patrick.net

I remember a study comparing Florida to Minnesota because Florida has twice as many doctors per capita than Minnesota does.

After controlling for age, etc, the conclusion was that having more doctors makes health outcomes worse, on average.

Look into membership style health practitioners. I go to one down here, where they don't accept insurance, and you pay a small fee each month to have access to the Dr. anytime you need it - in person, online, text or in person. It's better than ANY healthcare I've received in the past, where doctors just want to help patients, without the fluff of extra BS.

You skip the big pharma insurance bucks influence and actually get valid medical advice.

I went to my doc recently, and she is 100% on the Ivermectin train based on the research. She also looked me dead in the eye and said "I'm against the vax until long term studies have been done."

If I leave the state, I'm sticking with this practice because they have been great to work with, and it's nice being able to trust them with my family.

@joshuatrio, do you have an official name or anything for what these kinds of orgs are called?

I did a quick Swisscows/DDG search and only got Medical Professional Assocs.

Thanks!

INDEED - I'd sincerely rather see a VOODOO witch-doctor at this point rather than any 'establishment' medical (so-called) professional...

Tenpoundbass says

I'm always amazed the reasons people go to the Doctor for, just because they have insurance.

I agree. My profession and hobbies result in a couple of wounds enough to bleed several times a week, every week, forever. Ladies see this and start fussing... "Oh! Go wash it! Put some neosporin on it! Bandage it up!" Not really possible as I dirty and wash my hands several times a day even WITH industrial latex or neoprene gloves. Remember the so-called hygiene hypothesis, which I call "Acquired immune SUFFICIENCY syndrome," which posits that exposure to pathogens programs and strengthens the immune system, while extreme germophobe and sanitation lifestyles not only make for slower or ineffective immune response to pathogen exposure, but may increase the risk of autoimmune diseases as the idle components become a solution looking for a problem.

Patrick says

I remember a study comparing Florida to Minnesota because Florida has twice as many doctors per capita than Minnesota does.

After controlling for age, etc, the conclusion was that having more doctors makes health outcomes worse, on average.

Anything to do with average age difference of the 2 states?

Tenpoundbass says

I'm always amazed the reasons people go to the Doctor for, just because they have insurance.

If we all pushed more high-deductible plans, people would be more judicious about going to the doctor and prices would drop significantly. When healthcare is prepaid, people abuse it and don't shop around.

Why are healthcare costs so high? The 'Lodge Practices' effect on health care costs ( http://www.freenation.org/a/f12l3.html ) were so beneficial, it was perhaps one of the best reasons to be a member of a Civic group otherwise known as a PMA. Healthcare industry 'professional' (special-interest) associations had to actually lobby the government to get involved and INCREASE the costs of healthcare because they were too affordable. And now we have a big pharma backed 'healthcare mafia' fusing with big tech and government to bring us global plandemics and economic lockdowns to discreetly bail out the financial system and cull the population. Oh how times have changed.

Automan Empire says

I agree. My profession and hobbies result in a couple of wounds enough to bleed several times a week, every week, forever. Ladies see this and start fussing... "Oh! Go wash it! Put some neosporin on it! Bandage it up!" Not really possible as I dirty and wash my hands several times a day even WITH industrial latex or neoprene gloves. Remember the so-called hygiene hypothesis, which I call "Acquired immune SUFFICIENCY syndrome," which posits that exposure to pathogens programs and strengthens the immune system, while extreme germophobe and sanitation lifestyles not only make for slower or ineffective immune response to pathogen exposure, but may increase the risk of autoimmune diseases as the idle components become a solution looking for a problem.

Agreed, the East River Swim Theory.

PerfectlyFlawed says

Why are healthcare costs so high?

Two reasons: Insurance Companies pushed excessive regulation to reduce their malpractice and pay out costs, which resulted in the end of Small Charity Hospitals which once dominated US Heathcare into the early 80s. The closure of Hospitals in the face of endless new regulations was a common theme of 70s and 80s movie plots. Even pornos. The donors and doctors that ran these facilities were replaced by Professional Admins (tm)(R)(highly credentialed) whose parking spaces are in the front of the hospital are occupied by high end luxury vehicles.

The second, is that the AMA has decided to keep doctor office visits high by restricting supply. This is also the reason you need to see a doctor to get a refill on a chronic condition prescription. The AMA severely restricts the number of residencies available - and thus new doctors - by lobbying legislatures. I mean, is anybody getting high on Lisinopril or Statins? WTF do you need a prescription for anyway? Most of the world does not require prescriptions for anything except opiates or mental illness meds.

I believe in the past 25 years, the population has gone up by double digit percentages, but the number of residencies have only gone up a thousand or so per year.

At the same time, the number of elderly as a percentage of the population, and thus the highest demand category, has dramatically increased: There are 2x more 65+ people today than in 1990.

I suspect it benefits insurance companies as well, since it's better to make 10% on an artificially inflated health cost, than 10% on a much lower 'natural free market' health cost.

PerfectlyFlawed says

Why are healthcare costs so high?

Obligatory:

WineHorror1 says

Patrick says

I remember a study comparing Florida to Minnesota because Florida has twice as many doctors per capita than Minnesota does.

After controlling for age, etc, the conclusion was that having more doctors makes health outcomes worse, on average.

Anything to do with average age difference of the 2 states?

They controlled for age.

MisdemeanorRebellionNoCoupForYou says

@joshuatrio, do you have an official name or anything for what these kinds of orgs are called?

I did a quick Swisscows/DDG search and only got Medical Professional Assocs.

Thanks!

He may be referring to the concierge model. I have a couple of friends that pay a couple grand a year and have astonishing access to their PCP.
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/what-is-concierge-medicine

Robert Sproul says

He may be referring to the concierge model.

Ding ding ding! That's the term I remember now. I've heard the same said about cost/access, and that this model can work quite well for Doctor and patients alike.

Robert Sproul says

MisdemeanorRebellionNoCoupForYou says

@joshuatrio, do you have an official name or anything for what these kinds of orgs are called?

I did a quick Swisscows/DDG search and only got Medical Professional Assocs.

Thanks!

He may be referring to the concierge model. I have a couple of friends that pay a couple grand a year and have astonishing access to their PCP.
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/what-is-concierge-medicine

There may be better ones now but I tried it many years ago with one medical and found it close to a scam. Maybe they gave evolved by now or I just got shitty MDs assigned

Automan Empire says

"Acquired immune SUFFICIENCY syndrome,"

It's why we have to let kids play in dirt.

Automan Empire says

Ding ding ding! That's the term I remember now. I've heard the same said about cost/access, and that this model can work quite well for Doctor and patients alike.

You know, this model is becoming more and more prevalent.

Look at the Learning Hubs or whatever they're called, where a group of parents hire a teacher, not much different than in Colonial/Early West when townspeople pooled cash and provided room and board to lure a teacher.

Teacher makes about the same, is with the more or less the same few kids year after year, can devote more time to each child, and communicates with only a few parents who have self-selected for being involved in kids education. If they really dislike her they leave and somebody else comes in.

Robert Sproul says

MisdemeanorRebellionNoCoupForYou says

@joshuatrio, do you have an official name or anything for what these kinds of orgs are called?

I did a quick Swisscows/DDG search and only got Medical Professional Assocs.

Thanks!

He may be referring to the concierge model. I have a couple of friends that pay a couple grand a year and have astonishing access to their PCP.
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/what-is-concierge-medicine

Yeah this sounds about right.

It works for me. My appointments are as long as I want really. My doc knows my health history and we have a good relationship.

I used to go to a Piedmont/Emory (big pharma) provider, but I felt like cattle being led to slaughter, and all the MDs we're stressed the fuck out all the time.

I like the concierge model. It cuts out all the needless script pushing as the doctor does well without meeting quotas and sales tactic BS.

Another interesting medical access alternative: Direct Primary Care.

"Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a new way of providing primary care that's already helped a quarter million people stay healthier and spend less on healthcare. Patients at DPC practices often receive ongoing primary care from their doctor with zero copays, convenient online scheduling options, near-wholesale prices on medications and blood tests, and even their doctor's personal cell number. It's like having a doctor in the family.

"So how is this possible? Easy: direct primary care practices cut out middlemen like insurance companies, freeing themselves to provide great care at fair prices. Unlike traditional third party practices that serve the needs of insurance companies, direct primary care is for everybody; most DPC memberships cost less than your monthly cell phone or cable bill, for great care whenever you need it."

"Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a new way of providing primary care that's already helped a quarter million people stay healthier and spend less on healthcare. Patients at DPC practices often receive ongoing primary care from their doctor with zero copays, convenient online scheduling options, near-wholesale prices on medications and blood tests, and even their doctor's personal cell number. It's like having a doctor in the family."

"So how is this possible? Easy: direct primary care practices cut out middlemen like insurance companies, freeing themselves to provide great care at fair prices. Unlike traditional third party practices that serve the needs of insurance companies, direct primary care is for everybody; most DPC memberships cost less than your monthly cell phone or cable bill, for great care whenever you need it."

"Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a new way of providing primary care that's already helped a quarter million people stay healthier and spend less on healthcare. Patients at DPC practices often receive ongoing primary care from their doctor with zero copays, convenient online scheduling options, near-wholesale prices on medications and blood tests, and even their doctor's personal cell number. It's like having a doctor in the family.
So how is this possible? Easy: direct primary care practices cut out middlemen like insurance companies, freeing themselves to provide great care at fair prices. Unlike traditional third party practices that serve the needs of insurance companies, direct primary care is for everybody; most DPC memberships cost less than your monthly cell phone or cable bill, for great care whenever you need it."
https://mapper.dpcfrontier.com

I am all for decentralized experiments in Health Care Delivery. My Gramps used to see a Lodge Care Doctor who had the contract to look after he and the rest of his Masonic Brothers. The government stepped in and killed Logde Practice Care in the various Fraternal Organizations. We used to look out for ourselves. With the help of our Fraternal Brothers.