Hold Davita and Kent Thiry Accountable

[NDXUFan]

One of the ways that we can hold Thiry and his crowd accountable for subpar and lousy care, is to buy shares of Davita stock.  It would be a good idea to also tell your friends and neighbors.    I would also suggest we would form media teams and start complaining to the press, such as local television stations and papers such as the Wall Street Journal.  I know we can come up with some great ideas.   It is time these clowns are held accountable. 

[Rerun]

I just sold my stock in DaVita and made $750.  With Medicare cutting them 10% and them threatening to close its doors I cashed in.

[MooseMom]

I just sold my stock in DaVita and made $750.  With Medicare cutting them 10% and them threatening to close its doors I cashed in.

Don't do that!  Follow Warren Buffet's investment strategy and buy more.  The American diabetic population is growing, and the need for dialysis will grow proportionally.  Medicare will not cut Davita's income; Congress already backed away from that move because Davita is Corporate America personified.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/29/us/politics/health-lobby-tries-to-undo-dialysis-cuts.html?ref=davitainc&_r=1&

[plugger]

I know I've written Warren Buffett about what I thought of davita.  This was months ago, I'm sure I'll hear from him any day now - probably just been busy.

[jeannea]

Yeah I'll just buy that 1/4 share I can afford. Many of us are on disability or other assistance. I agree we can write letters but buying stock is out of the question for me.

[rocker]

I'm not sure what buying stock in DaVita is supposed to accomplish.

[MooseMom]

I'm not sure what buying stock in DaVita is supposed to accomplish.

Not a lot, really.

[rocker]

I'm not sure what buying stock in DaVita is supposed to accomplish.

Not a lot, really.

I imagine that the OP has some idea that buying a few shares of stock would allow us to dictate the way the company does business.

That's all I can come up with.

[skg]

Not sure what the original poster intended, but it seems plausible that it could make a difference.

A small number of stock owners (with a small amount of stock) certainly can't dictate anything, but they are likely to get a hearing in a different way than a small minority of (indirect) consumers*. As a stock owner, you would also be sent information from the company talking about it's plans and prospects. Stockholders have a different sort of soapbox than dialysis patients.

So -- while no dictation, a small amount of influence might be wielded.

cheers,
skg

[NDXUFan]

I'm not sure what buying stock in DaVita is supposed to accomplish.

Not a lot, really.

I would vastly disagree, if everyone on dialysis bought one share or as many as possible, along with family and friends, Davita would be forced to listen, like it or not.  Stock ownership is a way of taking control of a company, it is done all of the time.  Why do you think it is that Warren Buffet bought tons of shares of Davita, what does that tell you?  If you want to control these people, the best way is to whack them in the pocketbook.  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ is what they understand and what will motivate them to change their behavior. Instead of whining and moaning, take action...........  How has whining and moaning worked for you, so far???

[Bill Peckham]

I would vastly disagree, if everyone on dialysis bought one share or as many as possible, along with family and friends, Davita would be forced to listen, like it or not.  Stock ownership is a way of taking control of a company, it is done all of the time.  Why do you think it is that Warren Buffet bought tons of shares of Davita, what does that tell you?  If you want to control these people, the best way is to whack them in the pocketbook.  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ is what they understand and what will motivate them to change their behavior. Instead of whining and moaning, take action...........  How has whining and moaning worked for you, so far???

Yeesh. Only Unusually
Arrogant Reprobates Enjoy
Always Nattering
Inane Nonsense. To Evince Respect, Not Excess Trash
Talk, Requires Only Legitimate Learning.

[Whamo]

Unless you own a majority of shares stock doesn't mean much.  A company I invest in is using the company like a personal piggy bank.  Corporate boards of directors award themselves free shares and bonus money despite losing money.   The shareholders are trying to change things, but the board seems to be able to game the system.

[MooseMom]

Bill, you are in clever mode today.  LOL!

What does Warren Buffet's purchase tell YOU?  It tells ME that he knows that more and more Americans are going to end up on dialysis because of the skyrocketing incidence of diabetes and hypertension, not to mention the atrocious practice of putting desperately ill elderly people on dialysis when palliative care would be much more humane.

[NDXUFan]

I would vastly disagree, if everyone on dialysis bought one share or as many as possible, along with family and friends, Davita would be forced to listen, like it or not.  Stock ownership is a way of taking control of a company, it is done all of the time.  Why do you think it is that Warren Buffet bought tons of shares of Davita, what does that tell you?  If you want to control these people, the best way is to whack them in the pocketbook.  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ is what they understand and what will motivate them to change their behavior. Instead of whining and moaning, take action...........  How has whining and moaning worked for you, so far???

Yeesh. Only Unusually
Arrogant Reprobates Enjoy
Always Nattering
Inane Nonsense. To Evince Respect, Not Excess Trash
Talk, Requires Only Legitimate Learning.

Normally, Bill, you make a lot of sense, what are you yammering about?

[NDXUFan]

Bill, you are in clever mode today.  LOL!

What does Warren Buffet's purchase tell YOU?  It tells ME that he knows that more and more Americans are going to end up on dialysis because of the skyrocketing incidence of diabetes and hypertension, not to mention the atrocious practice of putting desperately ill elderly people on dialysis when palliative care would be much more humane.

No, we would rather piss, whine, and moan, instead of holding that jerk accountable for the crappy and subpar care he dishes out that he would not take for himself or his family.  If you are curious, the average American blood sugar has not changed in the last 35 years(Cleveland Clinic).  Most people do not become diabetics until after the age of 50(George Washington University Hospital).  If you think I am kidding, when my RN sister, who is in great health, had a blood sugar score of 104, after a meal, was told she was a "Pre-Diabetic."  Just a bunch of intellectually lazy people who are too lazy or stupid to do basic research. 

[NDXUFan]

Unless you own a majority of shares stock doesn't mean much.  A company I invest in is using the company like a personal piggy bank.  Corporate boards of directors award themselves free shares and bonus money despite losing money.   The shareholders are trying to change things, but the board seems to be able to game the system.

If they are, why are you still holding shares in that company?  Does not mean much, I would beg to disagree.   

[Rerun]

I'm going to send him this letter.  What do you think? And help me proof read.

Kent,

I'm a dialysis patient in Spokane Valley, WA on the nocturnal shift.  I'm also a moderator on www.ihatedialysis.com   This is not a negative site but one there for patients who are scared to death concerning dialysis.  We assure them they can live.

I started dialysis in 1987 when I was 24. I've see it go from non-profit (lunch served and warm blankets) to total profit (bring your own paper tape).  Please explain to me why you charge me $60K a month to keep me alive when you know you will get 3K from Medicare and $600 from my secondary insurance?  I know how much $ you and your board make.  I'm a conservative so I get the whole free-enterprise/market idea.  But, to make absurd money off Medicare (tax payers) and sick people is wrong. 

I understand you want to make more each quarter for your share holders.  But, you need to step back and look at the total picture.  At my unit the drains stink, we don't have enough TV remotes, or wall adapters.  Just little things they "can't afford" to fix.  If you keep the mice happy they will continue to run on the wheel.  Put some money back into your units.  Oh, they did buy Air-Wick air-fresheners to cover the drain smell.  Surprisingly it works for now.

You know you can afford to take a 10 or 20 percent cut from Medicare.  Be a trend setter for the rest of American Corporations.  Be the first guy to say we are going to tell the truth in billing and still make a small profit. 

If you shut your dialysis doors you know there would be much complaining for about a week and then we would all become quiet.... very quiet.  Then a lot of funeral homes would make lots of money.  So buy stock now.

Do that if you want to.  I'm ready and know where I'm going.  But, there are still many young patients who work full-time and contribute to society and pay into Medicare. 

I think you should take the cut from Medicare and be proud of it.  Give back.  Be the first CEO to make the right change. 

People ask me how much profit is too much.  I think if you have your own business like Bill Gates the sky is the limit, but if your money comes from Medicare and sick people there needs to be caps on wages and compensation. 

Kent, do the right thing.  Take the cut from Medicare and be proud you did.

Darla Irwin
Spokane Valley, WA

 

[MooseMom]

So, NDXUFan, how many shares do you own, and do you go to shareholders' meetings to make your voice heard?

What exactly is your plan for holding Thiry "accountable"?  What does that mean, anyway?

How do you account for the rising numbers of people needing dialysis?

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/kustats/

So instead of pissing, whining and moaning, tell me exactly what your plan is.

[MooseMom]

That's a great letter, Rerun.  Send a copy to Warren Buffett, too!

[rocker]

I would vastly disagree, if everyone on dialysis bought one share or as many as possible, along with family and friends, Davita would be forced to listen, like it or not.  Stock ownership is a way of taking control of a company, it is done all of the time.

Just some quick math here.  DaVita has about 106,300,000 outstanding shares of stock.  Current stock price is around 110.  To take control of a whopping one percent of stock would thus require over $110 million dollars.  Ten percent (still insignificant), over a billion. But dang, I had that money laying around doing nothing anyway.

I agree with Bill.

[jeannea]

I'm with Bill. A few threads ago I asked NDXUFan some direct questions about his intentions on this board. He did not answer them because I believe he is here to stir up trouble. He is condescending and rude to those of us with differing opinions. Not helpful to any of us.

I don't understand what bringing your sister into this has to do with anything. If she's in perfect health no one would have tested her sugar after a meal. And I can't figure out what her blood sugar has to do with DaVita.

[okarol]

One of the ways that we can hold Thiry and his crowd accountable for subpar and lousy care, is to buy shares of Davita stock.  It would be a good idea to also tell your friends and neighbors.    I would also suggest we would form media teams and start complaining to the press, such as local television stations and papers such as the Wall Street Journal.  I know we can come up with some great ideas.   It is time these clowns are held accountable.

Hey NDXUFan - please go to the "Introduce Yourself" section and tell us about yourself.
Thank you.
okarol/admin

[amanda100wilson]

This guy went off in a hissy fit sometime ago.  I had to laugh at what Bill had to say!   Doesn't he (the OP) realize that to have Any influence you have to own a lot of shares?  I am sure that Warren Buffet does, and can.

[jeannea]

Yeah if I had money like Warren Buffet I would buy the shares. But if I had that kind of money I prob wouldn't hang out here. I'd put a doctor and therapist on retainer and call them day and night with my problems. What a dream to have that much money.

[plugger]

If anybody wants to write Warren Buffett (a major shareholder of davita) and tell him what you think of davita's services, I was using this address:

Warren Buffett, Chairman
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
3555 Farnam Street
Suite 1440
Omaha, NE  68131

I'm sure he would much rather hear from "consumers" than a fellow who just knows what he reads (me).

Also today I was watching Jim Cramer's MadMoney and it was mentioned they just might have davita (Kent Thiry I assume) on the show.  Maybe some of you would have some questions you would like Mr. Cramer to ask.  I of course already sent in my 2 cents:
madmoney@cnbc.com