“From duplicate blood tests to unnecessary knee replacements, millions of Americans undergo screenings, scans and treatments that offer little or no benefit every year. Doctors have estimated that 21 percent of medical care is unnecessary — a problem that costs the health care system at least $210 billion a year. Such “overtreatment” isn’t just expensive. It can harm patients.” Source: Kaiser Health News
The thing is we tend to look everywhere except the health care delivery for cost culprits. It’s not insurance or even administrative costs, it’s the health care we use and how we use it.
I have to laugh. I believe many tests are CYA for the doctors or they have a stake in a return office visit to review the results. But this summer I torn the medial meniscus in my left knee. I knew and the doctor knew that it was a soft tissue injury of some type. Just like 10 years before on my right knee. Once again the insurance company made me get an x-ray first before an MRI. Only the MRI could show the soft tissue injury. What a waste of time and money.
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