Panel: Medical system must focus on prevention
By Dave Dreeszen ddreeszen@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Tuesday, October 21, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Dr. Stephen Joyce routinely warns his elderly patients who come in for a routine physical exam to expect out-of-pocket costs.
Although the government-funded Medicare program pays most medical costs, there's little to no coverage for preventive services.
"For the patients that probably need it the most, it's not paid,'' Joyce, a specialist in internal medicine and pediatrics at Mercy Medical Center, told an audience here Monday.
His comments came at a Mercy-sponsored public forum that focused on fixing a broken national health care system. The panel, which included Joyce, a U.S. senator, two hospital executives, a small business owner and a patient, emphasized the need to put a greater emphasis on keeping Americans fit and detecting health problems early.
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, termed the current health care system "sick care.'' American doctors, clinics and hospitals are the best in the world at treating and caring for sick patients, Harkin said, but "what we're not very good at is preventing illness and keeping people healthy in the first place.''
Harkin and other panelists said incentives that encourage patients to seek annual physical exams and other screenings plus proper nutrition and exercise would not only save lives but also cut medical costs.
Dave McKinney, a principal partner with M+ Architects in Sioux City, said he encourages his seven employees to work out at a gym or health club but noted his insurer does not offer incentives for doing so. The Sioux City-based architectural firm has seen its health insurance premiums rise as much as 5 percent to 30 percent in recent years. The firm, which offers coverage to employees only, would like to extend it to other members of their families, but doing so would double the monthly premiums, McKinney said.
About 75 people turned out at Monday's forum at the Clarion Hotel, the latest in a series of sessions being organized nationwide by Trinity Health, Mercy Medical' parent company. Trinity is calling for systematic reform that provides affordable coverage to the estimated 47 million uninsured Americans.
Many uninsured patients show up in emergency rooms. Like other hospitals, Mercy in Sioux City is regularly required to write off large unpaid medical bills for such patients, collecting only $3 to $4 for every $100 owed, said Paul Dougherty, Mercy's president and CEO.
At a series of public forums around the country, the Mercy Health Network is encouraging the nation's leaders to find a way to improve health care. How can you help? Mercy suggests the following four easy ways to weigh in on the subject.
1. Contact your elected leaders.
2. Write a letter to your local newspaper.
3. Spread the word among your friends, family and colleagues.
4. Share your story at mercyhealthnetwork.com.
Although the government-funded Medicare program pays most medical costs, there's little to no coverage for preventive services.
"For the patients that probably need it the most, it's not paid,'' Joyce, a specialist in internal medicine and pediatrics at Mercy Medical Center, told an audience here Monday.
His comments came at a Mercy-sponsored public forum that focused on fixing a broken national health care system. The panel, which included Joyce, a U.S. senator, two hospital executives, a small business owner and a patient, emphasized the need to put a greater emphasis on keeping Americans fit and detecting health problems early.
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, termed the current health care system "sick care.'' American doctors, clinics and hospitals are the best in the world at treating and caring for sick patients, Harkin said, but "what we're not very good at is preventing illness and keeping people healthy in the first place.''
Harkin and other panelists said incentives that encourage patients to seek annual physical exams and other screenings plus proper nutrition and exercise would not only save lives but also cut medical costs.
Dave McKinney, a principal partner with M+ Architects in Sioux City, said he encourages his seven employees to work out at a gym or health club but noted his insurer does not offer incentives for doing so. The Sioux City-based architectural firm has seen its health insurance premiums rise as much as 5 percent to 30 percent in recent years. The firm, which offers coverage to employees only, would like to extend it to other members of their families, but doing so would double the monthly premiums, McKinney said.
About 75 people turned out at Monday's forum at the Clarion Hotel, the latest in a series of sessions being organized nationwide by Trinity Health, Mercy Medical' parent company. Trinity is calling for systematic reform that provides affordable coverage to the estimated 47 million uninsured Americans.
Many uninsured patients show up in emergency rooms. Like other hospitals, Mercy in Sioux City is regularly required to write off large unpaid medical bills for such patients, collecting only $3 to $4 for every $100 owed, said Paul Dougherty, Mercy's president and CEO.
At a series of public forums around the country, the Mercy Health Network is encouraging the nation's leaders to find a way to improve health care. How can you help? Mercy suggests the following four easy ways to weigh in on the subject.
1. Contact your elected leaders.
2. Write a letter to your local newspaper.
3. Spread the word among your friends, family and colleagues.
4. Share your story at mercyhealthnetwork.com.
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