Ms. Hubble-thank you for the description of the process. I can see how easy it was for them to recommend inpatient care (people get skittish when backs are involved).

Regarding Mr. McHugh's comment about the profit-motive issues with 'evidence based' medicine, I would think that would be a good discussion point for a future entry. I'd appreciate your take on this and I enjoy your writing:) 

Listening to Republicans rant against evidenced based medicine and other progressive reforms only strengthens my conviction that we are in a battle with people who possess all of America's worst instincts.

 I have been on disablity for 12 years. I have had Medicare for 7. This is the half ass treatment you get when you have government controlled health care.

 The medical profession does not want to treat you. I was told to my face by one specialist After I paid 20% for the MRI's and he had the results. Four years later I was hairs away from being paralyzed from neck down (Had immediate surgery). The surgery should have been done then. Now I have permanent nerve damage, that is very pain full and it leads me to a less productive life. It also caused more damage to lpwer parts of my back which seven months later I had to have more surgery. Now Medicare is denying payment on second surgery because the doc. did a certain proceedure during surgery that would prevent future pain and surgery and help me lead a more productive life.

Now the government is cutting the pay to Doctors by 20%. It scares me of the type of care I will receive then.

There is no doubt in my mind that there needs to be a Health Care reform. It is disgusting that Americans die because they have no health insurance. More die with health insurance because refusal of proper treatment to those that have government insurance.

I am not a right winger and I do not and have not listened to their BS on the health care reform. I go by my experiance and how I feel in my heart. I do not believe that the proposal that Obama is putting forth will benefit "We the People". The government will have to much control to deny and control the type of treatment. We need less government greed and more caring.

Unfortunately paying full retail prices, sometimes 15,000x more that Medicare rates, doesn't guarantee good care either. Many patients have to pay those kind of ridiculous rates because they are either uninsured or out-of-network. Sometimes doctors refuse to contract with any insurer, forcing patients to pay inflated prices. It doesn't mean they are any better than those who do accept contracted insurance rates.

Doctors, like any other professional, tend to fall on a bell curve. Some are excellent, some are terrible. Most are average. Right now patients have precious few ways to do a "pre-purchase evaluation" of them to increase the likelihood they choose one who will deliver good care. I'll address that in a future post.

Remember ask your doctor to turn off CNN and the drug flat screens in the waiting rooms. That is the ony improvement in healthcare the people can ask for and might have a chance of getting.

With the Medicare I owe $10,000, that does not include the surgery Medicare did not pick up. That does not include the Urologist for my Kidney Disease, Specialist for my Graves Disease, Neurologist for my Mollarets Disease (virus in central nerve systemand very rare), Infectious Disease Doc (have had menengitis 5x's, am allergic to my own sweat, bacteria in soil & grass, Cellulitus, dermatitis). Eye specialist for my Glaucoma. I can not afford them.

It also does not include the $1272 that is taken out of my check for Medicare and $1020 for my prescriptions.

Do not believe the adds on AARP. All lies. My congressman told me to tape them (any insurance co.). I asked and did and got their lies on tape and that is how I got out of having to keep them as a health insurance carrier. For two months, not one Doc I had accepted AARP, the hospital did not take AARP, over all it would have cost 3x's the amount I am paying if I went to their few docs.

I was in the same room with a woman. We both had mild strokes. She had private insurance. Then there was me with Medicare. She got every test, stress test, etc. I got an EKG. She got set up with with out patient care. I was released with my blood pressure of 72/36.

Oh, there is so many more testamonies I could give.

I understand that there are Doctors that should not be Doctors, the greedy. They ignore their oath.

I also understand that Insurance companies are ruthless. I saw on the News a woman with a sick baby took the baby to the local hospital and they did not accept her insurance. The insurance got on the phone and told the hospital not to treat. The next hospital was across town and by the time she got there her baby had died. I also know that a Hospital in LA drops the patient off on skid row if they have no insurance. A taxi was caught on tape dropping off an elder woman in hospital gown all disoriented with Alzheimer's.

I have no clue what is in peoples minds. The cruelty, greed, ignorance. I think people have gone nuts.

Then I live in Florida which is a third world country especially in the health care Industry.