I got an education from a patient regarding California MediCal just the other day. He asked me why he should see a family doctor for a problem that would probably need x-rays, MRI or CT scan. If he goes to his family Dr. all those need prior authorization which will take 3-4 months. However, if he goes to the emergency room and knows exactly what to say he’ll get everything done in 1 day with no waiting for any prior authorizations or initiation of treatment
I agree with Hiltzik - we’re too cheap to pay doctors for office visits but we’ll happily pay them more to treat sick patients in the ER.
That’s the system so-called conservatives defend. After all, its only money, right? If patients go to the ER sick as a horse they can treated faster because the doctor makes more money. But we won’t pay doctors to keep those same patients from getting sick in the first place.
No wonder our health care costs are out of control.