Personal notes from Dennis Bukantis
An Rx for Our Health Care - Part Three
Mon, Apr 20 2009 09:50
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If Parts one and two didn't get your attention, maybe this final part to this article may.
You've read the really bad news on federal government entitlement programs and that if they continue on this bent, they may be the only thing left for Washington to handle - after all, those numbers are mind boggling and indeed, there would be nothing left, if things don't change. Fulfilling the federal government promises made that they can't keep...there's no money to keep these promises.
So, Mr. Smarty Pants, what is the answer? Well, for sure it isn't up to me, but I have a couple of ideas that I'll run by you for your consideration. If you believe that we should be in a 'free-market' economy as opposed to a mandated socialist economy, then listen up now.
While reviewing the local Denver Magazine, 5280 a couple of months ago, it featured 'Denver's Top Docs'. What surprised me was the number of awards and concurrent ads in the same publication for cosmetic surgery of all types...breast enhancement, facelifts, tummy tucks, you name it's there. One plastic surgeon has an ad in this morning's Denver Post for a Mommy Makeover! Now, generally, these kind of services are NOT paid for by any entitlement program or private insurance under normal circumstances.
But what intrigued me was that if I was a 'cash-paying' customer and in the market for any of these services, it would be a simple matter of shopping for the best doc who could perform my elective surgery! Real free-market opportunity here - and real medical entrepreneurs.
Another interesting fact uncovered with than one discussion with representatives of these offices I was told that prices for cosmetic surgery has gone down - while almost every other kind of surgery has gone UP in cost!
I also asked if a person becomes a patient, could this include email and telephone consultations with the Provider or their office and I learned that YES it did! And not only that, patient's have an electronic medical record at their provider so regardless of who fields the call or email, the physician or assistant has your personal records in front of them.
If these type of medical providers are actually growing, it might indicate that one of the reasons is that they are providing services that mainstream isn't. Without this kind of service and a positive experience for most patients, they'll get antsy and go elsewhere - which is exactly what's happening. Today more than ever, people want the experience.
In 2009, a consumer group called Communicating for America partnered with TelaDoc to provide members with access to a national network of board-certified physicians providing cross-coverage consultations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Additional information is available on this by contacting me directly. Joining this organization is easy. We view this as yet another way for you the consumer to get the most out of your health-care dollar.
Look around your community for boutique or Urgent Care facilities...they're springing up all over. For a cut finger, a child's sore throat, it becomes an efficient and far more cost efficient than running to the Emergency Room for these kinds of services. With this free-market type of practice from physicians who no longer want to bother with the hassles and administration of third-party insurers, they have become very competitive and prices for medical services have decreased!
Another part of the global health-care delivery system are foreign providers in places like Mexico, Canada and even Bangladesh. Sort of like health-care tourism - lots of Americans have elected to have many types of surgeries offshore. In order to attract Americans to these foreign providers, you'll find significantly lower costs for procedures by board-certified physicians, some who have trained in the U.S. and Canada.
Another idea that I have is to require doctors and hospitals to guarantee their work, regardless of private insurance or services provided through entitlement programs. Statistics show that a high percentage of people who have surgery provided through Medicare actually return to the hospital for mop up work...again, costing the system more money to correct a mistake. Also, by requiring hosptials and surgeons to state their 'error-rates' should be a requirement. It just may help tighten up careless work and lower iatric events.
Just like the extended warranty that you may get when you purchase a flat-panel monitor or a new car...what about a Warranty on the work of a doctor or hospital? If something goes wrong, they gotta fix it FREE! Let them worry about how to recover the costs for the mistake... It might also dramatically lower the incidents of medical malpractice cases, put some lawyers out of business and get you back to normal as quick as possible.
Another way for a consumer to consider keeping some kind of private health-care benefits is to consult with us. Nowadays, it's possible to own a new class of insuring products, although limited in scope, they are cost efficient and can provide benefits that many of the higher priced major medical plans cover. In many cases, these 'Defined Benefit' insurance benefits can be purchased without medical underwriting and guaranteed issue. Dennis Bukantis Marketing offers such opportunities for you. Please contact me for a consultation on such a product today.
Well, there you have it - my ideas on the state of this country's health-care system. I believe that it could be a start for fixing what ails this system - and more importantly, returning the delivery of health-care from an unmanageable, nay impossible system that has historically used the classic Ponzi scheme as its foundation. You have a choice. If you believe any of this, let your voice be heard today.
Dennis
You've read the really bad news on federal government entitlement programs and that if they continue on this bent, they may be the only thing left for Washington to handle - after all, those numbers are mind boggling and indeed, there would be nothing left, if things don't change. Fulfilling the federal government promises made that they can't keep...there's no money to keep these promises.
So, Mr. Smarty Pants, what is the answer? Well, for sure it isn't up to me, but I have a couple of ideas that I'll run by you for your consideration. If you believe that we should be in a 'free-market' economy as opposed to a mandated socialist economy, then listen up now.
While reviewing the local Denver Magazine, 5280 a couple of months ago, it featured 'Denver's Top Docs'. What surprised me was the number of awards and concurrent ads in the same publication for cosmetic surgery of all types...breast enhancement, facelifts, tummy tucks, you name it's there. One plastic surgeon has an ad in this morning's Denver Post for a Mommy Makeover! Now, generally, these kind of services are NOT paid for by any entitlement program or private insurance under normal circumstances.
But what intrigued me was that if I was a 'cash-paying' customer and in the market for any of these services, it would be a simple matter of shopping for the best doc who could perform my elective surgery! Real free-market opportunity here - and real medical entrepreneurs.
Another interesting fact uncovered with than one discussion with representatives of these offices I was told that prices for cosmetic surgery has gone down - while almost every other kind of surgery has gone UP in cost!
I also asked if a person becomes a patient, could this include email and telephone consultations with the Provider or their office and I learned that YES it did! And not only that, patient's have an electronic medical record at their provider so regardless of who fields the call or email, the physician or assistant has your personal records in front of them.
If these type of medical providers are actually growing, it might indicate that one of the reasons is that they are providing services that mainstream isn't. Without this kind of service and a positive experience for most patients, they'll get antsy and go elsewhere - which is exactly what's happening. Today more than ever, people want the experience.
In 2009, a consumer group called Communicating for America partnered with TelaDoc to provide members with access to a national network of board-certified physicians providing cross-coverage consultations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Additional information is available on this by contacting me directly. Joining this organization is easy. We view this as yet another way for you the consumer to get the most out of your health-care dollar.
Look around your community for boutique or Urgent Care facilities...they're springing up all over. For a cut finger, a child's sore throat, it becomes an efficient and far more cost efficient than running to the Emergency Room for these kinds of services. With this free-market type of practice from physicians who no longer want to bother with the hassles and administration of third-party insurers, they have become very competitive and prices for medical services have decreased!
Another part of the global health-care delivery system are foreign providers in places like Mexico, Canada and even Bangladesh. Sort of like health-care tourism - lots of Americans have elected to have many types of surgeries offshore. In order to attract Americans to these foreign providers, you'll find significantly lower costs for procedures by board-certified physicians, some who have trained in the U.S. and Canada.
Another idea that I have is to require doctors and hospitals to guarantee their work, regardless of private insurance or services provided through entitlement programs. Statistics show that a high percentage of people who have surgery provided through Medicare actually return to the hospital for mop up work...again, costing the system more money to correct a mistake. Also, by requiring hosptials and surgeons to state their 'error-rates' should be a requirement. It just may help tighten up careless work and lower iatric events.
Just like the extended warranty that you may get when you purchase a flat-panel monitor or a new car...what about a Warranty on the work of a doctor or hospital? If something goes wrong, they gotta fix it FREE! Let them worry about how to recover the costs for the mistake... It might also dramatically lower the incidents of medical malpractice cases, put some lawyers out of business and get you back to normal as quick as possible.
Another way for a consumer to consider keeping some kind of private health-care benefits is to consult with us. Nowadays, it's possible to own a new class of insuring products, although limited in scope, they are cost efficient and can provide benefits that many of the higher priced major medical plans cover. In many cases, these 'Defined Benefit' insurance benefits can be purchased without medical underwriting and guaranteed issue. Dennis Bukantis Marketing offers such opportunities for you. Please contact me for a consultation on such a product today.
Well, there you have it - my ideas on the state of this country's health-care system. I believe that it could be a start for fixing what ails this system - and more importantly, returning the delivery of health-care from an unmanageable, nay impossible system that has historically used the classic Ponzi scheme as its foundation. You have a choice. If you believe any of this, let your voice be heard today.
Dennis
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