Comments on: A Tale of Two Health Care Systems http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/ ...politics, pictures, pugs and all that jazz Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:24:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Karoli http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-51637 Karoli Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:01:33 +0000 http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/#comment-51637 Kyle, you can show me where the insurer will not pay for this most recent stay? Also...it appears that he is taking prednisone (or has), which is nasty, badass stuff. Not in a mind-altering way, but it is an steroidal anti-inflammatory medication that causes a ton of nasty side effects. (Prednisone is what exacerbated and exposed Sticks' diabetes). By his own admission, he was also taking some sort of medication for his back -- maybe only the prednisone, possibly other meds. The point is simply this: The treatment he received is not accessible or available to many others, who actually might find themselves needing it. Kyle, you can show me where the insurer will not pay for this most recent stay? Also…it appears that he is taking prednisone (or has), which is nasty, badass stuff. Not in a mind-altering way, but it is an steroidal anti-inflammatory medication that causes a ton of nasty side effects. (Prednisone is what exacerbated and exposed Sticks' diabetes). By his own admission, he was also taking some sort of medication for his back — maybe only the prednisone, possibly other meds. The point is simply this: The treatment he received is not accessible or available to many others, who actually might find themselves needing it.

]]> By: Summerm http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-51601 Summerm Sat, 02 Jan 2010 11:55:55 +0000 http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/#comment-51601 When mine had a real, honest, fucking heart attack he made do without a trip to the hospital because time off work was too much and insurance hadn't kicked in yet. Rush as a chest pain and gets a private room and a billion tests. <br><br>Oh wait, I forget. We're poor so it's not like we're human beings worth anything as far as Rush and his cronies are concerned. Blah. When mine had a real, honest, fucking heart attack he made do without a trip to the hospital because time off work was too much and insurance hadn't kicked in yet. Rush as a chest pain and gets a private room and a billion tests.

Oh wait, I forget. We're poor so it's not like we're human beings worth anything as far as Rush and his cronies are concerned. Blah.

]]> By: Karoli http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-51558 Karoli Sat, 02 Jan 2010 05:01:33 +0000 http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/#comment-51558 Kyle, you can show me where the insurer will not pay for this most recent stay? Also...it appears that he is taking prednisone (or has), which is nasty, badass stuff. Not in a mind-altering way, but it is an steroidal anti-inflammatory medication that causes a ton of nasty side effects. (Prednisone is what exacerbated and exposed Sticks' diabetes). By his own admission, he was also taking some sort of medication for his back -- maybe only the prednisone, possibly other meds. The point is simply this: The treatment he received is not accessible or available to many others, who actually might find themselves needing it. Kyle, you can show me where the insurer will not pay for this most recent stay? Also…it appears that he is taking prednisone (or has), which is nasty, badass stuff. Not in a mind-altering way, but it is an steroidal anti-inflammatory medication that causes a ton of nasty side effects. (Prednisone is what exacerbated and exposed Sticks' diabetes). By his own admission, he was also taking some sort of medication for his back — maybe only the prednisone, possibly other meds. The point is simply this: The treatment he received is not accessible or available to many others, who actually might find themselves needing it.

]]> By: Summerm http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-51556 Summerm Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:55:55 +0000 http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/#comment-51556 When mine had a real, honest, fucking heart attack he made do without a trip to the hospital because time off work was too much and insurance hadn't kicked in yet. Rush as a chest pain and gets a private room and a billion tests. <br><br>Oh wait, I forget. We're poor so it's not like we're human beings worth anything as far as Rush and his cronies are concerned. Blah. When mine had a real, honest, fucking heart attack he made do without a trip to the hospital because time off work was too much and insurance hadn't kicked in yet. Rush as a chest pain and gets a private room and a billion tests.

Oh wait, I forget. We're poor so it's not like we're human beings worth anything as far as Rush and his cronies are concerned. Blah.

]]> By: Karoli http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-51607 Karoli Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:01:33 +0000 http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/#comment-51607 Kyle, you can show me where the insurer will not pay for this most recent stay? Also...it appears that he is taking prednisone (or has), which is nasty, badass stuff. Not in a mind-altering way, but it is an steroidal anti-inflammatory medication that causes a ton of nasty side effects. (Prednisone is what exacerbated and exposed Sticks' diabetes). By his own admission, he was also taking some sort of medication for his back -- maybe only the prednisone, possibly other meds. The point is simply this: The treatment he received is not accessible or available to many others, who actually might find themselves needing it. Kyle, you can show me where the insurer will not pay for this most recent stay? Also…it appears that he is taking prednisone (or has), which is nasty, badass stuff. Not in a mind-altering way, but it is an steroidal anti-inflammatory medication that causes a ton of nasty side effects. (Prednisone is what exacerbated and exposed Sticks' diabetes). By his own admission, he was also taking some sort of medication for his back — maybe only the prednisone, possibly other meds. The point is simply this: The treatment he received is not accessible or available to many others, who actually might find themselves needing it.

]]> By: Kyle Sellers http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-51555 Kyle Sellers Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:26:58 +0000 http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/#comment-51555 His insurer didn't pay for them, that's the point.<br><br>And for a guy who has recently begun eating healthy and working out, who only smokes cigars and won't even take a Tylenol because he battled a prescription drug addiction, I think he has taken steps that many Americans only wish they would take. And it's none of the government's business anyways. His insurer didn't pay for them, that's the point.

And for a guy who has recently begun eating healthy and working out, who only smokes cigars and won't even take a Tylenol because he battled a prescription drug addiction, I think he has taken steps that many Americans only wish they would take. And it's none of the government's business anyways.

]]> By: Karoli http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-51554 Karoli Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:11:58 +0000 http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/#comment-51554 I'm not saying he shouldn't have been allowed to pay for them. I just don't think his insurer should pay for them when they were likely not really indicated. The battery of 'extensive tests' he received was for him to heave a sigh of relief, not medical confirmation. If he wants to pay, let him pay. But adding that charge to the insurance pool and forcing everyone else to pay is something else entirely. <br><br>Now we come to the guts of 'outcomes-based' medicine, and why it will be so hard to shift paradigms (and mindsets). Via medical dramas, pharma ads, and a plethora of contradictory 'studies', people have been convinced they "need" health care in the form of tests, medications and procedures that it's likely they really don't need.<br><br>Heart disease is a great example. Weight loss, giving up the cigars, learning to live a less bombastic life would all be better preventive measures for Rush to avoid heart disease than 2 days in the hospital and a plethora of tests. Dollars to donuts, he's gone off thinking he can live just the way he is now with no modifications since all those expensive tests prove he's got 'no blockage'. I'm not saying he shouldn't have been allowed to pay for them. I just don't think his insurer should pay for them when they were likely not really indicated. The battery of 'extensive tests' he received was for him to heave a sigh of relief, not medical confirmation. If he wants to pay, let him pay. But adding that charge to the insurance pool and forcing everyone else to pay is something else entirely.

Now we come to the guts of 'outcomes-based' medicine, and why it will be so hard to shift paradigms (and mindsets). Via medical dramas, pharma ads, and a plethora of contradictory 'studies', people have been convinced they “need” health care in the form of tests, medications and procedures that it's likely they really don't need.

Heart disease is a great example. Weight loss, giving up the cigars, learning to live a less bombastic life would all be better preventive measures for Rush to avoid heart disease than 2 days in the hospital and a plethora of tests. Dollars to donuts, he's gone off thinking he can live just the way he is now with no modifications since all those expensive tests prove he's got 'no blockage'.

]]> By: Kyle Sellers http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-51606 Kyle Sellers Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:26:58 +0000 http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/#comment-51606 His insurer didn't pay for them, that's the point.<br><br>And for a guy who has recently begun eating healthy and working out, who only smokes cigars and won't even take a Tylenol because he battled a prescription drug addiction, I think he has taken steps that many Americans only wish they would take. And it's none of the government's business anyways. His insurer didn't pay for them, that's the point.

And for a guy who has recently begun eating healthy and working out, who only smokes cigars and won't even take a Tylenol because he battled a prescription drug addiction, I think he has taken steps that many Americans only wish they would take. And it's none of the government's business anyways.

]]> By: Karoli http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-51605 Karoli Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:11:58 +0000 http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/#comment-51605 I'm not saying he shouldn't have been allowed to pay for them. I just don't think his insurer should pay for them when they were likely not really indicated. The battery of 'extensive tests' he received was for him to heave a sigh of relief, not medical confirmation. If he wants to pay, let him pay. But adding that charge to the insurance pool and forcing everyone else to pay is something else entirely. <br><br>Now we come to the guts of 'outcomes-based' medicine, and why it will be so hard to shift paradigms (and mindsets). Via medical dramas, pharma ads, and a plethora of contradictory 'studies', people have been convinced they "need" health care in the form of tests, medications and procedures that it's likely they really don't need.<br><br>Heart disease is a great example. Weight loss, giving up the cigars, learning to live a less bombastic life would all be better preventive measures for Rush to avoid heart disease than 2 days in the hospital and a plethora of tests. Dollars to donuts, he's gone off thinking he can live just the way he is now with no modifications since all those expensive tests prove he's got 'no blockage'. It was obvious to me that he's concerned about heart disease, yet seems unwilling to take hold of his own health and manage it. As long as the machines tell him he's fine, he'll keep thinking he's fine. I'm not saying he shouldn't have been allowed to pay for them. I just don't think his insurer should pay for them when they were likely not really indicated. The battery of 'extensive tests' he received was for him to heave a sigh of relief, not medical confirmation. If he wants to pay, let him pay. But adding that charge to the insurance pool and forcing everyone else to pay is something else entirely.

Now we come to the guts of 'outcomes-based' medicine, and why it will be so hard to shift paradigms (and mindsets). Via medical dramas, pharma ads, and a plethora of contradictory 'studies', people have been convinced they “need” health care in the form of tests, medications and procedures that it's likely they really don't need.

Heart disease is a great example. Weight loss, giving up the cigars, learning to live a less bombastic life would all be better preventive measures for Rush to avoid heart disease than 2 days in the hospital and a plethora of tests. Dollars to donuts, he's gone off thinking he can live just the way he is now with no modifications since all those expensive tests prove he's got 'no blockage'. It was obvious to me that he's concerned about heart disease, yet seems unwilling to take hold of his own health and manage it. As long as the machines tell him he's fine, he'll keep thinking he's fine.

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-51546 uberVU - social comments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:07:34 +0000 http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2010/01/01/a-tale-of-two-health-care-systems/#comment-51546 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by Karoli: RT @karoli A Tale of Two Health Care Systems http://bit.ly/8hiM0c... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by Karoli: RT @karoli A Tale of Two Health Care Systems http://bit.ly/8hiM0c...

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