It’s termed “defensive medicine” and doctors admit to practicing medicine in this fashion. The main reason for this style of practice is due to medical malpractice suits.
According to an article in Newsweek , “physicians estimate that 35 percent of diagnostic tests they ordered were to avoid lawsuits, as were 19 percent of hospitalizations, 14 percent of prescriptions, and eight percent of surgeries, which amounts to some “$650 billion in unnecessary care every year.”
The health care reform legislation didn’t address tort reform, so this is still an area that is contributing to the extemely high costs of health care. Overall, the health care reform legislation will do very little to reign in medical costs. In fact, these costs are expected to rise considerably over the next few years. Taking charge of your health care — rather than always assuming the doctor knows best — is very important these days.
As a policyholder, it is important to understand why certain tests are ordered. Unless you want to get saddled with unnecessary bills, make sure your doctor explains why each test, each prescription, and each surgery is needed. Also, if a doctor recommends a hospital stay “just to be safe”, make certain you understand the pros and cons of choosing another course of action. It may just be easier and “safer” for the doctor, however, for you it may be an inconvenience and a HUGE expense. Keep in mind, doctors admitted that almost 20% of hospitalizations were recommended to protect themselves — not their patients!
We do everything we can to help our clients save money and make smart decisions about their health insurance. In addition to becoming “insurance smart”, becoming more informed about your health care will improve both your physical and financial health.
Greg Sanders — Peachtree Insurance Advisors — 678-236-1600 — www.insuranceADV.com
