Cancer care needs a new prescription

[JC145]

"The cancer care delivery system is broken. It has reached the point where medical practices cannot stay in business and patients often cannot afford necessary treatments."

This is the first line of an article written by Robert J. Fein in a New Jersey newspaper.  The article is very straight forward and accurate.  Click on the link below to read the whole article.

http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2009/06/cancer_care_needs_a_new_prescr.html

Judy (at the request of Jane65)

[jane65]

Hi Teresa,
I  understand what you are saying, my husband and I have been on Medicare for a couple of years now, and we've never been denied any test or treatment our doctors have felt necessary for our care.
The new socialized medicine our gov.t leaders feel is best for us all, worries us very much. Who will make the decisions for what we should get, or are too old, or sick to benefit from, if it is deemed too costly?
Chemo treatments, both the drug and administration of treatments, are extremely costly and I want my doctor deciding what he feel is necessary for me, not some pencil pusher.
I agree that over testing, or overlapping of tests by different doctors we each see, is a problem, and should not be done, but if that can be controlled it would save a huge bundle in costs.
I also resent paying for medical care of people who are not American citizens, and are here illegally. Many need cancer care and treatments and chemo, and should be treated in their countries, not burden our hospitals and doctors and have us paying for it.
There are Americans with cancer, some with OVCA who are struggling to pay for their own treatments.

[Teresa222]

Perhaps the group of doctor's that treat cancer at the clinic I use are an exception to today's mainstream doctors.  I have discussed this topic with one of the top doctor's there and he is an advocate for socialized medicine. He feels that if the government has MORE involvement with prescription drugs and the overall care of patients, the costs will go down. I do not agree.  Because I know that mismanagement will usurp the additional monies collected by increasing taxes on the Americans who actually pay for the programs. It's all very frightening to me. Note: I pay $1800 a month for private insurance coverage.  I would rather pay this and have access to what I need when I need it. Unfortunately, I will lose private insurance in about a year because I will qualify for Medicare. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for Medicare.  But, I am worried that they will continue to cut services in order to remain afloat. I will be stuck relying on a system that is being revised continuosly so that the services are available for "all."

[Teresa222]

Usually, when doctors start complaining about the cost of drugs, they are pushing for socialized medicine.  As if that is the only way to control the costs.

All of it scares the heck outta me too!
Teresa

[jane65]

If you read the complete article, you'll see that the Dr. is NOT in favor of socialized medicine. Quite the contrary he says " Community oncologists treat 84% of all cancer patients. Hospitals could not handle that increase in volume. Patients' treatment would be delayed. For cancer patients, that can have fatal consequences."

"As we reform health care, we must address the plight of cancer patients. Without adequate coverage for cancer care, the quality of care will deteriorate. I can envision a day when all cancer patients will receive treatment in a hospital clinic setting, suffering delays in treatment, increased cost and possibly compromised outcomes."

"Over the past 2-3 years, Medicare has consistently lowered reimbursement for chemo drugs and administration to oncologists. Frequently we are reimbursed at less than the acquisition cost for these expensive drugs."

Obviously I have not written the entire article, but he talks about the expense of administering chemo drugs, or the care and treatment to cancer patient, and that over the years, the payments to physicians has declined.

I am also aware of the problems with Canada's health care system as well as England's. Delay in treatment, decisions on who gets care or tests, etc. and I don't understand why we want to dump our excellent health care, for one that will not be the best in the world, I want to always be able to get the treatment and care my doctor feels I need, when I need it. The doled out system scares the heck out of me.
Jane

[JC145]

I do not know the intent of this article.  It was written by an M.D. known to Jane65.  

I do know that my former employer (oncologist) and good friend felt the same way years ago and from working with oncologists and is NOT for socialized medicine.   I know for a fact that Medicare has cut drug reimbursement every year .. some drugs are given in hospitals because small oncology groups cannot afford to give them in their office.  I emailed this to my old boss and asked if he wrote it under a pen name!  The article speaks the truth about how things are.

Cancer is about the only disease I can think of with expensive drugs GIVEN in an office setting where the MD bears the cost ... unlike an expensive pill that the patient picks up at the pharmacy.   The drugs cost $$$$ to develop and many drugs fail ... which then pushes up the price for a drug that actually makes it past trials.  

I have a lot of family in Canada.   I am aware of socialized medicine.  It is NOT the answer.  The government can't cover Medicare .. how can it cover the whole United States.  

[Teresa222]

This article is written to scare people into pushing for socialized medicine. If you read between the lines, you will get that message.  We're in for many more "articles" and tv news programs in an attempt to get all of us thinking along the same lines. And that is:
"The GOVERNMENT will save us! Yipeee hoooray!"  But, I say, "who will pay for it?" or How will it get paid for? It's all very scary to be going on while WE have cancers that will need very expensive treatments for us to remain alive. I recommend we listen closely and let our voices be heard when the time is right. Now, I will get off my soapbox my friends.
Teresa