How many just watched CBS Evening news

[kmil1999]

How many just watched CBS Evening news and was wondering what the health report would do to diagnosing MS?

The online link: linkhttp://www.cbsnews.com/sections/eveningnews/main3420.shtml?tag=hdr;snav  It is a very brief highlight of what was said.

The  nuts and bolts of the report said that too many CT's and MRI's were done and I think they said 35% were unneccesary.  

I had two differenent reactions:  1. They were saying that tests were ordered too quickly and docs should be able to watch and dx without having to have test right away  (do careful H&P).  My thought was, maybe this would help all the Neurologists that has to see so many spots in the right places before they will dx MS even when they say that they see it.  But the state of our health care now, I'm not sure our docs have the time because of insurance or if they actually can.  (not sure how they are taught in school)

2 But then they also stated that there is a bill in Congress for medicare to decrease how much they reimburse for scanning, so less were ordered.  I know they don't pay nearly what a hosp. charges now and I still want my own physician, the one that actually sees me to be in charge!  I do not want insurance or medicare being able to dictate what my doc can and can't do.  

I could continue to rant, but will stop.  The report just kind of peeked my interest.  I know that our health care system is in crisis  I don't know what the answers are.  I believe everyone should be covered, but I don't think that government health care is the answer.  Especially seeing all the trouble that those who live in in those health care systems have in diagnosing MS here.  

Hope everyone is doing well!
And that's my 2cents for today!
Karen

[kmil1999]

Thanks so much Alex.  I am going to check the site out.  I agree with you.  That insurance companies are the ones in charge too  

However, I think our elected officials are somewhat corrupt.  Even if they are not that way when they get elected, the system drags them in.  

[HVAC]

Since my diagnosis I work on health care reform with the league of women voters, the MS Society, and other organizations. I read everything on health care reform. I even watch the House meetings on CSPAN. The insurance industry owns the government and the American people.

If the Health Insurance industry is left unchecked everyone will find themselves where my family is. We have insurance but can only have the insurance I had when I was diagnosed. All the out of pocket costs doubled at the beginning of the fiscal year. I can't go to the Doctor unless I am desperate. ERs and hospital forget it. Steroids forget it. I cut or skip medications for other chronic illnesses. Some go untreated. I live in pain.


The Health Insurance Companies call the tune and we Americans dance!

  comparing health care www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08282009/profile2.html

Switzerland has the best model. Its all private insurance but highly regulated.

Alex

[kmil1999]

Thanks so much for replying!  I have to admit, I am not real savvy on the actual rules etc. on other health care systems, but I am trying to learn.

"Those other systems" I was referring to was I think overseas.  I just remember a few people saying that they had to pay out of pocket to go to a different doctor that wasn't in the system to try and get answers.  I think they were out of what is considered the age to be dx with MS, so not sure if that is the issue or not.

Our health care sytem here is broken.  I can still get whatever I need, but I worry for those that can't. And I sure don't know how to fix it.  Our elected officals have great health care!  I think if they had to go on medicare instead of having their own, they would be able to find a way to fix it fast!

My main concern with the newscast was with  the bill in Congress was trying to lower the reimbursement amount in order to get facilities to reduce the amount they do.  Most doctors aren't going to order unneccesary tests.

Does anyone now of a site that may compare all the different healthcare systems in the world without a bias?  I would love to learn more!

Thanks all,
Karen

[doublevision1]

I've been trying to keep up with all the discussion on US health care but unfortunately I didn't happen to catch that story, and as an outsider I obviously don't know if 'government health care' is the answer to the US woes either.  
As a patient receiving medical care within a primarily publicly-funded, single-payer system (if that's what is meant by the term government health care), I see the GP of my choice, get referrals from her to the specialists I want to see, have had numerous MRIs prior to and post-diagnosis for which I waited no longer than several weeks but often got within a week of referral; and none of this is controlled by the government or god forbid an insurance company.
I'm not sure it's true that those receiving care in 'those health care systems' have any more trouble being diagnosed with MS than in the US.  There seem to be an awful of Americans just as there are so many others here from all over, who sadly are suffering in limbo far too long.  I think the reasons for that are complex and not always easily understood.
I realize I am lucky to have been diagnosed really within a matter of weeks of my first significant attack.  I think things would have been the same had I lived in the U.S. (assuming I had insurance and that my insurance company didn't find a loophole to get out of covering me, that is), as my history and constellation of symptoms made it relatively easy for the docs to identify MS.  However had I not been so lucky, I have no doubts about my physicians' tenacity and willingness to order tests, make referrals, and keep at it until the mystery was solved.  And fortunately, without any HMO as gatekeeper dictating what tests will and won't be covered, which facilities I may and may not be seen at, whether the radiologist may use gadolinium or not, etc. etc. etc.
Really not trying to be on a soapbox here, just trying to shed a little light.

[jensequitur]

There's a city in Texas called Macallen (sp?) that is legendary for the number of MRI scans, CT scans, and other unnecessary tests that it has for its patients.  I think that's what it's trying to address.