[neverdem]

Why the angst that an owner of a commercial machine may want to realize a profit from it?

Because it is pushing up the cost of insurance and Medicare without any proven benefit yet. Have you read the story?

[AZ .44 MAG]

I had a heart CT a couple of years ago. Paid for it out of pocket. How did that private exchange help drive up costs for any government largesse program?

The problem isn’t private enterprise with an expensive precision diagnostic machine. It’s the government making people think they have a right to use said machine at not personal cost that’s the problem.

I say let them buy the machine and make all the money they can with it.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Why the angst that an owner of a commercial machine may want to realize a profit from it?

Because hospital administrators will pressure doctors to unnecessarily use the new CAT scan to recover its cost, exposing patients to potentially dangerous amounts of radiation. Have you read the story?

[neverdem]

I posted a pic and a graphic in comment# 1 originally. The Admin mod removed everything from comment# 1.

Link to graphic with examples of patients and various tests

(Oversize)Graphic Spending Far More on Health Care

Proposed Decision Memo for Computed Tomographic Angiography (CAG-00385N)

The Response From Several Medical Societies (January 2008) (PDF)

Decision Memo for Computed Tomographic Angiography (CAG-00385N)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/business/29scan.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

The last link is to the regular webpage if you want to see the video and pics.

Mandatory In-Car Breathalyzers Coming?

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[norwaypinesavage]

"Because it is pushing up the cost of insurance and Medicare without any proven benefit yet."

I chose to have a CT scan to get a baseline data point. I paid for it totally at my own expense. The test was done at 2:00AM when the machine was otherwise not busy. I weighed the risk of radiation exposure and decided it was minimal. Tell me how this is bad?

[AZ .44 MAG]

Did you read all of my post #6? I can’t have an MRI. CT scans are the only way to get a good look inside of me without cutting me open. I think that’s a pretty good benefit.

If administrators are pressuring doctors to perform unnecessary tests they should be punished as well as the doctors that order them.

I’m not surprised that the NY Times is critical of a private enterprise while lamenting the impact to a government program. The problem with Medicare rests squarely on the government’s shoulders.