cost of specialists, Cheney

[Guest guest]

Bob, I heartily second what you said in your post:

" So when we have, for example, a Cheney, a , a Lapp, or a Bell --

anyone willing to become an expert on this DD and maintain a high standard of

treatment while being ridiculed by their peers (and accused of greed by the very

people they are trying to help) -- these guys should be paid, and paid well. "

" If you want to rail against the system, focus on insurance companies, the SSA,

Medicare/Medicaid, employer disability plans and managed health care

boondoggles. These are the things that keep hurting people who cannot afford

health care from having the resources to pay the " good guys " for their services.

But let these " good guys " earn the respect and reward that they deserve for

doing the right thing by PWCs and similar patients. They are just about the

only allies PWCs have!! "

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Yes, Cheney is expensive - $480 an hour, I believe. From what I've heard from

many other patients, that's not out of line for a top specialist in any field.

Many charge more - up to $800 an hour. Many of our support group members spend

much more a year than I do as they are shuffled from one doctor to another, one

specialist to another locally. And they end up with far fewer answers, fewer

treatment options, and much less help with disability issues. At least ten

people in our support group have been to see Cheney, many for a one-time visit

to get a thorough evaluation, a treatment plan, and documentation to get on

SSDI. They all consider it money very well spent.

Fortunately I have good insurance, and I usually receive about 75% reimbursement

on lab work and about 40% to 50% reimbursement on the doctor time. (Yes,

Cheney's clinic accepts insurance and files it for you.)

Two comments on Cheney: First, I suspect that the fact that he sees just two,

maybe three patients a day impacts his practice and what he needs to charge to

keep things afloat. (Three patients a day is a 14-hour day for him and some

staff.) Secondly, he is not in this for the money. With his brilliant mind

(PhD in Physics before med school) there were many other career paths to follow

to get rich without all the incredible hassle that has come with being

associated with CFIDS. He puts a great deal of his own money into CFIDS

research. He did not request an honorarium when he came and spoke to our group,

and when I tried to give him the $700 donated as a " thank you " , he wouldn't

accept it - he turned around and donated it to our support group!!

I know it's frustrating that a lot of folks don't have access to Cheney and

other specailists because of the money and distance, but they need and deserve

what they are paid. Let's focus our energies and frustrations on effecting

change at the level of government research and physician education so that

everyone can have access to informed doctors.

Carol