Non-IT News Thread
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Rodents of Unusual Size—Meet the invasive, orange-toothed pests of coastal erosion
New nutria documentary is a whole lotta fun even if the rats themselves very much aren't.
By now, anyone following environmental news recognizes Louisiana as one of the front lines for climate change in the United States. In recent years, writers from the state have famously wondered out loud about whether the boot shape we all learned in elementary school fits anymore, and residents of a small community in Isle de Jean Charles made headlines in 2015-2016 by becoming the first "climate refugees" in the country. Between flooding and the various forces pushing coastal erosion, the town quite literally lost 98 percent of its physical land in the 60 years between 1955 and 2015, forcing a concerted relocation effort.
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Etch a Sketch lives on in browser-based Chrome Labs project
Web a Skeb is open source and works in both desktop and mobile browsers.
Everyone who remembers the Etch A Sketch slabs of yesteryear remembers how difficult it was to translate your vision onto its "magic screen," and how proud you felt upon success. Now, Google's Chrome Labs has translated that experience (quite literally) for the digital age with the fun Web A Skeb project. It's a browser-contained version of an Etch A Sketch that you can use to draw and doodle—if you can get the hang of its dials.
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@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Rodents of Unusual Size—Meet the invasive, orange-toothed pests of coastal erosion
New nutria documentary is a whole lotta fun even if the rats themselves very much aren't.
By now, anyone following environmental news recognizes Louisiana as one of the front lines for climate change in the United States. In recent years, writers from the state have famously wondered out loud about whether the boot shape we all learned in elementary school fits anymore, and residents of a small community in Isle de Jean Charles made headlines in 2015-2016 by becoming the first "climate refugees" in the country. Between flooding and the various forces pushing coastal erosion, the town quite literally lost 98 percent of its physical land in the 60 years between 1955 and 2015, forcing a concerted relocation effort.
Just waiting for PETA to get involved in this one. . .
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New hospital price lists are massive spreadsheets full of gibberish
From unintelligible abbreviations and jargon to $32,456.66 "headaches."
At Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, an “HC BYP FEM-ANT TIBL PST TIBL PRONEAL ART/OTH DSTL” will run you $35,014.00. If you go to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, an “HC ECMO/ECLS INIT VENO-VENOUS” costs $51,384.00. And at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City, a “TRLUML PERIP ATHRC ILIAC ART” goes for $22,689.83.
These mysterious prices—and tens of thousands of others—are all on the hospitals’ respective new price lists, available in beastly spreadsheets downloadable from the hospitals’ websites. As of January 1, hospitals around the country are now federally required to list all standard charges for common treatments and care. The goal is to make hospital billing more transparent, allowing patients to comparison shop and anticipate medical expenses.
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@mlnews So does every hospital list the same thing on each of their spreadsheets?
Is "HC BYP FEM-ANT TIBL PST TIBL PRONEAL ART/OTH DSTL” the same thing at every hospital and how does one figure out the abbreviation?
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@DustinB3403 said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews So does every hospital list the same thing on each of their spreadsheets?
Is "HC BYP FEM-ANT TIBL PST TIBL PRONEAL ART/OTH DSTL” the same thing at every hospital and how does one figure out the abbreviation?
One doesn't, that's the point. They are avoiding their legal requirements.
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@DustinB3403 said in Non-IT News Thread:
Is "HC BYP FEM-ANT TIBL PST TIBL PRONEAL ART/OTH DSTL” the same thing at every hospital and how does one figure out the abbreviation?
https://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/CPT?p=classes&conceptid=35566
Bypass graft, with vein; femoral-anterior tibial, posterior tibial, peroneal artery or other distal vessels
So obvious...
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@DustinB3403 said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews So does every hospital list the same thing on each of their spreadsheets?
Is "HC BYP FEM-ANT TIBL PST TIBL PRONEAL ART/OTH DSTL” the same thing at every hospital and how does one figure out the abbreviation?
One doesn't, that's the point. They are avoiding their legal requirements.
While at the same time fulfilling them, it would seem.
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@bnrstnr said in Non-IT News Thread:
@DustinB3403 said in Non-IT News Thread:
Is "HC BYP FEM-ANT TIBL PST TIBL PRONEAL ART/OTH DSTL” the same thing at every hospital and how does one figure out the abbreviation?
https://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/CPT?p=classes&conceptid=35566
Bypass graft, with vein; femoral-anterior tibial, posterior tibial, peroneal artery or other distal vessels
So obvious...About as obvious as why no one likes hospitals or insurance. Use the common language not jargon.
We'll be performing an arterial bypass and it cost $35,014.00.
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citizens would be better served by a hospital (any medical facility really) being required to provide a full accounting of the anticipated costs of any non emergent situation before the patient visits.
Sadly - the system is so damned complex, it's nearly pointless. I have asthma. This means that a person with zero other pre-existing conditions normal office visit is, let's just say, $90. That same visit for me is $125. I have to pay a premium because - well at least the thinking is - the doctor has to put more thought into any advice with regards to my asthma, and is therefore worthy of being paid more.
Now, in a true open market situation - I'm totally on board with that, but healthcare is anything but a real open market.
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Another thing that just drives me mad - you call the insurance company and ask if something covered - 90/100 times they will tell you - they can't be 100% sure until they are billed by the doctor/facility.
Can't be sure? WTF? why not?
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@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
they can't be 100% sure until they are billed by the doctor/facility.
Can't be sure? WTF? why not?Because there are a thousand different codes the doctor can pull out of his ass for the same exact procedure.
It's infuriating
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@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Etch a Sketch lives on in browser-based Chrome Labs project
Web a Skeb is open source and works in both desktop and mobile browsers.
Everyone who remembers the Etch A Sketch slabs of yesteryear remembers how difficult it was to translate your vision onto its "magic screen," and how proud you felt upon success. Now, Google's Chrome Labs has translated that experience (quite literally) for the digital age with the fun Web A Skeb project. It's a browser-contained version of an Etch A Sketch that you can use to draw and doodle—if you can get the hang of its dials.
This could (will?) waste so much time...
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@bnrstnr said in Non-IT News Thread:
@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
they can't be 100% sure until they are billed by the doctor/facility.
Can't be sure? WTF? why not?Because there are a thousand different codes the doctor can pull out of his ass for the same exact procedure.
It's infuriating
Which is what makes it not a price sheet.
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@Dashrender well we know healthcare isn't an open market since this price lists have been hidden away in this ledger for who knows how long.
And people who don't have insurance are actually charged these rates. Where as those who do have insurance get some massive discount.
The issue stems from there not being any pricing controls for healthcare. They can charge whatever the hell they want because they've been allowed too. The pharma industry is trying to follow suit with this practice as well with their bout of price-jacking.
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@bnrstnr said in Non-IT News Thread:
@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
they can't be 100% sure until they are billed by the doctor/facility.
Can't be sure? WTF? why not?Because there are a thousand different codes the doctor can pull out of his ass for the same exact procedure.
It's infuriating
Well, and even worse - if there are complications - that tosses in dozens of more codes... so even more billing.
But a baseline is something they should be able to say - yes, removing an ingrown toenail is covered - along with any complications. that's not so bloody hard.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@bnrstnr said in Non-IT News Thread:
@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
they can't be 100% sure until they are billed by the doctor/facility.
Can't be sure? WTF? why not?Because there are a thousand different codes the doctor can pull out of his ass for the same exact procedure.
It's infuriating
Which is what makes it not a price sheet.
This is their claim for this BS
list all standard charges for common treatments and care
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@DustinB3403 said in Non-IT News Thread:
And people who don't have insurance are actually charged these rates. Where as those who do have insurance get some massive discount.
For tax purposes they might be billed this amount, but what people without insurance actually pay is often far less than what people with insurance pay total, including what insurance pays. (from my super limited experience anyway)
