Nobody ever points the finger at physicians. They are in general highly regarded. But good grief. The naked greed! Physicians heal bodies but it’s perfectly fine for physicians to bankrupt the country? Bankrupt individuals? Unethical behavior on the financial realm? I think the “do no harm” axiom should apply to finance as well. Is that nuts?
You are obviously not a physician...and that’s not a dig, just a statement.
Medicare and Medicaid patients have little to no cost share in therir care, for themselves or their families. Why is that important?
Because I’ve seen 90+ yo , long-standing NH pts who are severely
demented to the point they do not know who or where they are having all sorts of tests and studies ‘at the families’ request to keep the relative alive, at all costs, because the cost to THEM is negligible if any, other than the effect on their conscience. It isn’t up to the Doctor (thank god) to determine who deserves care
Neither should it be the Government...who pays based off satisfaction surveys and the like.
If your the on call in-house Doc and grandma is circling the drain...and you call DPOA who says do ‘everything ‘, it’s not like you have a choice. Do it and you get criticized, don’t do it and you get sued.
Great system, no?
Doctor here are paid disproportionately high compared to every other first world country. Insurance and administrative middlemen are part of he problem too but all of these costs need to be cut if we are going to have affordable health care.