I’m not surpirised that Obmam is getting a test Medicare won’t pay for. That’s the thing about health care rationing. It rarely inconveniences the rich and the powerful.
I read that Op Ed about virtual colonoscopy in the WSJ. Quite simply, the editorial is really an advocacy advertisement from a doctor who has a multimillion dollar investment in CT equipment. I happen to think is unethical for a doctor to advocate for a procedure where he has a significant financial interest. You want to cut down health care costs, don’t allow doctors to promote treatments or procedures in which they have significant financial investments. This is much worse the old practice of fee splitting where doctors used to pay for referrals.
As to this fabricated outrage that Obama received a procedure that isn’t reimbursed under Medicare. The reality is that virtual colonoscopy misses many small precancerous polyps that an optical colonoscopy picks up. In addition, virtual colonoscopy has a very high false positive rate, and there’s always the not insignificant issue of additional radiation cancer risk. As I understand, the recommendations are that virtual colonoscopy is appropriate for screening patients at low risk for colon cancer. Someone 48 years old is a low risk; someone 65 or older is a much higher risk.
The last article is the most interesting to me. Someone recently said to me that when more Americans are receiving handouts than are paying for them, you have no incentive for reforming the system. It’s a tipping point, after which there is no return.
artk is correct in saying that virtual colonoscopy is recommended for low risk patients, but that refers to those without a history of polyps, family history of colon cancer or current symptoms (bleeding) He is incorrect in stating that age over 65 is places people in a “high risk” group. He is also incorrect regarding the sensitivity of virtual colonoscopy. Large studies have shown conventional colonoscopy missed as many polyps as virtual colonoscopy. It is not surprising, however, that gastroenterologists (who make a living by performing conventional colonoscopy) continue to advocate denying coverage for CT colonoscopy.
I’m not surpirised that Obmam is getting a test Medicare won’t pay for. That’s the thing about health care rationing. It rarely inconveniences the rich and the powerful.
Too bad Obama’s doctor didn’t tell him to avoid stress and take some time off from work. Then maybe all the rest of us could rest easier.
I read that Op Ed about virtual colonoscopy in the WSJ. Quite simply, the editorial is really an advocacy advertisement from a doctor who has a multimillion dollar investment in CT equipment. I happen to think is unethical for a doctor to advocate for a procedure where he has a significant financial interest. You want to cut down health care costs, don’t allow doctors to promote treatments or procedures in which they have significant financial investments. This is much worse the old practice of fee splitting where doctors used to pay for referrals.
As to this fabricated outrage that Obama received a procedure that isn’t reimbursed under Medicare. The reality is that virtual colonoscopy misses many small precancerous polyps that an optical colonoscopy picks up. In addition, virtual colonoscopy has a very high false positive rate, and there’s always the not insignificant issue of additional radiation cancer risk. As I understand, the recommendations are that virtual colonoscopy is appropriate for screening patients at low risk for colon cancer. Someone 48 years old is a low risk; someone 65 or older is a much higher risk.
Why do I suspect that When Obama is 65 he will still be getting the virtual, while everyone else is getting rear-ended — literally and figuratively.
Hard to believe that someone who proposes to cut medical costs by encouraging healthier lifestyles has some pretty unhealthy habits of his own.
Agree with larry. What’s wrong with this picture?
The last article is the most interesting to me. Someone recently said to me that when more Americans are receiving handouts than are paying for them, you have no incentive for reforming the system. It’s a tipping point, after which there is no return.
artk is correct in saying that virtual colonoscopy is recommended for low risk patients, but that refers to those without a history of polyps, family history of colon cancer or current symptoms (bleeding) He is incorrect in stating that age over 65 is places people in a “high risk” group. He is also incorrect regarding the sensitivity of virtual colonoscopy. Large studies have shown conventional colonoscopy missed as many polyps as virtual colonoscopy. It is not surprising, however, that gastroenterologists (who make a living by performing conventional colonoscopy) continue to advocate denying coverage for CT colonoscopy.