Archive for the ‘$700 Billion in unnecessary Medical Tests’ Category

Lack of Economics In Health Care Debate

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Another journalist talking about health insurance without a basic grasp of economics.

How truly annoying.  S/He bashes the Republican Patients Choice proposals because it “only” provides a tax credit  of $5,700 For Families  ($2,300 For Individuals)…for the record, that ain’t a deduction sweethearts — that is a CREDIT, works same for everyone, unlike current tax deduction schemes which are unfair.

His reasoning for bashing the plan is that it “The total 2009 medical cost for a typical American family of four is $16,771″.

OK, so should the Republicans going to give a tax credit of $16,771 for every family?  Where the heck are they going to get the money for that?  Maybe by taxing every family $16,771?

Note to universal health care advocates:  The Money Has to Come From Somewhere.   Universal Coverage is not FREE!

The point of the Republican plan is not to give people a free ride, but to offer a helping hand.  I’m not ga-ga about it, but lets be fair in our criticism, shall we?

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High Deductible Health Insurance is a Good Thing

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

I believe in  deductibles.  I don’t believe that general doctors visits, teeth cleanings, general wellness care should be covered by “insurance”.  I don’t even believe that most medical tests should be immediately covered by insurance.

Paying for your own health care costs is a good thing,  it makes you think.  There is over $700 billion spent on unnecessary medical tests every year.  Beyond cost these tests can lead to a great deal of pain and suffering on the part of the patient.  (Here’s a newsflash, not everyone over 50 should get a colonoscopy, for people with certain conditions the risk of perforation is simply too high).

I know a lot of people don’t want to second guess their doctors, but you really, really, really should.  They are human, they don’t know everything — and in many traditional health care scenarios they make more money when they advocate more testing (also, they may get sued if they don’t advocate the test…but that is a subject for another day).

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Does Your Insurance Cover Transcendental Electromicide?

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

Dr. Nick Rivieria shows them how its done. (Warning, watching this video may lead to Bonus Eruptus).

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Government to Compare Effectiveness of Medical Treatments

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Well, if they do this, they will get one thing right…and the insurance industry will likely thank them:

The budget also includes a controversial $1.1 billion measure for the federal government to get into the business of comparing medical treatments head to head.

Source:  Reuters

This is definitely needed.  As noted in Overtreated, perhaps the most readable book on the subject, some miracle treatments aren’t miracles, they are just expensive and painful - like bone marrow transplants to treat breast cancer.

Besides comparing treatments, they also need tort reform and to create a “best practices” for ordering medical tests.

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Because Sometimes NOT Providing Care is the Ethical Thing To Do

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

My grandmother was in her 80’s and was mildly forgetfull when her doctors advised her to get bypass surgery.  She went under anesthesia…got her bypasses done…woke up…

And didn’t remember any of her children, and half the time couldn’t remember who she herself was.

Later we learned that this is common in elderly patients who undergo prolonged period of anesthesia.  No one told us.  No one told her.

(more…)

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The Rush To Rationing

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Report on Rationing in Obama’s new health plan from Hugh Hewitt at Townhall.com, a consistently conservative source.

Health care rationing is not always bad, but obviously it could be depending how its done.

What I find more disapointing from the blog post is that we’re headed for some sort of National Plan.  There are better options out there!

Hat-tip: the Blogfather.

UPDATE: Hmmm…this article from Media Matters (liberal “watch dog” group) says that there ISN’T a nationalized health care plan in the works.  I wish the administration would just say what they are planning.

UPDATE:  Never mind.  Hugh Hewitt at Townhall is right.  It is a Nationalized Health Care System they are pushing.  Key take away from the article:

Asked about how to pay for health-care reform, Sebelius was vague…

Of course she’s vague, because they can’t, you know PAY FOR it.

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Inflammation a Sign of Cardiovascular Risk

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Several articles I’ve read lately (and listened to on NPR) have pointed to the role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease.

Before your doctor tries to put you on statins, or recommends invasive procedures I would highly recommend getting tested for C-Reactive Protein (inflammation factor).  Also see this link for a  nice little heart disease risk calculator–read the entry and you’ll see why its very important to calculate ALL your numbers.

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Cardiovascular Disease Calculator

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Try this handy little heart disease calculator.  Especially if your doctor wants to put you on statins, or perform an unnecessary laprascopy on you…

My cholesterol, dear readers, is 280.  But my HDL is 85, and I don’t have blood pressure to speak of (when I’m extra nervous it shoots up to 90/50).  So my risk is less than 1%.

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$700 Billion a Year spent on Unnesessary Medical Tests

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

“Much of the rise in healthcare costs nationwide, the study concludes, is linked to increasing use of prescriptions and hospital care, pricey new medical screenings, and an insurance market with few consumer protections.”

According to the Progressive Policy Institute $700 Billion of Medical tests in the U.S. each year are unnecessary.  From personal experience I’d say some actually endanger health.

When doctors earn their income from tests there will be pressure to increase the amount of tests given.  Many if not most patients will go along with these tests because a) they are don’t know the risks associated with the test (and doc hasn’t done his/her best to inform)…which leads us to point b) doctor “knows best” c) why think when health insurance will pay for it anyways.

Another reason why Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer should be required reading for everyone.

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