07-17-2012, 03:42 PM
swampy wrote:
Pam, Politifact it all you want, but I think the number does reflect a majority of doctor's feelings about Obamatax.
I have seen a great many doctors and medical practicioners over the past three years and have discussed current trends in health care. _None_ that I talked with liked the future they saw coming. Not a one! Most agreed that costs would rise, care would be rationed in some degree and overall patient care will decline due to lack of doctors. Tort reform was a major concern for them financially.
Their other big concern was the USPSTF. It was my oncologist who pointed out that the the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, that recommended mammograms for women under 50 were not beneficial, did not have a single clinical oncologist or breast surgeon on the panel. Her fear is that this panel will be the determiner of patient care and health decisions will be bast on cost effectiveness.
Costs are already going up and have been for a long time. Care has been rationed much longer via financial limitations of patients and health insurance companies denying or restricting treatment overriding doctor decisions. Tort reform is one of those portions of Obamacare that could be addressed if both parties sit down to do their jobs and stop pandering to bases or who lines their pockets.
I applaud the USPSTF's recommendations on mammograms. They had the balls to fight the groups that are pushing for more. Not because it helps women, but because it makes money! Talk to radiologists! The money made on these machines, on the unnecessary biopsies that result, on the groups fundraising for breast cancer, and you should be sick. Women have been sold a huge ball of crap and gratefully shell out the money, and pooh pooh the stress because they were told it was benign. The numbers are huge. The amount of money is even larger. People always revert to, well if it saves a life, but that's not the case. Which is why the guidelines were changed. You find a lump, you get checked out. You have family history, you start earlier. Otherwise you follow the guidelines. I truly, sorely wish all of that well intentioned, donated money went to research to determine the cause of breast cancer and identify which cancers are worrisome and which are not. Not spend the money lining pockets and putting women through the wringer.
1.6 million biopsies are done each year. 90% are benign. That means 1.44 million women were subjected to cost, pain, and stress. That number should be far, far lower. It should invoke outrage just as similar numbers did for prostate cancer. But that cancer involves men and is not a sexy money maker. They tried.