Myth #1

[Guest guest]

Thank you   Thank you Thank  you.  So many people needed to hear the

truth.  

 

--- On Thu, 3/18/10, Evanesce <Evanesce wrote:

 

 

Evanesce <Evanesce

<< >> Myth #1

 

Thursday, March 18, 2010, 8:43 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

/Cost controls stifle innovation./

 

False. The United States is home to groundbreaking medical research, but

so are other countries with much lower cost structures. Any American

who's had a hip or knee replacement is standing on French innovation.

Deep-brain stimulation to treat depression is a Canadian breakthrough.

Many of the wonder drugs promoted endlessly on American television,

including Viagra, come from British, Swiss or Japanese labs.

 

Overseas, strict cost controls actually drive innovation. In the United

States, an MRI scan of the neck region costs about $1,500. In Japan, the

identical scan costs $98. Under the pressure of cost controls, Japanese

researchers found ways to perform the same diagnostic technique for

one-fifteenth the American price. (And Japanese labs still make a profit.)

http://www.washingt onpost.com/ wp-dyn/content/ article/2009/ 08/21/AR20090821

01778_2.html

 

 

[Guest guest]

Truth is, the  third party payer system has no incentive to be competitive

cost-wise.

Also a lot of that expense is defensive medicine...a very expensive thing which

benefits the doc more than the pt.  How many tests can I 'justify' to the

health ins program the pt is on?...and then how many scripts will i be able to

write...some get quite creative about this...I once had a sinus infection (

determined after blood an urine tests plus x-rays of 3 views of my head ) was

given 6 scripts to have filled at the pharmicist - I went to the drug store and

got a saline irrigation device and used only that and the problem was gone. 

To me all that he did was over-kill...and where is the check and balance on

that?...

I had to  provide my own...if however the irrigation by saline would not have

worked, then I had some options...  We all need to be empowered to be in charge

of our own health care...we know ourselves and our body best...we need to be

aware and paying close attention.

Also when one person ( a doc ) has the authority and sense that 'I am the

doc'...'I know best'...

Then he becomes entitled to 'pad the bill' as much as he can...because let us

not forget: medicine is a business.   This is all very different from what I

experienced as I grew up w/ a family doc who really had my best interests at

heart - including keeping unnecessary costs down.

It is something that has an inherent conflict of interests built into it...sad,

but true...

When I worked as a tech in an emergency room...the docs had to write 'acute' to

get the ins co to allow the admission to the hospital...and if the patient

census in the hospital was down...the 'facts' could be spun / 'enhanced' to

'justify' the admission - needed or not...

Don

 

--- On Thu, 3/18/10, Adrian Murphy <america_health wrote:

 

Adrian Murphy <america_health

Re: << >> Myth #1

 

Thursday, March 18, 2010, 10:43 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you   Thank you Thank  you.  So many people needed to hear the

truth.  

 

 

 

--- On Thu, 3/18/10, Evanesce <Evanesce (AT) rcn (DOT) com> wrote:

 

 

 

Evanesce <Evanesce (AT) rcn (DOT) com>

 

<< Alternative- Medicine- Forum >> Myth #1

 

Alternative- Medicine- Forum@ s.com

 

Thursday, March 18, 2010, 8:43 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/Cost controls stifle innovation./

 

 

 

False. The United States is home to groundbreaking medical research, but

 

so are other countries with much lower cost structures. Any American

 

who's had a hip or knee replacement is standing on French innovation.

 

Deep-brain stimulation to treat depression is a Canadian breakthrough.

 

Many of the wonder drugs promoted endlessly on American television,

 

including Viagra, come from British, Swiss or Japanese labs.

 

 

 

Overseas, strict cost controls actually drive innovation. In the United

 

States, an MRI scan of the neck region costs about $1,500. In Japan, the

 

identical scan costs $98. Under the pressure of cost controls, Japanese

 

researchers found ways to perform the same diagnostic technique for

 

one-fifteenth the American price. (And Japanese labs still make a profit.)

 

http://www.washingt onpost.com/ wp-dyn/content/ article/2009/ 08/21/AR20090821

01778_2.html