Financial Burdens and Medicine
With the economy struggling, we are seeing more and more individuals ignoring their healthcare or choosing lower cost alternatives.
Many are choosing to forego mammograms and other routine screenings to save money. Pinching pennies by scrimping on preventive care is becoming more common. This is risky behavior for patients and can place physicians in a legal bind as well. Legal, moral, and economic hazards abound in this environment. What if a patient doesn’t fill her prescription, gets sicker, and blames you? As the economy worsens, more patients will choose to call in or e-mail for scripts and treatment and not come in to the office. Physicians cannot be certain about a diagnosis over the phone or on an email and are placed at a higher risk.
There are some things physicians can do and the suggestions are as follows:
Talk money. Don’t be afraid to explain why certain choices may cost more. It may be drugs or types of testing and patients may not understand the reasoning. If a patient is already sitting there in the exam room planning to cut those pills you just prescribed in half to save money, it would help if you knew that so you can suggest alternatives. You may need to convince patients that paying for treatment is worth the money and may save them in the long run.
Tighten up recall and reminder processes. Patients routinely don’t show up for appointments and this will get more frequent with the economy. Better reminder policies could help. Although it is ultimately the patient’s responsibility, physicians are frequently sued for lack of follow-up.
Set restrictions on virtual care. Expect more calls or e-mails from existing patients, and be prepared with a standard policy that covers the reasons folks will need to make an appointment to see you. Current advise is to limit phone or Web-based advice to patients you’ve already seen in your office and not for new symptoms.
The reality is that in this economic climate, patient's finances will affect the decisions they make and physicians should assist them in making better informed ones.
Many are choosing to forego mammograms and other routine screenings to save money. Pinching pennies by scrimping on preventive care is becoming more common. This is risky behavior for patients and can place physicians in a legal bind as well. Legal, moral, and economic hazards abound in this environment. What if a patient doesn’t fill her prescription, gets sicker, and blames you? As the economy worsens, more patients will choose to call in or e-mail for scripts and treatment and not come in to the office. Physicians cannot be certain about a diagnosis over the phone or on an email and are placed at a higher risk.
There are some things physicians can do and the suggestions are as follows:
Talk money. Don’t be afraid to explain why certain choices may cost more. It may be drugs or types of testing and patients may not understand the reasoning. If a patient is already sitting there in the exam room planning to cut those pills you just prescribed in half to save money, it would help if you knew that so you can suggest alternatives. You may need to convince patients that paying for treatment is worth the money and may save them in the long run.
Tighten up recall and reminder processes. Patients routinely don’t show up for appointments and this will get more frequent with the economy. Better reminder policies could help. Although it is ultimately the patient’s responsibility, physicians are frequently sued for lack of follow-up.
Set restrictions on virtual care. Expect more calls or e-mails from existing patients, and be prepared with a standard policy that covers the reasons folks will need to make an appointment to see you. Current advise is to limit phone or Web-based advice to patients you’ve already seen in your office and not for new symptoms.
The reality is that in this economic climate, patient's finances will affect the decisions they make and physicians should assist them in making better informed ones.
Labels: financial
posted by Anonymous at 5:45 AM
2 Comments:
And physicians should do something to help control and bring down the price we pay for healthcare.
I am in debt $10k to FMH, and a slew of doctors, one of which charged me $400 for a "consult" in the hospital which consisted of about 30 second in the room with me, until his cell phone rang, and his friend "bob" wanted to go to lunch, so he walked out with out answering the questions at hand.
We can pay cash and get a "discount", or use the hospitals "MAP" card and get charged 16% APR.
Bills from radiologists, lab tests, surgeons, pharmacy, etc..
All stemming from a slight oopsie during a minor procedure....
Scarey part is, I have good insurance
This is why we need single payer health care
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