4 Shocking Facts about US Healthcare

[BlueStreak]

7. That number is their ARBITRARY opinion about how much TESTING we do

It has very little to do with malpractice. Most of that testing is for two reasons:

1) Our record-keeping before the ACA for horrible -- like something from the pre-computer era.

2) PATIENTS and their families want to know as much as possible.

The ACA has made a huge difference that nobody ever talks about in terms of records. I have had both parents in heavy hospitalization situations the past 9 months, and I don't think there was a single redundant test. Each of the docs -- even from separate offices -- can see all the tests that have been run and they simply don't order up redundant tests. 2 years ago, that was not the case. Every time you saw a different specialist, they ordered up their own blood work and EKGs.

Our system, for all of its faults, is more responsive to the patients than some others. Patients who push for additional tests are rarely turned down. That accounts for some of the cost difference.