The Sage Observer

My Doctor(s)

I was thinking the other day, and my doctors came to my mind (I have to make that plural–It seems I have so many anymore). Did you know that Medicare pays doctors who provide care under their plan only 89 percent of their usual fee; or, even worse, Medicaid pays only 60 percent (Ref. Cannon and Tanner 2005: 101–102, Healthy Competition. Washington, DC: Cato Institute)? Did you know that, in order to better control costs, the federal government has cut back on some Medicare cost of living adjustments in paying physician fees? Also, are you aware of how chronically late the government is in paying its bills to healthcare providers? In conjunction with this, you must know, I have to believe, of the enormous uncertainty and turmoil within our healthcare system today. If you can get your mind beyond the myth that all doctors are rich and don’t need the money anyway, there large business investment and debt notwithstanding, you must surely understand the continuing threat to their income, under which they work. This is about him.

Now, think about this for a moment in light of the above. You are sitting in your doctor’s office while he is examining you for some ailment or another–perhaps even something very serious. Most probably, he is smiling and being cordial, trying to put you at ease. He is trying to care for you and enable you to become well–all those things because he cares and is dedicated to your best interests. It’s all about you.

Isn't there an irony in this? What if you were in his shoes? Would you care? Would you even be cordial?

Ronald Miller

mtss86@bellsouth.net