A Step to Overcome Health Care Rationing
Jan. 9, 2010
Because of the health care reform that is about to be passed into law, I am focused on what I can do to make sure I have access to good health care when I need it.
Rationing is coming. I want to be at the front of the line.
As a Medicare patient, I'm a low-value patient. I want to increase my value to the physician. Because the law prohibits me from paying him more, I need to reduce my costs to his practice.
One way to do this is to save him time. I rarely go to a physician -- maybe once a year on average. I have not gone for over a year.
If I have a complaint, I type up my symptoms. I want him to be able to read my summary and then focus of what he thinks might be my problem.
I hand him my signed and dated printout. This way, he knows I am trying to save him time. He can skim the sheet and see what the symptoms are. He can keep this sheet for his records, which saves him time.
Even if all you can do to make yourself a better patient is symbolic, do it. You must persuade him that you are a patient who wants to be cooperative. He will then see you first, when today's waiting room visits become even longer.
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