HEALTHCARE

Let us not look to the government to solve the problems

that the government has created.

 

The Diagnosis:

 

I maintain that the problems with our healthcare system are because of too much government interference and control. And now the new bill only makes that much, much worse!  For years now, we physicians have had to deal with middle men to approve what we have ordered after performing a history and physical on the patient. I recently had a patient I saw that had pain consistent with a kidney stone. I ordered the usual CAT Scan but this was not "approved" for three days.  So, when it did get done there was no kidney stone, but would there have been one three days before?  The pain was better but not gone. So now we must perform other tests to determine the cause of the pain and those test need to be approved.  Has all this "oversight" reduced the cost of medical care? No, I claim it makes it worse!  Not to mention making the patient suffer and have delay in getting diagnosis and proper treatment.

 

The Rx:

 

1. Free market Solutions

Why do we have to pay 6,000 dollars for an insulin pump that is no more complicated than any other electronic device(i.e. an ipod)?  Or why is Medicare charged 1,300 dollars for a wheel chair? Because the prices are being artificially supported, probably because of some special interest or lobbyist.  No if the free market were allowed to function, like in other industries, the competition would bring the prices down. And that in turn, will bring premiums down.

 

2. Tort Reform

Yes, there is defensive medicine. And the cost is significant, some estimate as much as a third of the total cost of medical care is due to this.  Simple Tort Reform would go a long way toward reducing this cost in medicine and therefore the cost of premiums and malpractice insurance.  Why do you think the Obama administration refuses to even consider this area?  Could it be that the trial lawyers give a lot of money to the democrat party?  Just having a loser pays rule, meaning that if you bring a frivolous lawsuit and it gets thrown out the "loser" needs to pay all the costs for both sides and the court costs, would reduce the number of suits that are brought, just for the hope of an out of court settlement.