10 Things Primary-Care Physicians Won't Say

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[Kreacher]

10 Things Primary-Care Physicians Won't Say
by Jim Rendon and AnnaMaria Andriotis
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Good read. Kinda tells it like it is. Sad how it is, though.

[Kreacher]

10 Things Primary-Care Physicians Won't Say
by Jim Rendon and AnnaMaria Andriotis
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Good read. Kinda tells it like it is. Sad how it is, though.

[wendallb]

It is a shame that health care has gone up 2 or 3 times more than anything else has and yes it is all about the money and not the oath they take...

I guess the oath means something at first but sooner or later it is about money..

It has always been hard for me to put a price tag on someones health or life as the case may be...Just me I guess..

[talleyJudy]

That article certainly is negative in its general overview of the subject of health care in general.

As much as "health care" has been pushed to the forefront of media's focus, and by the way it is also demonized, it is strange that 'elephant in the room' is never even considered; actually two elephants.

The first is Government over regulation and meddling.

For instance, everyone bitches about HMO's, and yet everyone forgets that this is the gift from Senator Ted Kennedy that keep on giving.  Then there is the law that prevents a doc from accepting additional private (consumer) payment from a Medicare patient.  And that is just the tip of the iceberg.




The second, aided by the first is the lack of free markets and competition (third party payers) driven by the consumer (patient). 
This brings to mind the example of Lasix (sp) eye surgery.
At first the docs were charging $7000/eye until it was established that most insurance policies would not pay.  Suddenly the price went down to $700/eye and financing offered by the clinic too.

My own experience, about twenty years ago, before I was on Medicare is an example.  Went to the podiatrist and after finding out what was needed, asked him how much it would cost if I wrote him a check for full payment the day of the procedure - his eyes lit up and suddenly the price went from $1200 down to $450    done and done.




Today people think that medical policies should cover EVERY THING.   Do they expect their auto insurance to cough up at every oil change, tire inflation, tune up, battery replacement,etc - no.   Or their home insurance to replace the refrigerator, hot water heater, furnace filters, patch the driveway, etc. - no. 
Yet they expect every appt. at the docs to be 'covered' for every and any thing.



Back to #1, government regulation....
In the '70's I had a major medical policy/$10,000. deductible.
And we, as responsible adults also had that amount in savings - I was "self insuring" up to $10,000.

In the mid '80's that high deductible was BY FEDERAL LAW reduced to $5,000. and the premium naturally went up by double.  Then again in the late '90's FEDERAL LAW dropped that down to $2,500.  So by law, I could not self insure at MY desired amount....   THERE IS NO MEDICAL FREE MARKET in this country - the 'free market' has been corrupted by the 'third party payer' in bed with Congress - and that's the major problem.

And I don't want to hear whining about not every body can afford to have a "medical savings account" to pay out of pocket.  Most people can if they think ahead and establish priorities.  The "safety net" is there for the truly "poor", who have wide screen tv's, cell phones, Wii/whatever games....



*rant over for today* 

 

[wendallb]

I agree Judy 100%.. A lot of the folks that live on welfare and medicaid live better than I do and drive a newer car...Makes me sick to see this stuff as hard as I work for about 50 years now...

The government is a Robin Hood, taking from you and me and giving it to someone that is a couch potato and living off the government or is illegal...

[Kreacher]

So far, my mechanic does not tell me to come back several times between oil changes to have my oil checked in my car for an additional charge. In fact, I can drop into my local oil change place and they will check the oil level for free. Would that my doctor would check my blood pressure and do my blood work every few months for free.

The local auto dealer so far has not charged me an "office visit" and then sent me to another shop which charged me an additional "office visit" then more to actually fix my car. Then tell me to come back several times that first month for additional charges each to make sure the patch on my tire is doing ok.

I agree that a lot of the problem is politics.  But a lot of it is other factors. One being the legal profession and people that feel the need to sue for things that the doctor could not have prevented to begin with. Plus doctors wanting rechecks and other stuff that may or may not be needed.

I really don't think that one can compare auto insurance to medical insurance in this manner.

Of course, I suppose one could, upon being told that their spouse has cancer and that insurance would not pay for it, decide to junk (kill) the old spouse and buy a new spouse. That would save a great deal of cost to insurance, hospitals and such. Perhaps then those institutions could lower costs a bit? 

There is a lot wrong with medicine in general. The main thing is that we humans value our lives and other humans know that they can use that to extort money ... be they politicians, doctors, hospitals, insurance or other such entities.

Would that I had the money to pay for the medicines and stuff. Sadly, I can't get government help and my per visit to the doctor as well as any meds keep going up with no increase in income or hope for such.

Perhaps I'll get lucky soon and die. That should reduce costs, be no big loss and all that.

Ok. My rant is over for now.

[redhorse]

It used to be 'if E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen. I think now if talleyJudy speaks we listen. What she says is so true... here, here ol'girl, well stated. In the automotive industry re-checks are a matter of fact, if it don't work or fix the problem it is that plain and simple. A medical provider prescribes and it don't fix the problem well then your body is resistant and I will prescribe this. The first thing they want to know on a visit is who is your insurance provider? If it is nada and cash money comes out it is a totally different ball game. First hand knowledge.

My doctor claims to have voluntarily took a $26,000 cut in pay from the medical group he is associated with so they can keep things patient reasonable. I have no reason to doubt it, but he still drives a Town Car and he ain't living in tract housing. People with cancer or other severe issues are really left to the wolves. Few are financially able to drop a wad of cash get the 'best in the house' treament, so what little insurance, if any, they have is rationed until it is gone and someone has their hand out for more 'money honey', or you are S-O-L. that is why this health care garbage is such a stinking bag left on the front porch. Does health care need to be fixed, absolutely, but start with what we got. Take the lawyers and the politics out of the mix and let the games begin with real truth and common sense. I wish it was only that simple.

[wendallb]

It would be nice if we could get the politics out of everything these days but if you will notice the there are politics to just about everything and we all know that is what drives up the prices..
 
Most of the law makers in Wahington are lawyers and are not going to do anything to hurt lawyers and there law suits which is another thing that is driving up the prices of medical care these days..
 
The big problem is that if something is not done then only the very rich will be able to afford medical insurance and medical care..
 
I guess if you get down to the bottom of the deal it is still about money and about I...What I want and what I need instead what would be fair for all...

[Kreacher]

Survival of the fittest. The fittest being the ones with money and control. The rest are just excess population.

[redhorse]

I am not ready to leave the 'excess population' to the vultures. The nations people have been voicing enough dislike for the health care reform that no bill has been jammed through...yet. Many up in D.C. are seeing that this 2300 page bill with all the amendments, penalties, fines, and or jail time, etc, is still a pig disguised as a helping hand. Will the democrats push this monstrosity through, who knows, it has taken them what, over a year to get to this point and they are still dragging their feet.

[wendallb]

If they do ram this through it will be political death..

[redhorse]

The health care bill is now up to 2700 pages and 75 billion has been added on to 1.3 trillion. I think that is right. Who knows? Most of the progressives in D.C. do not care if it ends their political careers.

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