[johnb]

This legislation will have consequences that are important and far reaching for everyone. I'm already very educated about my health. According to my primary care doc, much more educated than his average patient. It is time to take responsibility for our health. If heart disease, diabetes, etc run in your family, then it's time to recognize that and become proactive. How much of our anual expenditures would be unnecessary if we made better life style choices?

On the otherside, their are doctors that are milking our system. I've seen it with my own eyes. The spine surgery I had was very expensive compared to what I needed, a decompressive surgery. I didn't need an expensive set of plastic, cord, and screws (I have 6 screws on my desk and are the most expensive paperweights insurance money can be wasted on). This was the opinion of two surgeons that had no financial stake in my treatment. I wasn't a candidate for ADR either which is what I would have had if my insurance had approved it.

I'll give you another example. My mother, who is 75, had some blockage discovered in her vascular system in her neck 5 years ago. Not high numbers, but something to keep an eye on via yearly exams. Instead of going to her vascular doctor last year, she had the exam done at a clinic closer by as she doesn't like to drive on the interstate. This clinic has been adding services under its unbrella and is close to a one stop shop so you can be referred to whatever specialist you need under their "umbrella". Her doctor told her the test pointed to severe blockage and immediately referred her to their vascular surgeon for surgery consult. My mom was worried and in horrible shape emotionally. I told her to hold on, I would take her to her regular vascular surgeon. Medicare will only pay for one exam per year but her regular surgeon looked at the report and questioned some of the interpretations. He advised her to relax and follow up with him next year. Well, it's a year later, my mom had her exam with her regular vascular surgeon and her vascular system is okay. That surgery that they were setting my mom up for carries a 50% chance of stroke according to my mom's regular vascular surgeon. This made me angry.

That old cliche about a few bad apples ruining the barrel can be applied here. However, I think it is more than a few bad apples. I'm glad we folks like Justin entering the field. My own personal experience has shaken my faith in the current state of affairs in our medical system.

John