Phillip Morris trolling & Dermatologists rolling in it
So, I am listening to the news and feeling pretty down about what I am hearing but some analyst assures me "It means it works!".
The analyst was referring to the new study, coming out in a leading journal for dermatologists, that cited a six day average waiting period for botox injections vs an average twenty-six day waiting period for people who have a mole that they think is changing and causes them concern. (a possible sign of malignancy). The botox is pricey and generally paid for out-of-pocket. The mole may net only $50.00, the botox from $400.00 on up. So "it works", people who can afford to pay more can get what they want. Is this new? Oh, the piece ended with a dermatologist saying that anyone concerned by a skin condition should "insist" on being seen in a timely manner. What does this really say about our health care system? (I hear a scolding voice "Well, if you had only insisted I would have caught this cancer in time...")
The other piece of news is that Phillip Morris is splitting up so that they can "do the dirty business" (hard selling cigarettes) from overseas and target developing nations "where the new smokers are coming from" while avoiding the law suits that have plagued them state-side. State-side, I guess they will pump up the "Let us help you stop smoking" ads and buy out unrelated companies. What does this say about our society? What do we care about health?
And, no leading presidential candidate I have heard has any ideas that would change the status quo, a few tweaks, a shift here to there, but nothing substantial. Just recently, health care came in number two, just behind Iraq in voter concerns; but I don't hear much new on problem number one either now that I think about it.
I just came home from work, and I have been talking to patients, families and other providers in and out of work. This is a crisis and this is no joke if you are stuck in it without the very best of coverage; even then, unless you have additional assets, beware. Even then...the resources are spread mighty thin...just don't get sick, don't get old or be born to the "wrong" folks, don't need help as a caregiver, do get rich. Pick up a lottery ticket today. Yeah, that is the American way.
I see this perspective from pretty much the same vantage point as you. Working in a doctors office (specialists to boot), I see everyday how the problems with our health care system have made getting the care we all need a very complicated and difficult task.
Years ago, when I was still trying to find a job while living on Welfare, I did some volunteer work for the democratic party. Bill Clinton was in office then and the First Lady's pet project then was Health Care Reform. I can remember writing countless letters on health care reform that other people would sign and send to politicians or newspapers. To bad she has more important issues to chew on now.
I know there are people who abuse the health care system. These are the same people who can come up with the money to buy a new video game system, but can't afford to pay their heating bills. They also buy steaks and junk food with food stamps. I've been witness to all these abuses first hand, but a few bad apples needn't spoil the bushel. The problem with these cases of fraud isn't so much the people who perpetrate them, it's the system itself that is the problem. One of the lessons we learned at the bank where I worked was that given the opportunity, the majority of the population will commit an illegal act. Give a customer too much money when cashing his check, and in all likelihood, that customer won't say a word, but will take the extra money and even rationalize that it is the bank teller's issue, not theirs. If there are ways to abuse the welfare and health care system, people will find a way to do so.
I sometimes have potential patients telling me that they will go to Canada to get their health care needs taken care of and test their luck that there won't be complications. Sometimes it is the only way they can afford to get the care they need.