I recently wrote some suggestions to President Obama in regards to his Health Care Reform. It won't be published anywhere, so I wanted to post the same suggestions here to see what everyone thinks. Maybe these policies are already in place, maybe they've already been suggested, but I wanted to contribute some ideas if I may.
#1. Have all Hospitals and Doctor's across the Nation charge the same price for the procedures they perform. Ex. If you are having an appendectomy in Maine or Pa, then it costs the same as it would in Washington or Oregon. The hospital and doctor or surgeon gets a flat amount, no higher, no lower.
#2. When a procedure is done in a Hospital, there should be a protocol that is followed. If you have a hysterectomy, for example, you are allowed 2 days in the hospital, cardiac surgery 4 days, etc. There should also be a list of covered medications for pain, infection...and this is followed and unless there are complications, otherwise there are no exceptions.
#3. Limit the doctor's ability to endlesslyy write refills for narcotics, at least limit the number of times it can be refilled with the insurance co-pay. The drug addiction problem is rampant in the US. These addicts go to the ER's to obtain more narcotics ultimately costing hospitals hundreds of dollars and the patient only ends up paying a small co-pay of $3.00-$4.00.
#4. Stop the frivolous suing in court for medical procedures. If the patient goes under the knife of a surgeon, he has most likely signed a consent prior to this surgery that explains the risks. If something happens to this patient, unless it is total negligence on the doctor's part, the patient should not be allowed to sue. He signed a paper and had the risks explained to him.
#5. Anyone on Medical Assistance should have to take a drug test, monthly and randomly. These recipients sell their food stamps and cash assistance to buy drugs. Anyone can use the access card, even if it doesn't belong to you, all you have to do is know the recipients pin number. Grocery stores don't ask you for ID.
#6. If you are layed off, quit or even fired, you should have the option to keep the insurance provided to you by your employer. You should be covered until you find other employment or for an extended period of time. Of course there would have to be a time limit especially if you're fired.
#7. We have Medical Assistance for low income people that cannot afford health care. They are literally handed medical coverage and medicines on a silver platter. I understand they have no income, but they just get too much for free. The welfare system is SO abused it is almost criminal. I am a Home Health nurse. I am in people's homes every day. I have been in homes with 3 or 4 generations under one roof and they ALL receive welfare, so there might be $600-$800 per month just in food stamps! Now a family of 4 or 5 wouldn't need that much in food stamps. If you live with other people on welfare, each person should get less food. Compensate them in other ways like more cash assistance, and please allow them to buy soap and laundry detergent!
#8. Revamp the Wic Program. WIC gives Moms and young children so much food that they can't use it all and they actually give it to other people in their families. Limit actual foods that the WIC program is giving out, decrease the amounts the recipient gets or lower the amount of time the Mom or child receives it.
#9. Adopt a healthcare system like Canada, benefiting everyone regardless of income or employment status. Even if we didn't have an absolute free system like theirs, it could be based on your income tax and you would pay a minimal fee depending on what income you did have, welfare recipients included.
#10. Lower the cost of medications; prescription and over the counter meds. I have a patient that is on Lovenox, an anticoagulant used to prevent the formation of blood clots. All drug stores have different prices but the average for 30 prefilled syringes is $539. That's for a month, maybe less. If you don't have insurance, that would be impossible for most people.
#11. Stop advertising meds on TV. This is promoting more costs because people become convinced that they need this certain medication and will keep going to doctor's until someone prescribes it.
#12. Promote suboxone, a drug given to drug addicts, similar to methadone but less addictive. Currently there are waiting lists to be in this program. They should hand it out like fluoride tablets.
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