jumping off one hamster wheel

[Guest guest]

i'm glad gordon has come to the conclusion that health insurance, in

it's current form, with all kinds of policies and procedures to be

followed, failure of which results in financial flogging of doctors,

and of patients by their doctor as the instrument of the insurance

companies, is in fact the enemy; any administrative burden which

prevents patients from receiving care is a barrier we must fight to

bring down.

megan lewis in colorado, and other similar models is the way to go for

any small practice currently. it alleviates the administrative burden

from the doctor and allows the chance for practice financial

viability. nonetheless it is only a bridging formula, because the

administrative burden continues to weigh on the patient, and only to

be given up at some financial cost to them. in addition, it does not

address the inherent conflict between prevention and cost savings, if

the cost for that prevention comes directly out of the patient's

pocket. there are too many other competing interests for that money,

especially in today's economy.

we can't forget that patients are our natural allies, and that any

formula for effective care must rely on family and other primary care

doctors, prevention, patient education and empowerment.

do we get it? do obama and daschle understand this? does anybody?

LL