Take for example: the patient. A patient comes in with back pain.The patient expects more than conservative management. In many cases, a physician is not willing to risk conservative management when balancing that with failure to diagnose and the lack of objective data which would open them up to a lawsuit. In the pleasure to please the patient, who is less likely to sue, the physician embarks on an expensive workup. But not to worry, the patient’s insurance picks up the tab, the physician feels protected, and the insurance company passes on the cost to tens of thousands of other premium paying customers.When money is spent in our health care system:
They patient is happy because they are getting something for nothing (or at least a sense that their premiums are worthwhile)
The physician is happy because they feel like they are reducing their malpractice exposure by gathering objective data which makes the patient happier.
The health insurance company is essentially neutral as they will simply pass the costs on to their broad base of premium paying customers.
The malpractice company is happy because a happy patient is less likely to sue.
SO, the brunt of my argument presents you with 4 powerful forces in the delivery of health care. Three of them come out ahead by spending money. And one is neutral.
There is simply no motivation in the major players to control costs.
There is no skin in the game.
Well, ladies and gentleman. I present to you, my skin: THE CARD
Get the details on The Card, In All Its Glory. It’s an excellent idea, one I would gladly sign up for myself. As it is, in every encounter with a doctor I end up asking questions like, “Is this test really necessary?” The reason I do that is because I have a very high deductible, so I’m paying cash for that test. I have skin in the game, and am committed to keeping my healthcare costs low. We don’t visit the ER unless we are truly afraid not to, like when my daughter passed out and was difficult to revive. We bear some discomfort for things like ear infections on the weekends and just get on the phone first thing Monday morning to see the doctor. That’s also part of the problem – not only does everyone want their answer now, they also want to feel perfectly healthy and pain-free at all times. While I’d like that too, I’m at least willing to acknowledge that it’s simply impossible. The main thing we’re missing from the current healthcare delivery system is a sense of reality. We want it all and we want it now and we want it free.
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