MEDICINE IS A BUSINESS AND EVERYONE IS OUT TO MAKE A PROFIT WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

What happened? How did we go from Marcus Welby, M.D. to Dr. House? From Dr. Kildare, to mediagenic doctor clowns in “muscle” scrubs? From the fun-loving “MASH” doctors whose bottom line was taking great care of our soldiers, to “Nip/Tuck” and cocaine-filled breast implants? What’s next? Doctors in loud suits looking like used car salesmen? What happened?

Let’s look back 20 years when “managed care” came on the scene. Yes, it has been 20 years since managed care came about with the promise of affordable, quality healthcare. Not only is it less affordable than ever, but YOUR out-of-pocket expenses are higher than ever with increased deductibles and higher co-pays.

So where does all that money go? To the healthcare providers, right? To the doctors that are treating YOU? Nope! I am paid roughly half of what I was paid 20 years ago for performing the exact same surgical procedures. Doctors are working twice as hard to stay “even”. However, the bulk of the money goes to the middle men! The CEO of Anthem Blue Cross’ salary is over $13-million! By and large, doctors are relatively smart people and are increasingly turning to alternative ways to make a living. That is why your family practice doctor wants to do to your laser hair removal, your dermatologist wants to do your facelift, and your OBGYN wants to do your mommy-makeover! “Managed care” has forced them to give up the jobs they were medically trained for, and pushed them out into the field of cosmetic surgery where they can make more money hustling YOU for procedures their original medical discipline never trained them to do. The dilemma for you is should you let them perform procedures on YOU?

Reason number 2: the recession! Money is tight. Fewer people can afford health insurance, which translates to less people going to the doctor or putting off non-life threatening procedures like hysterectomies or colonoscopies. People who are worried about their jobs are not out getting nipped and tucked! With a smaller financial pie to work from, some doctors are going to greater lengths to get your business! Desperate times bring out desperate behavior and guess who gets stuck holding the bag…YOU!

And lastly, let’s face it. Another reason things have gotten this way is because of you. You want to believe and trust that the doctors out there want what is best for YOU! The sad reality of things is that MEDICINE IS A BUSINESS where profit margins all too often trump patient needs. Don’t believe me? Think about how often a doctor tried to talk you out of something, rather than into something.