our problems right now and it's one more peg in Obama's Socialist take over. Today he took over a major auto industry, GM and fired it's 25 yr. CEO Pres. Geitner has revealed the plan to nationalize banks and have absolute power to take over ANY company that is deemed by his was not doing well (this is very scary for all business big and small, no wonder the stock market is tanking with this latest news). The Obama government owns 80% of AIG so add it up people, that government take over of Insurance & securities, banks and auto industry in less that 70 days in office. THIS IS SUPPOSE TO MAKE AMERICANS CONFIDENT AND SPEND AND INVEST IN THE ECONOMY?? THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT MAKES WALL ST STOCKS GO UP AND THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT AMERICA NEEDS. AMERICANS NEED THEIR JOBS, HOMES, RETIREMENT AND 401kS SECURED. How is closing down GITMO (the very lst legislation Obama signed), lifting ban to to use federal taxpayer dollars to get abortions in foreign countries (2nd legislation signed by Obama) and lifting ban on stem cell research without restrictions on using embryos (newly formed babies) going to help Americans save their jobs, homes, retirement and 401k?? National Health Care is just another government socialist take over that taxpayers will have to pay for when the Obama administration has us over 4 trillion dollars in debt in less than 70 days. How much in debt will American be in 4 years of the OBAMANATION of our country. Senator Max Baucas D-MT is writing legislation to tax American's that are lucky enough to have medical insurance benefits and there are plans to take away our medical tax deductions. The American people are going to loose dearly in order to spread their wealth and provide National Health coverage to those who don't work, those that don't pay taxes and even those that are not American citizens. This is just the tip of destruction Obama has cause in only 70 days, I'm not even mention his 3 strike outs so far in foreign affairs with Russia, Iran and Great Britain and ALL his broken campaign promises i.e. no lobbyist in his administration, no more ear marks, cut spending and wasteful programs in Washington, post Bill online for Americans 5 days before he signs them, transparency & bipartisan practices which is null so far. EVERYTHING HE TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DURING HIS CAMPAIGNS AND THE LAST 70 DAYS IN OFFICE HAS BEEN A LIE, HE SAID WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR AND DOES THE OPPOSITE. AMERICANS NEED TO STAND UP AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!

  • Posted By: 924400 @ 03/05/2009 12:54:21 AM

    A health care blog for your review ??? Reflecting Forward


    You may want to look at this blog, Reflecting Forward:

    http://effectivepracticemanagement.blogspot.com


    It's John Lawrence's blog addressing the medically underserved, those uncovered by health insurance, and Community Health Centers - with suggestions on how these Centers??? Boards and Executive Directors can overcome their inadequate financing, staffing, etc. to meet their latent thirty-five year potential to serve all the medically underserved in their areas.

    Mike Elliott

  • Posted By: Allronix @ 03/03/2009 3:00:35 AM

    While these volunteer medicos are doing the work of saints, it's also a @^&*% embarrassment that such things are NECESSARY. The US is the wealthiest nation in the world and spend more per capita on health care than anywhere else in the world, and yet our infant mortality rate is on par with former Soviet satellites, our life expectancy is decaying, and one out of six cannot see a doctor for preventative care. I will never forget a friend who died at the age of 32, from an infection that could have been treated with a simple antibiotic...yet, he had no insurance and it was pay for a doctor, or pay rent. He put it off until it was too late. So to those who cower in fear over the idea of Universal Heath care and try to talk me out of it? That tombstone is my argument.

  • Posted By: San Ying @ 03/02/2009 7:46:01 PM

    Canadian Universal Health Care looks good and is the envy of the world. Neither millionaire nor pauper has to pay a cent. As a result, Canadians do NOY look after their health. Quite a few play musical chairs with several doctors and travel abroad for specialist treatment. ALL FREE!

  • Posted By: BillsCatz @ 10/22/2008 9:12:31 PM

    This has never been a doubt in my mind. Despite a lot no-nothings screeching about how people "could have insurance if they worked harder to get it" -- completely untrue, by the way -- there are places in the US where basic health care is not avaiable. This may be hard to believe for city folks who live within twenty miles of major hospitals, but it's reality. Even in Northern new England health care is limited; there aren't enough people to financially justify a hospital, so for some it's a two hour ride to an emergency room. Two hours with apendicitis or a broken arm or a migraine... Then there are parts of our country where folks can't afford the trip anyhow and the annual state-sponsored health fair is their only exposure to real medical treatment. Ther is no town doctor -- he lives 70 miles away in another county and it takes two months to see him.

    I can see no reason for all this wailing about universal health care -- other than the people making the remarks are either ill-informed or just plain envious at the idea of somebody getting care for less than they themselves have to pay. Check out Michael Moores movie "Sicko" before you flap your jaws too hard. Several of the civilized, democratic countries have universal health care -- France, Sweden, Canada and England, for example -- and nothing bad has happened as a result. Every citizen gets an equal shot at good medical care. Why is that such a problem for some people?

    For the love of God, the United States annually graduates more doctors and nurses than any other country in the world and most of them went through school with the help of government funded loans. The offer has been on the table for years for a graduating MD to work for three years in a government clinic and cancel out all his school loans, up to $200,000 in many cases, and rarely does anyone bother. They all see the new Beemer and the split-level colonial in the suburbs and head for the money. Damn the Hypocratic Oath, I want my 250K per year and a Mercedes!"

    So before too many more ignorant loud-mouths rally against health care, just picture yourselves in northern Maine and 75 miles from the nearest doctor, and the only work in the county is a logging outfit that can't afford to offer medical insurance. It'd be a different story then, right? Picketing the White House to demand more health care.

  • Posted By: Emilli @ 08/21/2008 8:52:45 AM

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2595691/Dentists-pulling-out-more-teeth-instead-of-fixing-them.html
    Well, from all the news coming out of the Uk, may want to stay away from government health care in the United States. We need better insurance rates not government control over our health that's for sure. I would suggest staying far away from this Universal Health that the Democratic keep talking about.

  • Posted By: PREDICTIONET @ 08/16/2008 7:59:15 AM

    BE A PART OF WWW.PREDICTIONET.COM

  • Posted By: gollogly@ptd.net @ 08/13/2008 12:37:37 PM

    There are 64 Volunteers in Medicine free clinics in 22 states. The website has changed to www.volunteersinmedicine.org to look up the clinic locations or how to start one if there isn't one nearby. JGG ,VIM in PA.

  • Posted By: gollogly@ptd.net @ 08/13/2008 12:28:36 PM

    The uninsured should look for a Volunteers in Medicine Clinic near them. Their numbers are growing rapidly and many states have one or more. Website www.VIMI.org These are free clinics following a model set up by Dr. Jack McConnell on Hilton Head, S.C. Doctors, nurses, technicians,even dentists working under the same roof to comfort the sick and treat illness. JGG who works in A VIM clinic in PA.

  • Posted By: brbergs @ 08/12/2008 10:08:07 AM

    Terrry Dickinson does great work in Virginia and the surrounding area. He is also responsible for helping start similar events in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and numerous other states. Through America's Dentists Care Foundation these other freee clinics are spreading across America. July 23 CBS evening news segment " The Other America" by Seth Doane portrayed a similar event in Loveland, Colorado. Visit us at www.adcfmom.com to learn more about this great effort to provide dental care to the underserved.
    Bruce Bergstrom, Executive Director, America's Dentists Care Foundation

  • Posted By: brbergs @ 08/12/2008 10:00:08 AM

    Terry Dickinson does wonderful work in Virgnia and the surrunding area. He is also responsible for similar efforts in Texas, Kansas,and many orther states. Visit America's Dentists Care Foundation on line at www.adcfmom.com to learn about more of the great charitable dental movement that is spreading across America.
    Bruce Bergstrom, Executive Dirsctor, America's Dentists Care Foundation

  • Posted By: Sickofthewhining @ 08/05/2008 11:16:42 AM

    I'm willing to bet that Ms. Fowler has enough money to buy cigarettes. Instead of compromising the security of our country by condemning the war against radical Muslims, why don't the bleeding heart liberals demand that our political leaders quit wasting our tax dollars on pork programs? People like Ms. Fowler will always be part of the have nots-not because they cannot-but because they will not. She's 43 with grandchildren she's caring for? Do people who can't afford to raise a family understand what birth control is? Why did she lose her teeth? You cannot make me believe she couldn't afford a toothbrush and toothpaste. She simply had other priorities. Of course, Newsweek won't admit that people like this want the government to care for
    them from cradle to grave.

    • Posted By: IgnoranceDestroys @ 08/05/2008 11:52:17 AM

      Sickofthewhining, I'm willing to bet that you're a white, republican, Christian; who watches FOX TV, and hangs on every word O'Rielly, Limbaugh, and Hannity has to say because you sound just like them.

      Can we say: JUDGEMENTAL? You got all the answers don't you? Your words are cold and heartless. And, they show unbelievable IGNORANCE. BILLIONS have been squandered on this INVASION /OCCUPATION of Iraq! Our Country is not secure either. The billions have gone to huge corporations with no-bid contracts; corporations with fat-cat CEO's who are friends and buddies of our elected/selected goverment officials. Insurance companies are completely out of control!

      Personally, I pay over $1,000 a MONTH for my own insurance! I still have a high deductible; and struggle to pay my 20% (whatever is left after insurance pays on a claim). And I am a healthy person! I can;t imagine how those who can't even afford ANY insurance are getting along? You're very HARSH there with your strawman assertions about people . You're very very ignorant.

      • Posted By: akasha225 @ 08/11/2008 8:24:12 PM

        I would also have to say that s/he might also be in healthcare. Why? Because many of us who are, who entered this field to care for our fellow neighbors, are instead bombarded day in and day out with people who choose almost everything else over their own health, and then whine about the treatment they get or the cost they have to pay. Every day, I see people walk into my ER who say they have no insurance and no physician (please keep in mind that a basic exam by a general physician is $55-65) are the ones with 3 kids (all with Nintendo DS and PSPs), fake nails, a carton of cigarettes, and iPhone, and dressed in name-brand clothing from head to toe . . . and they're here because they have no money (when a basic ER visit will run you a BARE MINIMUM of $700). Well no $%#ing wonder they have no money!
        I'm not saying every uninsured person is this way, but the VAST majority of people I see choose to put clothes, personal appearance, and other unnecessary things in front of their own health. It may be a stereotype, but unfortunately there is a grain of truth in every stereotype.

    • Posted By: sarahcat @ 08/05/2008 5:49:37 PM

      To sickofthewhining...stop steriotyping people. Everyone has different circumstances. How harsh to suggest that people loose teeth because they don't brush or use toothpaste. Not true. Not only do II brush and floss after everymeal and use Plax and listerine and an electric tooth brush (soniccare and a rotaddent, and I spent over $6,000 in the past year at the dentist who overcharged for all services and did shoddy work that caused lose of teeth .I I don't smoke, I eat right, am a vegetarian, take my vitamins, exercise and do all the right things, but the incompetence of uncaring greedy doctors is ridiculous. There are many who work hard and do the right thing but are getting the shaft! I pay for my own healthcare, medical and dental but today, you can never have enough insurance and the the doctors offices are always trying to scam your insurance by telling you procedures are not covered when they are. They are trying to get double money from the insurance companies and the customer. What colar crime and corruption. So, get real and try to understand that the medical profession has become a for profit business that provides the best services to those with the most money and best insurance and withholds care to those less privliged because it is all about the money. I bet I'm not the only one that payed for services that went wrong by dentists and they just take your money and offer just another procedure to rectify the one they just botched up. Or they pass you on to an oral surgeon or endodontist and have them deal with the complications caused by incompetence.

    • Posted By: rdaffron @ 08/05/2008 12:27:11 PM

      I would suggest that YOU have no idea what you're talking about. You see, I'm originally from the part of SW Virginia that this article is about. In fact, I'm originally Buchanan County, whose county seat is Grundy, Virginia. 30 years ago, BC had 30K+ residents. Today, over 1/3 of the population has left. All because there are NO JOBS. This article is about the sadness of the uneducated and the lack of adequate health care in the area. When most of the kids graduate and some go on to college, those who opt to go off to school do NOT return. The only industry is the dwindling coal production. Yes, there's a law school (for the educated) and now a phamacy school (again, for the educated). But most up in the hollows live barely at the poverty level. You have NO understanding of the culture nor of the geography of SW Virginia, Sickofthewhining. I do. I was born and raised there. Granted, I left in 1978, simply because there is nothing for a woman with a college education to do.

      BTW, the vast majority of doctors in the area are foreign born, not home grown. Why? Because homegrown won't stay or come back. I went to school with kids who were on welfare, black lung, or less. This is part of the heart of Applachia. Until you understand that education is the key to EVERYTHING, you will only show your ignorance in your words.

      • Posted By: curryjm @ 08/05/2008 2:38:27 PM

        rdaffron: Well, there you go. You were smart and you left. I guess good health requires a good education. Instead of railing at sickofthewhining, why not rail at Governor Kaine? Shouldn't the prosperous and educated people of Virginia be the ones to lift these people from their cycle of poverty?

        • Posted By: rdaffron @ 08/05/2008 2:56:13 PM

          The problem existed WAY before Kaine. And it exists not only in SW Va., but other places in the South and the US. I was lucky in that my mother was a teacher and taught me that there was a world beyond the hills and "hollers." Others I went to school with had never even been over the mountain (a 30 minute drive) to the county seat. They used outhouses (which, believe it or not, still exist in some parts of this country, not only in Va.). Education is the key to getting rid of ignorance, but it also takes time. I challenge you to go to areas like this and see for yourself. If you cannot, then don't talk of things you don't have any concept of nor are willing to help with. That's ignornance in and of itself.

  • Posted By: alabama1 @ 08/09/2008 6:55:31 AM

    And this is America! Where we let our people exist without medicine, healthcare or dental care.
    Well, I guess we can just rest on our laurels for sending all our money to other countries-- who cares about Americans?

  • Posted By: tarany @ 08/07/2008 1:04:08 PM

    Why is dental health so costly in US. A simple checkup costs 10-25 Rupees in India and root canal procedure can cost 150-300 Rupees so insurance or not people can afford. The costs in US are atrocious.

  • Posted By: teachrulzevr @ 08/05/2008 4:05:04 PM

    I am a high school teacher in Texas it would cost almost 800 to carry my family on my school plan a third of my income. My husband also teaches max pay for teacher in texas i 44,000 after 20 years of teaching we are both years from that. This is one reason teachers are leaving the teaching field here 50 percent after 5 years in the teaching field. You can make more money and better benefits by just managing a fast food joint etc. Sad I have 4 children no insurance.

    • Posted By: Aswan @ 08/05/2008 4:37:29 PM

      I can't believe a teacher has no health care insurance. Maybe you should consider being a public school teacher in a state other than Texas. My friends who are teachers(Ohio Pa and NY) are not highly paid but their pension and benefits are outstanding. They travel to Europe every summer and have lovely houses. They aren' t driving Lexus (Lexuses? Lexi?) but they absolutely have health care insurance for their families.

      • Posted By: summer4077 @ 08/07/2008 10:12:15 AM

        This is true. I live in Ohio and went to a relatively poor, rural school from kindergarden through high school. Our teachers made a decent living--not rolling in money, but middle-class--and they had good health insurance and retirement packages. The teachers at more affluent schools in pricey suburbs make even more.

    • Posted By: Aswan @ 08/05/2008 4:41:55 PM

      A Texas high school teacher, with 5-9 years of experience, earns an average salary of $42,178.
      That was an average of both public and private schools.

      And you all get paid less than the average high school football coach in TX. Yeesh! Move to Ohio!

  • Posted By: Velo Route @ 08/05/2008 6:26:58 PM

    Universal???everybody gets health care. It is considered a right and not a priviledge.

    Socialized???The government owns the hospitals and the pharmacies and pays the doctors a salary. Examples: Vetrans Admin, US military, England, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Although in Sweden the hospitals are moving into private hands which has improved the health care. (Prior to that act they were having strikes due to the problems with health care.) So they are becoming single payer. Denmark is locally controlled and the Government just foots the bill. This also seems to be working better then other forms of socialized medicine. England has had trouble with it health care system in the past but is starting to reward doctors for keeping their physicians health and things are improving.

    Single Payer???The government pays the hospital, doctors, pharmacies set amounts for care. They are the largest "insurance company". In Canada they are the only insurance company but Canada is the exception to the rule. In most countries with single payer there are other private insurance companies but they are not allowed to make life and death decisions and are highly regulated. They primarily offer better service. Getting in to the doctor quicker, private rooms etc. Out of network doctor may charge more in some countries in which case the patient or an insurance company picks up the rest. Examples: Canada, Finland, Italy, Spain, Medicare and Medicaide.

    Multi Payer: French Style???There are insurance companies that pick up the tab initially but the government foots the bill for most of the health care and reimburses after the bill is initiated. This all occurs very quickly by electronic billing. The insurance companies pick up the rest of the bill the government did not pay. The insurance companies are heavily regulated and not allowed to charge outrageous amounts or to decide what will and will not be covered. The medical system may or may not work more efficiently then above types but it is more popular with the local population. Examples are France and Japan. France was featured in the movie "Sicko" and was judged the best health care in the world by the WHO.

    Multi Payer: German Style???The local governments formed their own insurance companies. In the 1920-1930???s these local ???sick funds??? were then networked to form large agencies on a national scale. The government regulates what must be covered and other ???rules??? but otherwise these are locally financed and run health care. There is a high degree of satisfaction with this type as well although it does cost more because the administration portion is duplicated multiple times throughout the nation. Example: Germany.

    • Posted By: Emilli @ 08/07/2008 8:52:52 AM

      Well, I think its a right not to have health care or the government in control of my affairs. What you think about that.

      • Posted By: summer4077 @ 08/07/2008 9:04:20 AM

        Do you really think the government ISN'T in control of your affairs?? Really?? The government controls everything from your bank to your food. Also, have you ever stopped to think about taxes? What exactly are we getting for our tax money? In Canada and many European countries, they get free education through college and free healthcare. Both of those systems blow ours out of the water, I might add. What do we get for our tax dollars? A crumbling infrastructure and bloated defense budget on a useless war, while our people become more and more illiterate and die from preventable diseases.
        And before you use the same knee-jerk "move there then!" response, no, I don't want to move there. I want my country to be as great as it once was. It's sad that any type of criticism is seen as unpatriotic. Our forefathers wanted this country to be a great place to live, and they firmly believed in scrutinizing every detail and coming up with ways to fix things. The system is broke, it needs fixed.

        • Posted By: Emilli @ 08/07/2008 9:32:24 AM

          So, you are admitting that our government is broken and we should let them do our health care too and college? Yep spoken with total truth. The system is broke so give it more control thats your answer?. Did you even read what you just wrote.

  • Posted By: wendelma@hotmail.com @ 08/05/2008 5:40:10 PM

    The truth is that the people are getting exactly what they are paying for. The market is always right. If more dollars were in the pot, more doctors, facilities, and health care workers would come in to help more and take care of more patients. I always think about the VA system here in the US when these questions and issues arise. I can tell you after working in all types of systems here in the US that the Vets get great care when they get care but not everything is an emergency. I know that many have waited six months for an MRI. Health care is rationed in these systems. I also know a doctor who grew up in Canada that now practices in the US. He tore his ACL in his knee playing soccer and had to wait 6 months for an MRI in Canada. This is how a single payer system works after the excess capacity has been eliminated from the system. Americans currently pay a hefty premium for getting it when they want it and how they want it. I like it that way.

    • Posted By: summer4077 @ 08/07/2008 9:09:20 AM

      I worked for an immigration attorney a few years ago and spoke with many Canadians. I often asked them about their healthcare system and wondered if the horror stories I heard were true. Each and every time, I heard a resounding no. They said that in emergency situations, your care is the same as it is here (and actually better, no 2+ hour wait at the ER). They told me that for routine well visit checkups, yes, the wait was long...but how is that any different from me waiting 2-3 months for my annual checkup? Do you really, intelligently think that someone would have to wait 6 months for a torn ACL, at risk of healing improperly, or 2 weeks for a broken bone (as someone else on this board said)?? Really? That's crazy, and illogical...pure exaggeration.

  • Posted By: Emilli @ 08/07/2008 8:55:44 AM

    Maybe Newsweek can do a story of the UK hospitals what ya think Susanna? Looks like the rats and maggots have a gap also of the have - nots.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/majornews/2505011/Hospitals-infested-with-rats-fleas-and-bed-bugs.html

  • Posted By: flawedexistence @ 08/06/2008 9:24:32 PM

    I HAVE dental insurance, which we pay for through payroll dudction like most people. It costs a fair amount of money every month, too. It covers so little that I haven't been to the dentist in more than two years due to the incredible expense of the dental work I need. I won't even go to get my teeth cleaned anymore because of the way I'm treated by the dentist and staff. As if I'm choosing to let my teeth rot... I simply cannot spend thousands of dollars on my teeth. I'd like to know who can. And by the way, demographically speaking, my family is considered 'upper middle class', income-wise. And no, we don't have car loans, credit cards, nor do we go on extravagant vacations. There just isn't that much left over at the end of the month!

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse