If America is going to provide insurance coverage for millions of more people than we do currently and we already can't handle the current load, then how in the world are we going to be able to do that? It seems so clear to me. The model must change and we must adapt to the reality. I think we could do it with a new model of care where the most common medical interaction is not one to one but one to many. Groups. Medical groups. Medical communities. Clans. That's what I learned in Fiji. Care can be delivered within a different model and one more suitable to caring for chronic issues. We can't continue to deliver care in the model we use; it does not work. People need more -- not more technology or more pharmaceuticals -- just more care and attention. Attention to their whole being. Thoughts, beliefs, feelings, longings. These all matter. This cannot be done with cramming in more one on one appointments. We will kill the doctors and our society. It is an entire paradigm shift -- a complete shift of values and priorities. But it is the way we are meant to be; our nature. We are pack animals craving our pack.
I received my bills this week. $ 32,000 for the Liberation Procedure. $1200 for MRV. Amazingly, my insurance(Blue Cross) covered all but $5000 of the total. I feel so fortunate that it was largely covered. I have sat on Utilization Review Committees(when I worked at Scripps) and thought the insurance company would deny coverage based on the experimental nature of the procedure. Luckily for me, I was wrong! I guess they just cannot deny need for treatment of blocked blood vessels.
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