Mail Call

[rolanni]

Remember that MRI scheduled for this evening? Today's snail brings News! from Anthem Blue Cross. After due consideration, they agree that an MRI is reasonable in the case and will allow the appointment to stand.

WTF? Anthem gets to decide if my knee hurts bad enough for me to Do Something About It?

Ghod, we need a health care system in this country. Please.

Comments

Re: Totally against government health care.

[grassrose.livejournal.com]

Referring back to the VA hospitals - there's a reason I (a vet) take the basic plan, then pay extra to choose my own doctors and facilities:

Lack of basic sanitary precautions during colonoscopies passes AIDS and Hepatitis around like a party favor:

http://tinyurl.com/lkvqkj

http://tinyurl.com/l5chsm

Some issues with treatment of prostate cancer (which my husband will be having in three weeks):

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/health/21radiation.html

...and a trivial little piece about Gyn exam rooms opening out onto the waiting room:

http://tinyurl.com/ktqduj

Finally, a problem common to both civilian and military medical care - no room at the inn:

http://tinyurl.com/nlancg

A government "thou shalt" isn't going to fix this. A government "thou shalt treat all emergency room patients, regardless of their ability to pay" led to the Orange County hospital closest to my brother-in-law shutting down its emergency room entirely. Unfunded mandates. Gotta love 'em.

But in answer to Sharon's question, "Wishing for a health care system THAT WORKS is a Bad Thing?", my response is "HELL, no!" I just have serious doubts as to the competency of the federal government (and most state governments) to come up with one. Although they've done such a GOOD job of project (and money) management so far!

[elbales]

First response to the articles: AAAAAAHH.

Second response: I note that the first article about the endoscopy equipment includes this tidbit:

The internal report noted that the VA is not alone in reporting problems with endoscopy procedures: Private hospitals in California and Pennsylvania have notified thousands of patients in recent years after similar concerns.

It's not just the VA, sadly.

[grassrose.livejournal.com]

This is true - and the last article expresses a universal problem as well. Earlier folks in this thread commented that their own VA hospitals were exceptional. That's terrific. I hope they continue to be so.

In fairness, I have to add that while I pay extra to choose my own caregivers, my medical care is still heavily subsidized. What I pay is not what the average 45-year-old woman trying to buy health insurance would pay.

We're back to Sharon's request - a health care plan that WORKS.

Sigh...