(This is just one family's story out of many. There is no reason anyone facing a medical challenge should have to worry about how it's going to be paid for. - promoted by boadicea)
This summer has been a surgical merry go round for the family. We discovered our son Billy had two hernias-one very large. These were repaired during a same day surgery procedure. I completed an annual physical in the spring that recorded a high PSA. After a couple of ultrasounds, exams and a biopsy and a confirmation of prostrate cancer I underwent a robotic radical prosectomy a week ago. Billy is doing great and I am recovering-older folks need a bit more time. I did some checking about medical costs and figure these together, cost over $60K. We paid nothing. I am a retired military person, Billy's surgery was performed at Brook Army Medical Center and mine was done at Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center. Our family premium for Tricare insurance is $460.00 per year.
There is no reason every citizen couldn't enjoy this kind of care. The excess cost in current health care is gigantic. In the public systems of Medicare, Medicaid, U.S. Health Service, DOD, CHIP etc. millions could be saved by consolidating the financial, admission, pharmacy and other departments. If preexisting conditions are covered in the private sector the huge costs of medical review/denial would be eliminated. Insurance companies spend millions to say NO!
A large number of medical centers, hospitals and health clinics were mothballed due to BRAC. These scores of building could be brought back to service vastly cheaper than constructing new treatment centers. There are scores of ways to cut costs from the system. When stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri we enjoyed a mobile treatment team. Medical personnel would drive through neighborhoods looking for signs in windows that indicated a visit was needed. Strep throat was checked, fevers treated without a family having to visit a treatment center. Medicine was picked up by the family at the pharmacy.
In a recent Harvard study they estimated 45,000 Americans die each year due to a lack of medical care. This is criminal. I am grateful for Tricare and its benefits and I would gladly pay increased premiums and co-pays to provide medical treatment to all citizens.
When you attend Town Hall Meetings or blog pound them with facts. A great deal of health care can be provided in clinics. Treatment such as renal dialysis, blood/urine tests, orthopedics and others can be outpatient clinic based. It costs $300.00 per square foot to construct a new hospital compared to $140.00 per square foot for clinics. It will always be true to think of rural medicine differently. Travel will always be a part of rural care.
I have worked in the medical world since the 1970's: 20 years in the Army and now for the University Hospital System in San Antonio. We have 2 dozen associated buildings outside the hospital and are planning "green construction" (LEED) right now. We are moving many services to neighborhood clinics.
As citizens we don't expect our Defense Department to be revenue neutral neither should Health Care. We must think of Health Care the same as we do Defense. That is, both are mandatory if we are to sustain our nation. |
