I agree. On the face of this, Americans do use too much healthcare in that we simply desire something to be done, even if it is superfluous. On the other hand, I'm not sure how you can gauge the effectiveness of future policy on this phenomenon.

Please define a superfluous something.

Do people think the US is going to a Canadian/European single-pay system?

 

God, I hope not.

The question is, will the government allow the option of getting it done without government coverage if you are willing to pay for it? If an insurance company will not cover something even with a prior authorization from the doctor, you can still pay out of pocket for it.

 

Will the government allow that?

That is the big question right there.

Please define a superfluous something.

 

You have a cold, you go to the doctor. The only way to treat a virus like a cold is to let your immune system handle it. You pay 50 dollars to go to the doctor you don't want to hear that you need to relax, get more sleep, get plenty of fluids, inhale steam in the shower and give it time. You want a pill to make to feel better.

 

That is one of the reasons why so many antibiotic resistant strains have developed. People want something to show for going to the doctor and on account of that we keep coming across stronger and stronger bacteria that have been exposed to the previous antibiotics. We are eventually going to run out of antibiotics that can effectively fight most bacteria.

 

THAT is superfluous giving an antibiotic to keep the patient from grumbling.

Given the over-prescribing of antibiotics for the sake of making people feel like they didn't just waste their money in visiting the doctor I can't say that there isn't some degree of truth in what they are saying, however the examples they use are somewhat lacking.

 

They talk about the insurance companies paying too much, well who determines what is too much? A doctor's rates have to go into their operating expenses, malpractice insurance(which is huge) and other things. Quite possibly one of the biggest problems with the cost of medicine is related to the liability coverage that an MD needs to protect himself or herself.

Then you go into prescription drugs, yes most name brand drugs are very expensive in the United States but there are reasons why. This covers research and development costs AND it covers the profit loss from when our drug companies sell their drugs to other countries who refuse to pay more than a certain amount for it. Drug companies would likely cease most R&D projects if they were told everywhere that they could only charge a certain amount for a drug. The reason we rarely have shortages in the U.S. now is because we are willing to pay for the luxury of healthcare. We start putting price ceilings on medicine we are going to start seeing waiting lists.

 

Nice post, but you really nailed it on the head with the bolded! I can't see the US getting a grip on health care until they take a serious look at limitations on Civil liability.

You have a cold, you go to the doctor. The only way to treat a virus like a cold is to let your immune system handle it. You pay 50 dollars to go to the doctor you don't want to hear that you need to relax, get more sleep, get plenty of fluids, inhale steam in the shower and give it time. You want a pill to make to feel better.

 

That is one of the reasons why so many antibiotic resistant strains have developed. People want something to show for going to the doctor and on account of that we keep coming across stronger and stronger bacteria that have been exposed to the previous antibiotics. We are eventually going to run out of antibiotics that can effectively fight most bacteria.

 

THAT is superfluous giving an antibiotic to keep the patient from grumbling.

 

Exactly.

Exactly.

 

 

Working in a pharmacy and currently doing pre-pharm work helps to get some perspective on the matter. A number of other medical professionals I have talked to in regards to this(doctors included) concur.

Nice post, but you really nailed it on the head with the bolded! I can't see the US getting a grip on health care until they take a serious look at limitations on Civil liability.

 

Good grief, we need a new thread. Someone is trying to get a rise out of me.

I am not saying it is any one thing, I am saying it is a culmination of many MANY things that conspire(metaphorically) to create the problems.