August 11, 2004

Why do doctors not want simpler health care?

From the New York Times (you will probably have to register, if you haven't, and if you haven't, why haven't you yet?)

Kudos to Washington State for finding a way to simplify health care for elderly patients who usually take more than 10 pills a day with names like Hydrochlorothiazide and Hydrocodone/Aceteminophin 5/325, by electronically tracking each patient and assigning a nurse to them, and keeping it all in one accessible file, you think that would be a great plan.

But wait, Doctors are concerned that these elderly patients (who are already having trouble paying the $500 dollar-plus monthly tab for prescription drugs) won't be coming to the doctor's office as much, thus costing them money. So I wonder who may win in the long run, the all powerful elderly-retired person's lobby, or the doctors?

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