Health Care Costs

Yesterday, I brought lunch to my mother and the doctor she works for. We got to talking, and the physician she works for is part of a focus group on Health Care Costs sometime early next week. We started talking, related to the costs of health care in America, and a few shining points came out.

First, the costs of health care, particularly in Southeastern PA, have skyrocketed, coinciding with the increasing number of medical malpractice lawsuits. As we have become an increasingly litigious society, physicians are now using expensive testing to rule out potential maladies opposed to confirming possibilities. Does everyone with non specific chest pain need Cardiac Enzymes? Does everyone that falls down need a CT of their head? No. But, due to lawsuits, we have seen these tests increase as a way to prevent a potential malpractice suit. And we wonder why we have skyrocketing costs.

Secondly, uninsured and underinsured persons. With the rate of unemployment starting to rise, we have seen the ability of citizens to pay for COBRA Insurance decrease just as rapidly. When faced with a choice of putting food on the table or paying for insurance that MAY not be needed, many people are obviously choosing the former. When something does happen, we are seeing a substantial number of visits to emergency rooms, where providers are obligated to provide care, irregardless of your ability to pay. With no job, and no insurance, obviously, the ability to pay for the services rendered are inherently decreased. These costs are then passed onto the insured, and those with the ability to pay to make up for any losses therein.

Finally, lack of preventative medicine. I am part of this problem. Think about it, when was the last time you went to your physician for a "well-adult" visit? Nothing is wrong, just going for a checkup. Granted, I go to the doctor when I'm sick or absolutely have to. With a family history of diabetes and hypertension, I should be going to see my doctor much more often, in order to prescreen for these conditions, and ensure that I can slow the development of such ailments. I don't, and of course, when the time comes, I'm going to be subjected to a litany of tests and examinations, probably referred to a specialist of 2...all of which are costly, and could have been prevented.

Now, the argument of socialized medicine won't even be broached here, I think I could probably write a book on it...

Any other thoughts?

M